Most people know the Aguilar name means one thing: the grand sounds of ranchera and mariachi music. But José Emiliano Aguilar, Pepe Aguilar’s eldest son, decided to march to a very different beat. He found his true calling in urban music. It’s a style he deeply connects with. He feels it speaks for his generation.
Emiliano is 32 years old. He’s the son of Pepe Aguilar and his first wife, Carmen Treviño. Their marriage ended in the mid-nineties. This makes him the half-brother of Ángela, Leonardo, and Aneliz Aguilar. They are Pepe’s children with his current wife, Aneliz Álvarez Alcalá. Unlike his younger siblings, who grew up immersed in traditional Mexican music and took it worldwide, Emiliano was drawn to reggaeton, trap, and other urban styles.
José Emiliano has shared his music on social media. You can check out some of his work here: his musical work. His songs feature modern lyrics and sounds that resonate with young audiences. For him, urban music is more than just a genre. It’s a personal way to express himself. It lets him talk about his life, feelings, and hopes. He might not be in the spotlight as much as his siblings, but he’s building his own unique artistic space. He proves the Aguilar dynasty can have many different flavors, not just ranchera.
Emiliano’s Family Differences with His Father and Siblings
In 2022, José Emiliano Aguilar became a father. He welcomed a daughter named Aís Aguilar Peñaflor. This event opened a new chapter in his life. He proudly shows her off in some posts. She has become his driving force. She’s his main inspiration to keep pushing his music career forward.
However, the singer shared a surprising detail in an interview. He confessed that Pepe Aguilar has not met his granddaughter. "He doesn’t ask me, and I don’t tell him; it’s a mutual thing," Emiliano said in a January 2025 podcast called RadioShowFM. You can hear his comments here: he said. He added, "I’d like him to meet her, but only if he wants to, because I don’t want to force it; I want it to be natural."
In the same chat, he also mentioned another disappointment. He wasn’t invited to his sister Ángela Aguilar’s wedding. She married fellow singer Christian Nodal in July 2024. "I didn’t know (she was getting married); I found out on Instagram, and honestly, I felt pretty down," he commented. Watch his thoughts here: he commented.
Pepe Aguilar, on his part, learned about his son Emiliano having another daughter during an interview. This was with a prominent publication, Us Weekly en Español. "I understand, actually, I didn’t know my son Emiliano already has another daughter… and I didn’t know, they just told me," the 56-year-old artist confessed, clearly surprised. "But well, now I’m a grandpa to two, double." The "Por mujeres como tú" singer also admitted he hasn’t met either of his granddaughters. "I hope to meet them soon," he added softly.
Recently, José Emiliano stirred up more family drama. He lashed out at his father. This happened after Pepe Aguilar made comments about his ex-wife, Carmen. Pepe had told Pati Chapoy in an interview that the distance with José Emiliano wasn’t his choice. "I didn’t move away; his mom took him (Emiliano)," Pepe stated. "We lived in Mexico City… One day she chose to leave."
This led to a public clash. Emiliano responded to those claims. He publicly questioned his family. He launched videos and messages on his social media, expressing anger over how his mother was treated. He also challenged his father’s story. He even brought up Ángela Aguilar’s former boyfriend, a football player. You can see some of his posts here: Launched videos and messages. This controversy has certainly widened the gap between Emiliano and his father, as well as his three siblings. Still, the singer has often repeated that he doesn’t live off the Aguilar name or the famous dynasty.