Stephen Wilson Jr. emerged as a breakout force in 2025, steadily adding new milestones to an already illustrious career resume.

Following the release of his 2023 debut album søn of dad, the Indiana-born singer-songwriter released a deluxe version of that critically-acclaimed album, and also issued the EP Blankets, which featured cover versions of rock songs from The Smashing Pumpkins, Nirvana and more.

He had not one, but two, performance slots at the 2025 CMA Awards. Wilson Jr. not only gave a top-tier acoustic rendition of Ben E. King’s classic “Stand By Me,” but also teamed with Shaboozey for a collaboration on “Took a Walk.” Both Wilson Jr. and Shaboozey were nominated for new artist of the year at the CMAs.

Wilson Jr. commanded several high-profile performances this year, performing the national anthem during 2025’s NFL Draft, and making his headlining debut at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium in November, spearheading two shows at the iconic venue. In addition to embarking on his søn of dad headlining tour, he joined HARDY’s Jim Bob World Tour, opened for Eric Church at Red Rocks and made his Newport Folk Festival debut. Wilson Jr. also released collaborations with Noah Cyrus and Dierks Bentley this year.

Wilson Jr. gave fans a deep look into his whirlwind 2025 by posting a recent video on social media, highlighting moments both on and offstage.

Among the many impactful moments in the clip is one that takes place backstage at one of Wilson Jr.’s Ryman Auditorium shows, when HARDY surprised him backstage with a painting of famed boxer Joe Louis, painted by Mellencamp.

“Happy end of tour gift,” HARDY is seen telling Wilson Jr. in the video.

Wilson Jr. captioned the video, “a lot can happen in a year…one very much on the run like a feral dog from a salt-shot gun, more than our legs are used to perhaps but ready they are.” He continued, “besides a set of days what is a year anyway? a collection of time or memories combined. whatever it is it was a hell of one. thank you to all of you that were there. it’s not always easy to be somewhere. it takes more than showing up and damn did you all show up. humans unfurled. now it’s time to slow it down going under frozen ground, but not for long for Spring is near. see you soon in the newest year. love y’all like no other world.”

In 2026, he’ll headline the Gary the Torch Tour, which launches March 6 in Columbus, Ohio.

See the video below:

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J Balvin and Residente surprised fans by sharing a joint Instagram post on Wednesday (Dec. 31) that appears to symbolize reconciliation after their highly publicized feud since 2022. The rift stemmed from Residente’s “BZRP Music Sessions #49” with Argentine producer Bizarrap, a diss track aimed at Balvin that reached No. 22 on Billboard‘s Hot Latin Songs chart in 2022 and currently boasts over 203 million views.

The fallout between the two Latin icons was revisited last Friday (Dec. 26) as Balvin released his own collaboration with Bizarrap, “BZRP Music Sessions #62/66.”

In the photo shared on Instagram, the artists are seen chillin’ casually, smiling at the camera. The Colombian juggernaut sports a t-shirt and light blue denim jeans, while the Puerto Rican rapper wears a t-shirt and beige cargo pants.

“Given the immensity of things happening in the world, this is possibly one of the smallest. But in such a complex world, two people who don’t agree on everything being able to reconnect seems valuable to us,” Balvin captioned the post in Spanish.

He continued: “Months ago, we met up. We listened to each other. We understood each other. In the end, time is always right.”

The post immediately gained traction, going viral within minutes. Over 180K likes had been recorded just over 30 minutes after its publication, with fans and prominent figures in the Latin music industry flooding the comments section. Artists such as Arcángel, Yandel, Tito El Bambino, Jay Wheeler, J Alvarez, and Mau Montaner expressed support with applause emojis, affirming words, and gestures of admiration.

The moment follows Balvin’s involvement in Bizarrap’s highly anticipated “BZRP Music Sessions #62/66,” as he and the Argentine producer worked together for the first time. This session notably did not include any response to Residente’s 2022 diss track, with Balvin instead offering introspective lyrics reflecting on personal growth.

Neither artist has provided additional details about their reconciliation.

See their shared Instagram post here.

Travis Kelce is opening up about spending the holidays with Taylor Swift.

During the latest episode of his New Heights podcast on Wednesday (Dec. 31), the 36-year-old Kansas City Chiefs tight end revealed that he spent Christmas with his fiancée, 36 and her family, and teased his favorite gift of the season.

“The best gift that I got was from Taylor,” Kelce said while appearing alongside his co-host and brother Jason Kelce. “But it gives away things that we’re trying to keep in-house. So I’m not going to say it. I love you, Tay.”

The NFL star also mentioned that Swift’s younger brother, Austin Swift, gave him a “great gift,” but he declined to share details about that present as well.

Travis’ older sibling Jason added, “The Swifts are good gift givers,” a remark Travis wholeheartedly agreed with.

This isn’t the first time Kelce has discussed gift-giving with his soon-to-be wife. On the Christmas Eve episode of New Heights, during a conversation with his brother and sister-in-law Kylie Kelce, Travis revealed one of his “favorite” gifts he’d given to Swift.

“I will say one of Tay’s favorite gifts that I got her was the bread slicer,” Travis said. “[I bought it] because she’s been throwing together so much f—king sourdough.”

Travis and Swift announced their engagement in late August, sharing Instagram photos of the athlete proposing on one knee in a rose-filled garden. Their engagement followed nearly two years of dating. Fans first discovered Kelce’s feelings for Swift on a 2023 episode of the New Heights.

Watch Travis teasing his favorite Christmas gift from Taylor on the New Heights podcast below.

For Roberto Rosado, better known as La Paciencia, the key to his craft has always been in the name.

With a steady hand and an ear for emotive storytelling, he’s quietly become one of Latin music’s most important producers, all while staying laser-focused on achieving the perfect sound. “What I do in the studio is mix his voice to make sure everything sounds perfect,” La Paciencia tells Billboard Español about his work with Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny.

That voice, an instantly recognizable timbre on Debí Tirar Más Fotos, reached record-breaking heights in 2025. La Paciencia helped Bad Bunny craft an era-defining album that smashed every conceivable barrier, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and Top Latin Albums, staying at the top for multiple weeks.

The project also reached universal acclaim, topping Billboard’s staff-curated 100 Best Albums of 2025 and 25 Best Latin Albums of 2025 year-end lists. With Bad Bunny’s multiple Grammy nominations in top categories (including album, record, and song of the year) and five Latin Grammy wins, including album of the year, Debí Tirar Más Fotos solidified its place as a cultural phenomenon — and for La Paciencia, it was an extension of a partnership forged more than a decade ago.

In the past year, La Paciencia was responsible for 18 Bad Bunny songs that made it onto the Hot Latin Songs chart, accumulating a total of 13 weeks in the No. 1 spot, which secured him the No. 1 position on the year-end Latin Producers chart.

“Right now, I can’t see myself working with anyone else,” says La Paciencia, referring to his deep connection with the megastar. Long before the groundbreaking moments of Debí Tirar Más Fotos, it was the Vega Baja creator’s work on songs like “Diles,” “Me Acostumbré” and other SoundCloud-era Latin trap gems that first shaped Benito’s initial rise to global stardom. Eleven years later, the producer-artist duo has now grown into a powerhouse, constantly rewriting the rules of what Latin music can be.

The success of the album was not an individual studio effort. While La Paciencia played a crucial role in the creation of the album, other key producers like Tainy, MAG and Big Jay were also hugely fundamental to the process, bringing their expertise to life and helping create a historic masterpiece that broke barriers.

While continuing to elevate Bad Bunny’s music remains paramount, he also hopes to expand his influence as an independent collaborator. “My priority right now is for people to hear a little bit of what I can do as a producer and enjoy it at home or in their car,” he says.

La Paciencia spoke in-depth with Billboard Español.

Congratulations on reaching No. 1 on the year-end Latin Producers chart! Did you expect this recognition, especially with the work you’ve done?

Not at all, honestly. I saw the message they sent me saying I’m the [No. 1 Latin] producer, and I was shocked. Yes, I was part of the album, but there are also great producers on the album like Tainy, MAG, Big Jay, Irizarry, Anthony — a lot of people who contributed so much to the album and made it special. I didn’t think I’d be the one to take it. It was almost like a Christmas gift. I’m grateful for this recognition from Billboard.

We have to talk about the creation of some tracks from the album — for example, “Café con Ron.” What was the creative process behind the song?

Believe it or not, it was stored away for a year, almost two. Benito stayed at Las Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián (also known as ‘SanSe’) since he had never stayed there before. We were staying to feel the vibe of Puerto Rico, to soak up the energy of the people from PR. We were in a little spot with a great vibe, surrounded by good people.

One day Benito says to me, “Hey, what if you turn on the mic and we sit down to record?” When we sat down, he sang and showed me the idea. For me, it was super amazing. MAG is the other producer on the track. The whole experience was incredible. And the fact that the track was recorded a year, almost two years, before the album came out, for me, it’s something I carry in my heart — a very special track.

And “Nuevayol” — was it inspired by your trips to New York and seeing the Puerto Rican community? What did you take from that?

Most of the time, we’re in Los Angeles or New York, and yeah, we’ve spent a lot of time in New York. I couldn’t really tell you if it was specifically inspired by the culture or the Puerto Rican community there, but it must’ve taken something from it, because Puerto Rican culture is something else. They’re so proud to be Boricua. And about the Gran Combo track (“Un verano en Nueva York”), he drew some inspiration from that, like we say here, from that musical muse. The video is super beautiful with a great message. It was really nice to create that song from scratch and to see how it went from the beginning to what it became today: New York with an L.

What’s your personal favorite track?

This might sound random because the album has tracks like “DTmF,” “Baile Inolvidable,” and “La Mudanza,” which are all super beautiful, but my favorite track is “Perfumito Nuevo.” I really like RaiNao; I love her music and what she does. I’d been listening to her for a while before working with her on this album. When the opportunity came to work with both artists, Benito and her, I was hyped.

From the moment we went into the studio to work on the track, I listened to what she sang, and I was like, “Wow.” I don’t know if you’ve seen the Spongebob meme where he’s blasting off out of bed, but that’s how I felt every time I heard her [voice]. I don’t know if it did big numbers, but when I’m in the car and that track comes on, it makes me so happy. I enjoy it a lot.

Editor’s note: “Perfumito Nuevo” reached No. 1 on the Latin Airplay chart dated January 3, 2026. The news was published on Tuesday (December 30). This interview took place on Monday (December 29).

Your connection with Bad Bunny has resulted in unforgettable music. How would you describe the vibe in the studio when you’re creating together?

I remember it like it was yesterday. It’s been almost 11 years now working together. We had a lot of mutual friends… so collaborating in the studio just happened. It all came very naturally. Right now, I can’t see myself working with anyone else. He’s my brother. Beyond the personal connection, musically, it’s beautiful to work with him, I find it very special. We spend so much time making music together, whether it’s in the studio or at writing camps. I think his personality makes everything even more special. He’s an amazing person, super smart. When he goes into the studio, he’s focused, he knows exactly what he wants to do, he doesn’t waste time. I really enjoy making music with him. He’s my favorite artist right now.

[Several] members of Benito’s crew are from Vega Baja, like Anthony and DJ Orma. We all knew each other before the music.

What was one of the first collaborations between you two?

A lot of the tracks we started working on aren’t really out there anymore because they were on SoundCloud. If you’re on SoundCloud, you can still listen to them: “Diles,” “Tú No Vives Así,” “Me Acostumbré.” Almost everything he has on there, we worked on together. My tags used to be on those track [covers] back then. “Diles” was one of the first, almost 10 or 11 years ago. We were in the studio not expecting anything, working on it with care and love, and the public loved it — it was crazy. That’s where his career took off, and he continued being the artist he is today.

Tell me about how you got started in music production.

I had a stepdad who had a studio. He didn’t make beats or instrumentals, but he was an executive producer, the one who provided the studio. And when I was a kid, I would always go there to kill time, to keep myself entertained, doing something fun. I really liked recording and mixing vocals. I paid a lot of attention to the dialogue, making sure it sounded super clear. And I ended up really falling in love with it. I can tell you that, since I was a kid, probably around 12 or 13 years old, I was already in the studio watching other artists record.

Who were your musical idols?

I was crazy about Arcángel, he was my No. 1. I really liked Don Omar and Tego Calderón — my stepdad introduced me to him. I still listen to Tego Calderón and think, “That instrumental sounds futuristic for something that came out 15 years ago.”

In English, I liked 50 Cent and Eminem while I was growing up, but I leaned more toward Latin music, and I can tell you it was pretty much the whole [urban Puerto Rican] genre. I used to buy the $5 CDs they sold at Walgreens and would spend all day recording music.

Are you going to be on tour with Bad Bunny, or just in certain cities?

I can tell you that I’m with him about 99.9% of the time. If he wants to record, I’m always on it. What I do in the studio is mix his voice to make sure everything sounds perfect. I record him live so that he has the right tone, so it sounds just like it does on the record, and so people can really appreciate what he does. So yes, my answer is that I’m with him for the whole tour. I’ve been touring with him since 2018, doing the same thing. I really enjoy being on tour.

Besides being on tour, we’re going to do the Super Bowl.

Now that you’ve reached No. 1 on our year-end Latin Producers chart, what’s next for 2026? What’s your personal goal?

I’m not promising anything, but once the tour is over, we’re going to work on a new album. You come into the studio full of energy, knowing that the album [Debí Tirar Más Fotos] was something people really enjoyed. We’re going to work on what’s next so that people can keep enjoying it — the music and Benito as an artist.

If I had to say a goal, I’d say releasing my own music so people can enjoy a bit of what I do as an independent producer with other artists. What I bring to the table with Benito, I want people to see that with other artists too. For example, working with Arcángel, who’s an artist I’ve liked since I was a kid, and collaborating with producers like Tainy or MAG in the studio. My priority right now is for people to hear a little bit of what I can do as a producer and enjoy it at home or in their car.

To explore previous chart-toppers of Billboard’s Year-End Latin Producers list, take a look back at 2022, 2023, and 2024.

T.I. and Lil Wayne established themselves as kings of the South throughout the 2000s in hip-hop, linking up on plenty of occasions for collaborations. While Wayne is two years younger than Tip, T.I. was actually a fan of Weezy during his run with the Hot Boys in the ’90s.

The four-time Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper sat down with DJ Whoo Kid for an episode of Whoo’s House podcast last week, where he recalled the days of hustling as a teen while listening to the Hot Boys.

“I’m a Hot Boys fan. I sold crack to the Hot Boys. Literally, man. Get It How U Live!, Guerrilla Warfare, I cut crack up and sold it listening to this music,” T.I. said. “B.G., Big Tymers, this was when Wayne was a teenager. I remember when Wayne couldn’t even curse.”

Tip continued to give Wayne his flowers: “To see what [Wayne’s] become and what he’s evolved into, it’s kinda we always knew it, but to see it come into fruition is super dope. I think he’s definitely legendary.”

When asked by Whoo Kid if he thought Lil Wayne influenced his music style, T.I. quickly shut down the thought.

“Excuse me, nah. Hell nah. He ain’t influence. Hell nah. That ain’t what I said. I ain’t said no s—t like that. We do push each other,” the Hustle Gang CEO explained. “As far as when I hear him do something dope, I’m like, ‘Oh okay, let me go do something doper.’ That’s what it take to evolve and set the game on another level. I think Wayne got his own lane, and I got mine.”

In the past, Tip and Weezy joined forces for tracks like “Wit Me,” “Ball” and the legendary posse cut “Swagga Like Us” alongside Jay-Z and Kanye West.

Watch the full interview below. Talk about Lil Wayne takes place shortly after the one-minute mark.