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For many, grandparents represent a vital connection to the past, bridging formative years with the wisdom of previous generations. For Jay Wheeler, his bond with his grandmother, Clara Luz, is a cherished relationship that has shaped him personally and artistically.

“One of the most gorgeous treasures I have in my life is my abuela,” Wheeler says. “She’s a person that loves to go out, who loves to party, and I’m lucky to still have her with me and have her healthy.”

Beyond being a vibrant personality, his grandmother has instilled core values in the singer, who has been redefining romance with his albums “Emociones” and “Emociones 1.5.”

“She taught me to be respectful, to always be empathetic to people, and to have a healthy fear of God. I’m a person who believes very strongly in God, thanks to her,” the singer says, adding that she also taught him to “just be loving with the world.”

This caring nature is evident in his music and interactions with fans and the media. Wheeler has mentioned his preference to avoid sunglasses so fans can see his eyes. Musically, the protégé of DJ Nelson is sought after for bringing classic crooner sensibilities to contemporary trap and reggaetón. His recent work, “Musica Bueno Para Días Malos,” offers a futuristic exploration of love’s complexities.Recently, he covered the classic song “Cinnamon skin.“

“I was actually really nervous as I know it’s a classic, that it’s something that you don’t want to mess up,” he says. “So, my intention was never to make a better version or anything like that. My intention was just to make my version of a classic song – one that reminds me of my grandmother.”

McDonald’s Collaboration and Honoring His Abuela

The possibility to cover the song arose from a collaboration with McDonald’s, which is promoting its new “Grandma McFlurry” and offering fans a chance to meet the reggaetonero.For Wheeler, this collaboration allows him to cover a classic and honor his abuelita, who fostered his love for music through her passion for song and dance.

“My grandmother always wanted to be a singer . . . and that inspired me. From a very young age, she instilled [that desire] in me. And she always wanted to be famous,” Wheeler laughs. “[To this day,] if you give her a stage and microphone,she’ll dance and sing.”

“My intention was just to make my version of a classic song – one that reminds me of my grandmother.”

Wheeler recalls a childhood video of him and his abuela singing and dancing. Today, Wheeler’s rising star is evident, with the McDonald’s campaign highlighting his marketability. As part of the Grandma McFlurry campaign, Wheeler and his grandmother filmed a commercial together, promoting the new snack and a related TikTok competition, giving his abuelita her moment in the spotlight.

Future Plans and Musical Exploration

What’s next for Wheeler and Grandma Clara Luz? Wheeler is currently touring, with a stop at The theater at Madison Square Garden scheduled after Puerto Rican Weekend, where he will perform his reggaetón and trap hits. While urbano music is his focus, he is open to exploring other genres.

“I’m open to doing anything when it comes to music. There’s no limit. I’m always going to challenge myself to do everything,” Wheeler says.

“Obviously,not everything is going to suit me,but I’ll always try,” he adds.”I’m very open to everything, to doing rock music, classic music, whatever. I’m always going to try and give it my touch – my best shot.”

In addition to genre exploration, Wheeler has collaborated with his wife, singer Zhamira Zambrano. A duet with his abuelita might be in the future.Whatever he pursues, his grandmother will support him, knowing her passion inspired his success.