Celia Cruz honored with bobblehead, coin, mural, and museum exhibits in Miami

The Queen of Salsa’s legacy endures in 2025 through tributes including a U.S. quarter, Little Havana mural, and Miami Marlins celebration.

Cuban-American singer Celia Cruz performs at the Paradiso in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on July 25, 1987. Photo by Frans Schellekens/Redferns

By Novanka Laras and Hayu Andini

Celia Cruz, long celebrated as the Queen of Salsa, is being honored more than two decades after her death with a string of tributes that reflect her enduring legacy in music and Latino culture. From the streets of Miami’s Little Havana to national symbols like the U.S. quarter, Cruz’s influence is being celebrated in new and vibrant ways in 2025 — the centennial year of her birth.

With her unmistakable shout of “¡Azúcar!” and flamboyant performance style, Celia Cruz became a global icon of Afro-Caribbean music. Her contributions to salsa and Latin American identity continue to resonate, as new generations discover her through digital platforms, museum exhibits, and public commemorations.

A musical journey from Havana to the world

Born on October 21, 1925, in Havana, Cuba, Celia Cruz began her singing career in the 1940s, rising to fame as the lead vocalist of La Sonora Matancera. Her career flourished even after she left Cuba in 1961, settling in New York City and becoming one of the most recognizable voices in salsa music. Blending Cuban musical traditions with Puerto Rican and Dominican rhythms, she helped define a genre and amplify Latin identity across the globe.

Cruz’s vibrant style — raspy vocals, bold costumes, towering wigs, and high heels — became synonymous with joy and cultural pride. Over her lifetime, she released more than 70 albums and received numerous accolades, including multiple Grammy and Latin Grammy Awards. Yet her most powerful legacy might be her infectious optimism.

“When people hear me sing,” Cruz told The New York Times in 1985, “I want them to be happy, happy, happy.”

She died in 2003 at the age of 77 in Fort Lee, New Jersey, after complications from brain tumor surgery. Her passing was marked by massive public tributes in both Miami and New York, where thousands paid their respects.

Celia Cruz honored through cultural symbols in 2025

In what would have been her 100th year, the tributes to Celia Cruz have only grown louder. Her influence remains especially strong in Miami, home to a large Cuban exile community and a city where Cruz’s music still echoes in parks, plazas, and family celebrations. This year, Miami has seen a surge of honors reflecting her multifaceted legacy.

Miami Marlins celebrate with Celia Cruz bobblehead

On May 14, the Miami Marlins paid tribute to Cruz as part of their annual Cuban Heritage Day by giving away 8,000 Celia Cruz bobblehead dolls. The figurine features the singer in a vibrant blue ruffled dress, holding a microphone with her iconic smile. The team also released limited-edition jerseys with her image, designed by Miami artist Disem305, who is well known for his colorful urban art celebrating Latino icons.

Adding to the celebration, Cuban-born tribute singer Lucrecia threw the ceremonial first pitch and performed Cruz’s classic hits in front of a jubilant crowd. The atmosphere was festive, blending sports and music in a tribute to a woman who made every stage her carnival.

Little Havana mural immortalizes Celia’s energy

Another stunning homage is a new mural in Miami’s Little Havana neighborhood. Created by Disem305, the artwork captures two portraits of Cruz: one from her youth with the Freedom Tower behind her, and another of a more mature Cruz flashing her contagious smile.

Measuring 11 feet high and 45 feet wide, the mural’s vibrant teal and pink backdrop makes it a standout on the urban landscape. “As an artist and a huge salsa and Celia Cruz fan, this is a huge honor for me,” the muralist said, noting the mural was also commissioned by the Miami Marlins in conjunction with the team’s celebration.

The Freedom Tower, a key landmark for Cuban immigrants arriving in the United States during the 1960s and 1970s, serves as a symbolic backdrop in the mural, anchoring Cruz’s legacy within the Cuban diaspora.

Cruz becomes first Afro-Latina on U.S. quarter

One of the most notable tributes came from the U.S. Mint, which included Cruz in the 2024 American Women Quarters Program. She is the first Afro-Latina ever to appear on American currency, with her coin featuring her radiant smile and rumba dress, accompanied by the word “¡Azúcar!”

The U.S. Mint described Cruz as a “cultural icon and one of the most popular Latin artists of the 20th century.” Her inclusion in the program highlights not just her contributions to music, but also her impact on American cultural identity and representation.

Posthumous Billboard award recognizes Cruz’s trailblazing legacy

In April, Celia Cruz was posthumously presented with a “Legend Award” at the Billboard Latin Women in Music gala in Miami. The ceremony celebrated her trailblazing journey as a Black woman in a male-dominated industry, her role in globalizing Afro-Cuban rhythms, and her powerful symbolism for resilience and joy.

Artists Ivy Queen, La India, and Olga Tañón performed a medley of Cruz’s greatest hits in a rousing tribute that brought the audience to their feet. “¡Qué viva la reina!” La India shouted, invoking the title many still use to refer to Cruz: La Reina — the Queen.

Museum exhibit showcases Cruz’s life and stage style

In early 2025, the Museum of Art and Design at Miami Dade College mounted “Celia Cruz: Work,” an exhibition displaying Cruz’s iconic wigs, costumes, performance footage, and personal memorabilia. More than 400 visitors attended the opening at the college’s Hialeah campus, offering another space to explore her impact.

Pinecrest Gardens, a lush park south of Miami, also held a concert series in January as part of their tribute, attracting music lovers of all ages to remember and relive Cruz’s songs.

Later this year, Miami Dade College plans to reopen the restored Freedom Tower with a family event on October 11. The event will feature storytelling, live performances, and art activities centered around Cruz’s life. “She is not only a global icon,” said María Carla Chicuén, a spokesperson for the college, “but a cherished figure in Miami, whose life and legacy are deeply intertwined with the history of the Freedom Tower.”

Celia Cruz remains a digital phenomenon

Cruz’s popularity isn’t confined to physical tributes. On Spotify, she continues to attract more than 6 million monthly listeners. Her official YouTube channel boasts nearly half a million subscribers, drawing in both longtime fans and curious newcomers discovering her legacy online.

Her digital footprint reinforces her position as an artist whose relevance spans decades. As music professor Karen S. Veloz of Florida International University observed, “Celia Cruz is not only a legendary performer but an enduring symbol of cultural memory, resilience, and diasporic pride.”

A legacy still dancing

Celia Cruz’s music was never just about melody or rhythm — it was about a message. In her own words, it was “felicidad,” happiness. In a world often burdened with hardship, Cruz offered joy, color, and cultural pride through her voice and presence.

The recent celebrations honoring Celia Cruz serve as a testament to the timeless nature of her work and the impact she had not only as a performer but as a cultural force. From murals and music to money and museums, Celia Cruz remains a queen — in every sense of the word.

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