Ram Herrera Reflects on Tejano Music Awards Legacy, Cancer Battle, and Plans for 2027

Tejano music legend Ram Herrera is preparing for another memorable appearance at the Tejano Music Awards, returning to the stage Friday, November 13, for the 46th edition of the “Biggest Night in Tejano Music” at the Texas Rodeo Saloon in Katy, Texas.

During an interview with The Bo Corona Show, Herrera reflected on his longtime relationship with the awards show, his accomplishments throughout his career, his battle with stage 4 prostate cancer and what he hopes to accomplish in 2027.

The veteran vocalist also shared his appreciation for the fans who have supported him throughout the years, emphasizing that Tejano music continues to reach new generations.

A Legacy Built on Tejano Music Awards Success

Herrera’s history with the Tejano Music Awards dates back to his early years performing with David Lee Garza y Los Musicales. During the interview, he recalled that earning recognition at the awards was an important goal for the group.

“Our goal was to get into the Tejano Awards,” Herrera told Bo Corona, reflecting on the band’s early accomplishments.

Although he initially had difficulty remembering the exact year of his first award, the conversation brought back memories of his breakthrough recognition and the success that followed.

Bo Corona reminded Herrera of his 1988 Song of the Year victory for “Amor Querido,” a moment that remains among the highlights of his career.

“That’s it. And I think I swept everything that year,” Herrera recalled.

His success at the awards helped establish his place among the genre’s most celebrated vocalists, a legacy that continues decades later as he returns to perform for Tejano music fans.

For this year’s ceremony, Herrera confirmed that he expects to perform a couple of songs, although the selections were still being discussed at the time of the interview.

“I think I’m going to do a couple of songs. I don’t know yet which ones. We’re still debating that,” he said.

Ram Herrera Opens Up About His Battle With Stage 4 Prostate Cancer

One of the most emotional moments of the interview came when Herrera spoke about publicly announcing his diagnosis of stage 4 prostate cancer and the overwhelming response he received from fans.

Herrera explained that his decision to share the news was about more than updating his supporters. He wanted to encourage others to confront their health challenges and understand the importance of fighting for their lives.

“I just wanted to inform people that … when your life’s on the line and you’re going to lose the people around you that you love and everything, and I just met my wife, and I love her tremendously. I just met somebody that I want to be with, and I want to be with her. And now they’re going to, I’m going to end my life, no way, I’m going to fight this,” Herrera said.

He credited his wife, Lizé, for standing beside him throughout the difficult journey and expressed his belief in the power of prayer.

“And we fought it together and she was with me every step of the way. So yeah, I wanted people to know that you can fight and I believe in the power of prayer,” he explained.

Herrera also said the response from fans and supporters exceeded his expectations.

“I loved it. I was overwhelmed with it. It came by surprise,” he said, describing the prayers and messages he received after sharing his diagnosis.

He believes those prayers made a difference during his recovery, recalling the support he received during an earlier hospitalization.

“I think that healed me and I think these prayers healed me again. I believe in that,” Herrera said.

His message was one of perseverance, faith and gratitude for the people who continue to stand behind him.

Looking Ahead: New Recordings, Documentary and Book in 2027

Despite everything he has experienced, Herrera remains focused on the future and has several projects in mind for 2027. He revealed that he wants to revisit some of his classic recordings while also documenting his life story for future generations.

“Well, what I want to do is I want to record a lot of my old stuff,” Herrera said.

He also shared plans for a possible documentary and autobiography, projects encouraged by his wife, who believes his experiences deserve to be preserved.

“First of all, I want to do a documentary. My wife’s talking about us doing a documentary, write a book about my life and the things I’ve been through,” he revealed. “Because she says you’ve got a lot of stories to tell.”

For an artist whose career has spanned decades of Tejano music history, those projects could offer fans a deeper look at the personal experiences, milestones and challenges behind the music.

Ram Herrera: A Career That Continues to Inspire

Ram Herrera became one of Tejano music’s recognizable voices through his work with David Lee Garza y Los Musicales before establishing a successful solo career. Known for his powerful vocals and romantic ballads, Herrera built an extensive catalog of recordings and earned numerous industry honors, including multiple Tejano Music Awards. His influence has extended across generations of Tejano fans, and his continued performances demonstrate the lasting appeal of his music.

Herrera Says Tejano Music Is Alive and Reaching Younger Generations

As the conversation turned to the future of Tejano music, Herrera pushed back against claims that the genre is dying. Instead, he credited dedicated broadcasters, industry professionals and fans for keeping the music alive.

“I just want to tell you all that I love you for all the years you’ve supported me and you’ve supported our industry,” Herrera said. “I think a lot of people say Tejano’s dying now. People like you Bo and all your buddies that keep it alive and the people, the fans that go.”

Herrera also shared that he continues to see younger fans attending his performances, including people who grew up listening to his music.

“We’ve got a lot of young fans going to our shows now where they’ll tell me, hey, I grew up listening to your music man and you still sound the same,” he said.

He added that some younger fans now address him as “Mr. Herrera,” something he admitted feels a little unusual but that he appreciates. Herrera also sees opportunities for Tejano music to expand beyond its traditional markets, pointing to growing interest in Mexico.

“The country, like Mexico is opening up to us big time and it’s just, it’s starting to spread out pretty good,” he said.

His comments reflect an encouraging outlook for a genre that continues to connect longtime listeners with a new generation discovering its music and culture.

46th Annual Tejano Music Awards Returns to Katy November 13

Herrera will join an impressive lineup of performers for the 46th Annual Tejano Music Awards, organized by the Texas Talent Musicians Association (TTMA), including Jay Perez, Siggno, Jenny B, Gary Hobbs, Luis Ayala’s Fiebre, Stefani Montiel, Avizo, and Ricardo Castillon Y La Diferenzia.

The ceremony returns to the Texas Rodeo Saloon in Katy, Texas, for the second consecutive year, celebrating established stars, rising performers and the artists continuing to shape the genre.

The 2026 Top 5 nominations feature several of Tejano music’s leading performers. Jay Perez leads this year’s Top 5 nominations with five, while Ram Herrera and Stefani Montiel earned four nominations each. David Lee Garza y Los Musicales, Lucky Joe, and Siggno each received three nominations.

The awards recognize achievements across categories including Song of the Year, Male and Female Vocalist of the Year, Tejano and Conjunto Album of the Year, Collaboration of the Year and Best New Artist.

The awards will take place Friday, November 13, at the Texas Rodeo Saloon in Katy. The Fan Zone red carpet begins at 4 p.m., followed by the artist red carpet from 5 to 6:30 p.m. The awards show and live entertainment begin at 7 p.m.

General admission tickets and reserved VIP tables are available online. Fans can purchase tickets and find additional event information through the official Tejano Music Awards website or Texas Rodeo Saloon.

For Herrera, the November 13 appearance represents another opportunity to reconnect with the fans who have supported him throughout his career while celebrating the music that has defined generations.

As he looks toward 2027 with plans for new recordings, a documentary and a book, the Tejano music legend continues to demonstrate that his story—and his contribution to the music—is far from over.

And as Herrera reminded listeners during his conversation with Bo Corona, Tejano music is not dying. It’s still alive, growing and reaching new generations.

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