Reggaeton Icon Daddy Yankee Finds Redemption in Christ After Personal Turmoil

In the past year, renowned reggaeton artist Daddy Yankee has experienced a profound personal and professional transformation. After announcing his retirement from music in 2022, the 49-year-old Puerto Rican singer-songwriter has now publicly embraced Christianity, declaring that "Jesus lives in me and I live for him."

Daddy Yankee, whose real name is Raymond Ayala, had previously kept his religious conversion private, as he had many contractual obligations to fulfill. However, in December 2023, he made a shocking revelation to his fans at the final show of his farewell tour, stating that a "new story begins" for him.

Since then, Ayala has been actively spreading his newfound faith, releasing music with positive, inspirational messages and embarking on missions to Africa. His latest single, "Sonríele," a peppy merengue track, is the first release under his own DY Records label through a deal with HYBE Latin America.

Ayala's personal life has also been turbulent, as his wife of nearly 30 years, Mireddys González, filed for divorce in December 2024. This has led to a series of legal disputes over his business assets and music catalog, which has seen parts of his catalog sold to various entities in recent years.

Despite these challenges, Ayala is determined to move forward with his "music with a purpose" vision, aiming to "revolutionize and reinvent" the industry with his faith-inspired approach. He is now managing his own affairs and has learned valuable lessons about the importance of being involved in all aspects of his career.