Daddy Yankee’s family was front and center on one of the biggest nights of his career. He was honored as the Latin Recording Academy’s 2026 Person of the Year on Wednesday, kicking off the final stretch before the 27th annual Latin GRAMMY Awards. Friends and fellow artists turned out to celebrate the man credited with taking reggaeton global. When his turn came at the microphone, he made a point of praising his children. At least two of them.
© Billboard via Getty ImagesThe singer sent shout-outs to his eldest daughter, Yamilet, and his son, Jeremy. His daughter Jesaaelys was unmentioned, suggesting that the rift between father and daughter hasn't healed, even after she welcomed her first child during the summer.
"There’s no greater pride for a father than watching his children grow professionally and having the privilege of working with them," said Daddy Yankee, in Spanish. “Yamilet, it fills me with pride to see the woman you’ve become and to see you leading the company, handling the accounting for El Cartel Records. It’s incredible, with so much responsibility and professionalism."
He then addressed his son. "And Jeremy, you’re becoming an elite producer, and your work as a producer and music executive is paying off today. Congratulations, excellent work."
© Billboard via Getty Images"Watching you grow, develop your talent and build alongside you is one of the greatest blessings of my life," he added.
Before addressing his family, Daddy Yankee looked back at the start of his career, sharing a story of himself as a teenager, when he was dreaming of becoming a baseball player. His dreams crumbled when a stray bullet hit him.
“I come from La Loma and San José, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. That’s where I learned there’s no shortage of talent in the barrio. What’s missing is opportunity. When I was 17, those who know me know I dreamed of being a ballplayer, and a stray bullet changed my life. That day I thought my dream was gone, but today I understand that God was redirecting me."
The two children he named have both stood by him through a turbulent couple of years. Yamilet was named director of his companies, El Cartel Records and Los Cangris, in January 2025. These changes took place amid a legal battle with his ex-wife Mireddys González. Jeremy has been building his own career.
Jesaaelys is a different story. The distance between them traces back to her parents’ divorce and the legal fight that followed. In January 2025, Daddy Yankee acknowledged the strain after leaving court with media outlets. Days later, Jesaaelys shared a video of her own, revealing that the relationship was damaged and that he knew the reason why.
Since then, the gap has only become more visible. Daddy Yankee was reportedly absent from Jesaaelys’s October 2025 wedding to Carlos Olmo, and he made no public comment when the couple welcomed their daughter, Eira del Mar.
Daddy Yankee walked the red carpet with a special woman
None of that kept him from savoring the night with his mother. Daddy Yankee walked the red carpet with Rosa Rodríguez by his side. He wore an all-black suit and dark sunglasses, while she wore an elegant black off-the-shoulder gown with a beaded neckline, finished with a diamond necklace and matching earrings.
The celebration continues tonight, when the 27th Latin GRAMMY Awards take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The awards show kicks off tonight at 7 pm ET on Univision, UniMas, ViX, and Galavision.
© AFP via Getty Images
