Martha Elena Martínez Viveros, the adopted daughter of Mexican singer Paquita la del Barrio, has died in Veracruz, Mexico, less than two years after the death of her mother.

The news was announced by the municipal government of Alto Lucero, the hometown of Paquita la del Barrio, whose real name was Francisca Viveros Barradas. The municipality expressed its condolences to Martha Elena’s family and friends.

Martha Elena largely stayed out of the public eye, unlike her famous mother, who became one of Mexico’s best-known ranchera singers. Her death has brought renewed attention to the close family bond they shared.

What Is Known About Her Death?

Martha Elena’s death was reported in October 2026, with people close to the family describing it as unexpected.

Paquito Torres, Paquita la del Barrio’s former manager, told Mexican television programme Ventaneando that she had apparently died following a respiratory arrest. However, the family and authorities have not publicly confirmed an official medical cause of death.

Torres said Martha Elena had been with her daughters in Veracruz. He also recalled that she had recently travelled to Peru with one of them, visiting Machu Picchu, and had attended family celebrations in the weeks before her death.

These details were shared by the former manager and have not been presented as an official account of the medical circumstances.

The Story Behind Her Relationship With Paquita la del Barrio

Martha Elena was Paquita la del Barrio’s biological niece. The singer took her in as a baby in 1979, when she was around five months old and reportedly experiencing health problems.

Paquita later recounted the story in a 2017 interview with journalist Gustavo Adolfo Infante on the programme El minuto que cambió mi destino.

The singer explained that she had returned to her hometown and found her young niece unwell. She asked her brother and sister-in-law for permission to take the baby to Mexico City for medical attention.

After bringing her to the capital and arranging treatment, Paquita and her husband, Alfonso Martínez, grew increasingly attached to the child. The arrangement that had initially been intended to help the baby recover eventually became permanent.

Paquita and Alfonso registered Martha Elena as their daughter, and she grew up as part of their family.

A Family Bond That Remained Out of the Spotlight

While Paquita la del Barrio built a decades-long career performing songs about heartbreak, betrayal and relationships, Martha Elena maintained a much more private life.

Her story was nevertheless an important part of the singer’s personal history. Paquita had previously spoken about the loss of twin babies and other family hardships, and described how taking in Martha Elena changed her life.

The relationship between the two was remembered in a farewell message shared through the singer’s official social media account after Martha Elena’s death. The message expressed the hope that mother and daughter would be together again.

Paquita la del Barrio Died in February 2025

Paquita la del Barrio died on 17 February 2025, aged 77, at her home in Veracruz.

Born Francisca Viveros Barradas, she became one of Mexico’s most recognisable voices in ranchera music. Her direct performances and songs about romantic betrayal earned her a devoted audience over several decades. Among her best-known songs is Rata de dos patas.

Martha Elena’s death has brought renewed attention to the singer’s private life and the family relationship that began when she took in her infant niece more than four decades ago.

The circumstances surrounding Martha Elena’s death have not been fully clarified publicly, and an official medical cause has not been confirmed in the reports reviewed.