For recording artist Jay Wheeler, there is βnothing better than being a father.β
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 itβs had on his life and career.
βThis is the greatest prize, the greatest blessing that God has ever given me. Iβm always with her, every single day, every single night, every single morning, afternoon. Sheβs my best friend,β the Puerto Rican singer tells TODAY.com about his 1-year-old daughter Aiunii. βItβs one of the most beautiful things that I have in my life.β
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 girlβs birth, he was inspired to write βAiunii,β a sentimental song about a fatherβs promise to his daughter. The song is featured on his 2025 album βGirasoles.β
βYou came along and changed my story/I wasnβt ready/And even though Iβm scared/It feels wonderful,β he sings, later adding, βI cannot promise to be there/For the rest of your life, but I can love you/For the rest of mine.β
In May, he released his latest album, βLa Voz Favorita,β which translates to βThe Favorite Voice.β He calls it βthe most beautiful project Iβve ever done in my life,β in part because of the experiences with his daughter and wife that have helped shape the music.
βI left my heart in that album,β he says.
Ahead of his second Fatherβs 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, βI donβt know how you did it with me, with my brother.β We donβt smoke, we donβt drink, we donβt go out, we werenβt with a lot of girls. We didnβt do that. And she was like, βI just prayed every single night, every single day. I prayed for you guys.β
She was the most amazing mom. I always tell her that I want to be like her. But at the same time, she wasnβt too touchy, (affectionate). She showed us love in 100 different ways, but that was one way that she didnβt because when she was growing up, she didnβt get it as much. Something that I learned is to give hugs, give kisses. Thereβs a lot of ways to express love, but physically, sometimes itβs even better than anything.
Do you have a parenting rule that you always follow?
I feel like Iβm 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 βthank you, youβre welcome, cΓ³mo estΓ‘s?, un placer,β all of that. Sheβs 1 year old, but believe it or not, she knows how to do all of those things.
There was a moment you didnβt want to share photos of your daughter. What changed?
Sheβs the most beautiful thing thatβs ever happened in my life. So imagine keeping that private from the world forever? It was going to be horrible. Thatβs 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 donβt want to put a hoodie on her.
I was scared that she would grow up and be like, βWhy did you guys hide me?β And she wouldnβt understand why. I prefer her to get mad and be like, βYo, you guys exposed me a lot.β I would be like, βBaby, youβre my greatest prize.β
Thereβs 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, βAlways be present. Try to always be present.β And from J Balvin, he was like, βDonβt listen to the internet because people are going to go crazy no matter what.β
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 heβs violent, but in real life heβs not. Heβs acting. Heβs in a movie. Our music is just like that. Itβs acting. I know some people will not agree with me, or be like, βNo, you guys inspire (others), you guys better be careful with what you say, what you do.β Iβve been listening to reggaeton my whole life, a whole bunch of βbadβ music my whole life, and I have become the best man that I could ever be. I donβt drink, I donβt smoke, and Iβve been listening to drinking and smoking music my whole life.
When you have values and when you have good parents, you donβt 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. Iβve 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 sheβll fall in love and I know how we men are when weβre prideful, when we let our ego take control.
I want my daughter to be like, βI donβt deserve this. I have seen my dad, I have seen the way he loves my mom, the way he treats my mom and Iβm not going to let anybody treat me the way Iβm not supposed to be treated.β