For recording artist Jay Wheeler, there is โnothing better than being a father.โ
Wheeler, 32, and wife Zhamira Zambrano, 28, welcomed their first child together in September 2024. Now, over a year into fatherhood, the artist emphasizes the joy of being a dad and the impact itโs had on his life and career.
โThis is the greatest prize, the greatest blessing that God has ever given me. Iโm always with her, every single day, every single night, every single morning, afternoon. Sheโs my best friend,โ the Puerto Rican singer tells TODAY.com about his 1-year-old daughter Aiunii. โItโs one of the most beautiful things that I have in my life.โ
The three-time Latin Grammy nominee credits his mother and his religious upbringing for maintaining strong family values. He shares that prayer and playing video games with friends helps his mental health.
Much of his feelings around family have made it into his music. Shortly after his baby girlโs birth, he was inspired to write โAiunii,โ a sentimental song about a fatherโs promise to his daughter. The song is featured on his 2025 album โGirasoles.โ
โYou came along and changed my story/I wasnโt ready/And even though Iโm scared/It feels wonderful,โ he sings, later adding, โI cannot promise to be there/For the rest of your life, but I can love you/For the rest of mine.โ
In May, he released his latest album, โLa Voz Favorita,โ which translates to โThe Favorite Voice.โ He calls it โthe most beautiful project Iโve ever done in my life,โ in part because of the experiences with his daughter and wife that have helped shape the music.
โI left my heart in that album,โ he says.
Ahead of his second Fatherโs Day with Aiunii, Wheeler shares insight on his everyday life, conversations he and Zhamira had about parenting, his work-life balance and the parenting advice fellow Latin superstars J Balvin and Maluma gave him.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
What is something you learned from your parents about being a father?
My parents, especially my mom, just being a Christian and following God. I remember I told her, โI donโt know how you did it with me, with my brother.โ We donโt smoke, we donโt drink, we donโt go out, we werenโt with a lot of girls. We didnโt do that. And she was like, โI just prayed every single night, every single day. I prayed for you guys.โ
She was the most amazing mom. I always tell her that I want to be like her. But at the same time, she wasnโt too touchy, (affectionate). She showed us love in 100 different ways, but that was one way that she didnโt because when she was growing up, she didnโt get it as much. Something that I learned is to give hugs, give kisses. Thereโs a lot of ways to express love, but physically, sometimes itโs even better than anything.
Do you have a parenting rule that you always follow?
I feel like Iโm more strict and I feel like you have to have that because, especially in these times, the world is going crazy. If you let your kids do whatever they want, I think they could get lost in this world. I want my daughter to be whatever she wants to be. At the same time, I want her to be respectful, I want her to have great values, I want her to treat people well.
I always focus on her… saying โthank you, youโre welcome, cรณmo estรกs?, un placer,โ all of that. Sheโs 1 year old, but believe it or not, she knows how to do all of those things.
There was a moment you didnโt want to share photos of your daughter. What changed?
Sheโs the most beautiful thing thatโs ever happened in my life. So imagine keeping that private from the world forever? It was going to be horrible. Thatโs one (reason). The second reason was that we go out a lot, we like to eat food, we go to Disney. We like to be normal. I donโt want to put a hoodie on her.
I was scared that she would grow up and be like, โWhy did you guys hide me?โ And she wouldnโt understand why. I prefer her to get mad and be like, โYo, you guys exposed me a lot.โ I would be like, โBaby, youโre my greatest prize.โ
Thereโs a lot of people in the industry who are parents. Has anyone given you some good parenting tips?
Maluma gave me some great advice when he was here at my home and we were streaming. J Balvin also gave me great advice. He has a little kid and I feel like (Rio) has the same attitude as Aiunii.
From Maluma, he said, โAlways be present. Try to always be present.โ And from J Balvin, he was like, โDonโt listen to the internet because people are going to go crazy no matter what.โ
Has your creative process changed after becoming a father, especially when it comes to selecting songs? Or do you keep your music and fatherhood separate?
I try to keep it very separate because the music that we do, when it comes to reggaeton, the language can be strong.
The way I see it, when you watch a movie and you see an actor and you see that heโs violent, but in real life heโs not. Heโs acting. Heโs in a movie. Our music is just like that. Itโs acting. I know some people will not agree with me, or be like, โNo, you guys inspire (others), you guys better be careful with what you say, what you do.โ Iโve been listening to reggaeton my whole life, a whole bunch of โbadโ music my whole life, and I have become the best man that I could ever be. I donโt drink, I donโt smoke, and Iโve been listening to drinking and smoking music my whole life.
When you have values and when you have good parents, you donโt need to worry about what any music says. I try to keep it separate, but when it comes to love music, when it comes to romantic music, I get inspired by my wife, by my little daughter.
Overall, what is something that changed within you once you had a daughter?
I wanted to become a better man. Iโve worked a lot on my temper, on my ego, on my joy. What changed in me was, I have a little girl and I know one day sheโll fall in love and I know how we men are when weโre prideful, when we let our ego take control.
I want my daughter to be like, โI donโt deserve this. I have seen my dad, I have seen the way he loves my mom, the way he treats my mom and Iโm not going to let anybody treat me the way Iโm not supposed to be treated.โ