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Carly Rae Jepsen has revealed a surprising connection between her newborn’s name and a hit hockey romance on TV, and the admission has fans of both the singer and the show talking. In a recent interview, Jepsen linked her son’s name to a beloved character, and she signaled interest in collaborating on the series’ next season.
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Jepsen told the Hollywood Reporter she was a big fan of the Crave series Heated Rivalry. The show features a character named Ilya, played by actor Connor Storrie.
She confirmed the name of her baby boy is Ilya, and hinted the series may have helped inspire that choice. Jepsen stopped short of a definitive claim, but left little doubt the show played a role.
Could Carly Rae Jepsen write a song for Season 2?
After Heated Rivalry director Jacob Tierney mentioned on the What Chaos! podcast that he wanted an original song for the series, Jepsen called the idea a dream.
She said it would be “a dream” to create music for Season 2, signaling openness to a collaboration that would bridge her pop career and the show’s fandom.
Family milestones: baby Ilya, marriage and partner details
- Baby born: Jepsen welcomed her son in March.
- Partner: She and music producer Cole M.G.N., full name Cole Marsden Greif-Neill, have been together since 2022.
- Wedding: The couple married in October 2025 at the Chelsea Hotel’s Bard Room.
- Ceremony notes: The wedding was intimate and officiated by Jepsen’s aunt and uncle.
Jepsen, 40, and her husband, 41, have kept many personal moments low-key. Still, the baby name revelation ties her private life to a public cultural moment.
How Heated Rivalry became a cultural phenomenon
The Crave drama launched in November 2025 and quickly grew into an unexpected hit. Based on Rachel Reid’s books, the story follows two professional hockey players in a long-running secret romance.
Stars include Connor Storrie as Ilya and Hudson Williams as Shane Hollander. The show’s blend of sports and romance struck a chord, creating an intense, vocal fan base.
Fandom tensions and cast responses
The series’ popularity has not been without problems. Cast members pushed back against abusive behavior from some viewers.
Co-stars spoke out against racist, homophobic and otherwise hateful comments aimed at actors and crew. They emphasized that abuse is not acceptable and urged fans who engage in that behavior to stop.
Season 2 timeline and filming buzz in Toronto
Season 2 is slated for release in April 2027. Production is underway in Toronto, where the show’s stars have become more recognizable than a year ago.
Toronto social columnists note the cast’s sudden visibility at events like TIFF. One local observer said the actors now draw significant attention at the festival.
Connor Storrie was recently seen working out at the Shangri-La hotel with a security detail, reflecting the increased public interest around the cast.
What this means for music and media crossovers
Jepsen’s linking of a personal choice to a TV character highlights the growing overlap between streaming hits and pop music. A potential original song for the series would deepen that crossover.
For now, fans are watching three threads at once: Jepsen’s new family chapter, Heated Rivalry’s second season, and the possibility of a musical collaboration that could unite both audiences.
