Daddy Yankee is entering a new chapter—and it’s nothing like the one that made him a global reggaeton powerhouse.
After stepping away from the spotlight in 2023, the Puerto Rican icon announced that he's focused on faith-driven music, which he says reflects where he is now.
In a new sit-down with ABC News correspondent Rocsi Diaz—set to air on November 20—he opens up about why he’s leaning fully into gospel influences and how the transition has changed him.
He describes the shift as a personal and artistic reset. “Live the present,” he tells Diaz. “And always depend on your best friend, which is Jesus.”
He also explains that the transformation didn’t come with instant clarity. Instead, he frames it as an ongoing process marked by self-reflection and growth.
“The beauty of this journey is that everything that happens to you is a lesson,” he says in the interview. “I’m not perfect. I’m going through the process. I make mistakes every day. I have weaknesses. And that’s real good, because…I’m getting to know myself better every day, and trying to be better and face my vulnerabilities.”
The shift has sparked reactions from longtime fans—some of whom still hold tight to the artist behind songs like “Gasolina.” When Diaz asks if anyone has told him they miss the old Daddy Yankee, he doesn’t hesitate. “Oh yeah. Oh yes. They told me, ‘I miss the old one,’” he says. “And I say, okay, that’s good. I understand. But you’re gonna love the new one.”
This moment arrives just days after previous headlines involving Daddy Yankee and the upcoming 2026 Super Bowl halftime show. Though Bad Bunny is slated to lead the performance, he recently clarified that fans shouldn’t expect a “Gasolina” reunion.
“I’m on a different mission right now,” he told ABC News, noting that while he respects Bad Bunny, his priorities have shifted. Still, he hinted that performing one of his more inspirational tracks—like “Sonríele”—would be a different conversation.
The whole conversation between Daddy Yankee and Rocsi Diaz airs on November 20 on ABC News Live at 8:30 p.m. ET.
