Selena Quintanilla-Perez's family decided to have a public open-casket funeral to dispel rumors that the singer's body was not in the casket.
Tens of thousands of fans turned out to mourn Billboard's bestselling Latin artist of the '90s, who was shot dead by the former president of her fan club.
Billie Holiday
 |
| Billie Holidayn |
Billie Holiday's open-casket funeral mass was held at Church of St. Paul the Apostle in New York City. The influential jazz singer died tragically young, at the age of 44, from cirrhosis of the liver.
Marilyn Monroe
 |
| While Monroe did have an open casket funeral |
This photograph is often reprinted as an alleged photo of Marilyn as she lay ready for burial. While Monroe did have an open casket funeral, no photos were published. This photograph actually shows a sculpture of Marilyn in her casket. It was created by Italian artist Paolo Schmidlin, based on descriptions of the green dress, veil, and makeup Monroe wore for burial.
Ray Charles
 |
| Jazz legend Ray Charles |
Jazz legend Ray Charles was laid out for public viewing in an open casket before his burial.
President Abraham Lincoln
 |
| Lincoln didn't just have an open casket funeral |
Lincoln didn't just have an open casket funeral after he was assassinated. At his own wish, his body traveled for months and was displayed in cities all over America so that ordinary people would get a chance to pay their last respects
BB King
 |
| Thousands attended blues guitarist BB King's open casket |
Thousands attended blues guitarist BB King's open casket viewing in Mississippi after he passed away in 2015.
Martin Luther King
 |
| King's children |
Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King's children are pictured viewing his body at his public funeral. He was shot dead in Memphis, TN in 1968.
 |
| King in his casket |
Several photos of King in his casket were published at the time of his funeral, including this closeup.
James Brown
 |
| James Brown's body |
This image shows Michael Jackson approaching the Godfather of Soul's open casket, when he reportedly bent down and kissed James Brown's body. Brown had three memorial services that included a public viewing of his body.
Michael Jackson
 |
| Michael Jackson |
Jackson liked the $25,000 casket in which James Brown was buried so much that he ordered one for himself and was reportedly buried in it after his untimely death in 2009. However, this picture, which circulates on the internet and purports to be Jackson in his open coffin, is actually a photoshopped hoax.
River Phoenix
 |
| Phoenix had a private funeral with only 60 mourners |
Phoenix had a private funeral with only 60 mourners, but photos went public after a reporter broke into the funeral home and took this picture of River Phoenix, which he sold to the National Enquirer. Phoenix died outside Hollywood's Viper Room from an overdose of cocaine and morphine in 1993, at the young age of 23.
Chris Henry
 |
| Chris Henry died at the age of 26, |
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry died at the age of 26, after falling out of a pickup truck driven by his fiancee. He's pictured here at his funeral with his young daughter laying a token of remembrance in his coffin.
Lou Gehrig
 |
| Baseball legend Lou Gehrig |
Baseball legend Lou Gehrig is pictured here at his funeral in an open casket, withBabe Ruth standing beside the casket as a mourner. Ruth himself went on to have a public open-casket funeral to which 75,000 people came to pay their last respects.
Bela Lugosi
 |
| Bela Lugosi |
The actor who famously played Dracula asked to be dressed in his vampire attire for his open casket funeral.
Chris Kelly (half of the rap duo Kriss Kross)
 |
| Kelly's baptist funeral |
Kelly's baptist funeral featured an open casket after the rapper died from a fatal overdose of drugs. Chris Kelly's Kris Kross bandmate, Chris Smith, gave the eulogy.
Rudolf Valentino
 |
| Rudolf Valentino |
Silver screen idol Rudolf Valentino was given an open casket funeral after his untimely death at the age of 31 from a ruptured ulcer. Nearly 100,000 mourners attended the funeral in New York City. His death inspired mass hysteria among his fans, two of whom reportedly killed themselves on hearing the news.
Mahatma Gandhi
 |
| Gandhi is pictured here lying in state after his assassination |
Gandhi is pictured here lying in state after his assassination in 1948. His niece is placing petals on his brow.
Hector "Macho" Camacho
 |
| The Puerto Rican boxing legend was given an open-casket funeral |
The Puerto Rican boxing legend was given an open-casket funeral, a burial tradition that is far more common in Catholic areas. Camacho had been fatally shot in the face just three days before this photo was taken, suggesting that he was laid out by an incredibly skilled mortician.
Edgar Allan Poe
 |
| Classic writer Edgar Allan Poe |
Classic writer Edgar Allan Poe is pictured here after his mysterious death at age 39. The cause of his death remains unknown to this day.
Princess Grace of Monaco (Grace Kelly)
 |
| Grace Kelly |
Actress Grace Kelly became Princess Grace after she married Prince Rainier III of Monaco. She's pictured here lying in state after her death at age 52, from a stroke that caused her to crash her car.
Civil Rights leader Medgar Evers
 |
| Myrlie Louise Evers |
Myrlie Louise Evers, widow of civil rights activist Medgar Evers, leans down to kiss her late husband's forehead before the casket was opened for public viewing at a funeral home in Jackson, Mississippi. Evers was the first Mississippi field director of NAACP. He was shot dead in front of his home in 1963.
Eva Peron
 |
| Eva "Evita" Peron |
Eva "Evita" Peron is pictured here in an open coffin next to that of her husband, the Argentinian dictator Juan Peron.
Huey Long
 |
| Huey Long |
US Senator Huey Long had an open casket funeral after his assassination in 1935.
