Carly Rae Jepsen Named Her Son Ilya — After a Character in Heated Rivalry
Carly Rae Jepsen has revealed the name of her first child: Ilya, the same name as a character in the hockey romance series Heated Rivalry. The singer shared the detail in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, confirming what fans of the show might have already suspected.
Jepsen welcomed her son earlier this year with her husband, producer Cole M.G.N. She first announced the birth on Instagram in March, writing: "Last 2 weeks have been the best of my life. Welcome to the world little one." At the time, she did not share the baby's name or gender. Jepsen, 40, had announced her pregnancy in November 2025, one month after she and Cole M.G.N. married. Billboard
The name is a direct nod to Heated Rivalry, a series based on Rachel Reid's six-book Game Changers romance novels. The show, created by Jacob Tierney, aired its first season on HBO Max in the U.S. and as a Crave Original Series in Canada. The character Ilya is played by actor Connor Storrie. Jepsen has been open about being a devoted fan of the series.
The connection between the singer and the show goes deeper than a baby name. Tierney had previously said he wanted Jepsen to write an original song for the first season, but the production could not afford it. Jepsen confirmed the missed collaboration herself, telling The Hollywood Reporter that the series' budget was the reason it fell through. Billboard
She is not letting the opportunity go. Jepsen said writing a song for the second season would be a "dream" and that she has not yet heard from Tierney about the possibility. Season 2, which will adapt The Long Game — the sixth book in Reid's series and the direct sequel to the first Shane and Ilya story — is expected to premiere in April 2027 on Crave and HBO Max. Deadline
Music from the first season has already made chart impressions. The soundtrack's "It's You" and "Rivalry" debuted on Billboard's Digital Song Sales and Dance Digital Song Sales charts, respectively. Harrison's cover of t.A.T.u.'s "All the Things She Said" reached No. 55 on the Billboard Canada charts after the show gave it a boost. Little Mix's "Secret Love Song, Pt. II" has become the series' signature track, with Billboard describing it as capturing the show's theme of love kept in the shadows.
Jepsen's next album, Day and Night, arrives on 18 September. The double album is split into two halves: a psychedelic pop "Day" side and a synth-heavy electropop "Night" side. Whether any of it ends up soundtracking a future season of Heated Rivalry is, for now, up to Jacob Tierney's phone.
