Was Paquita la del Barrio married? Relationships explored as Iconic Mexican singer passes away 

Francisca Viveros Barradas, better known by her stage name Paquita la del Barrio, has passed away at the age of 77. The Grammy-nominated Mexican singer, famous for hits like "Rata de Dos Patas," died at her home in Veracruz, Mexico. A statement posted on Instagram announced her death, saying:

“With deep pain and sadness, we confirm the death of our beloved Paquita la del Barrio, in her home in Veracruz, being a unique and unrepeatable artist, who will leave us an indelible mark in the hearts of all of us"

The statement did not specify the cause of death but asked for privacy and respect for the family during this difficult time.

She had a very complex personal life and relationships, which influenced her music greatly. She was married twice. Her first marriage was with a man who was 28 years older than her when she was just 16. She was married for seven years to him and later split up after finding out that he was already married to another woman and had a separate family.

According to USA Today, this particular experience supposedly influenced her to write about themes of betrayal and infidelity common throughout her songs.

Her second marriage, to Alfonso Martínez, lasted 31 years, until his death in 2000. Paquita, however, said that even their long-lasting marriage was tainted by infidelity. Patti used to talk openly about her difficulties in relationships, which were a major theme in her hits such as Rata de dos Patas and Tres Veces te Engañé.

Her encounters with love and betrayal led to her becoming a symbol of empowerment for numerous women. As she said both in her music and in interviews, she believed that no woman should put up with disrespect in a relationship. In a 2017 interview with USA Today she said:

"None of us are obligated to live with a man who doesn't respect us,"

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A look into Paquita la del Barrio’s legacy and early career

Paquita was born in Alto Lucero, Veracruz, on April 2, 1947, and her early life was full of struggles. She moved to Mexico City in 1970, faced many hardships, and self-funded her first album in 1984.

According to Jobaaj Stories, her lyrics often challenged society’s gender norms, and the singer became a prominent critic of machismo.

During her five-decade career, Paquita recorded more than 30 albums. She also became one of the most important figures in ranchera and bolero music, which were both male-dominated styles at that time.

Paquita’s impact reached far beyond music as she received three Grammy nominations and had a series based on her life released in 2017. She also starred in Velo de Novia and Amor de Barrio on television. She received a Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions to Latin music at the Billboard Latin Music Awards.