Vanita Leo Lands on Rolling Stone’s List of the 50 Best Latin and Spanish-Language Songs of 2025

San Antonio’s own Vanita Leo is closing out 2025 with a major milestone, earning a spot on Rolling Stone’s list of The 50 Best Latin and Spanish-Language Songs of 2025. Her standout single “La Cumbia Wepa” charted at No. 35, placing the rising Tejana among some of the most influential voices in Latin music today.

Rolling Stone highlighted Leo as a key figure in cumbia’s current resurgence, writing, “Cumbia is experiencing a revival, and Vanita Leo has emerged as one of its most promising voices.” The publication praised the Alan Vega-produced track for its genre-blending edge, noting that Leo’s vocals “glide over the sonidito rhythms of Mexico City cumbia before a playful rap verse aimed at Cupid, who ‘f**ked up once again.’”

According to Rolling Stone, the song captures Leo’s sense of liberation following heartbreak, anchored by the defiant lyric, “Un corazón roto, se cura con otro!” The magazine added that Leo’s fusion of classic cumbia, experimental delivery, and a distinct Tejano touch makes “La Cumbia Wepa” a true standout—and a defining moment in her rapidly growing career.

Leo took to social media to celebrate the honor, sharing her gratitude with fans and supporters. “We have been blessed to be featured on Rolling Stone for four of our released throughout to 2025 but to make this list is absolutely insane!” she wrote. “Thank you ALL from the bottom of my heart and for supporting Vanita Leo! Muchos Besos con todo mi amor. Can’t wait for 2026!”

This latest recognition builds on Leo’s expanding relationship with the iconic publication. In 2024, Rolling Stone named her among its “Latin Artists on Our Radar,” signaling early on that the San Antonio native was one to watch.

At just 23 years old, Vanita Leo has already carved out a unique lane as a Chicana singer-songwriter blending traditional Latin genres with modern pop and R&B. Born in 2002, she is widely associated with the new wave of Chicano sound, often described for her “dreamy, sun-soaked” cumbia style.

Music runs deep in Leo’s roots. She comes from a multi-generational family of respected Tejano and mariachi musicians in San Antonio. Her father, Marco Jaime, is a longtime vocalist for cumbia and Tejano groups including Los Hermanos Jaime and Grupo Rodeo, and also served as a backup vocalist for Jay Perez. Her aunt, Esmeralda Jaime, is a Tejano music icon and vocal coach, while her grandfather Refugio Jaime was a renowned mariachi and trio singer. Her uncle, Miguel Guzman, leads Mariachi Los Galleros and heads the San Antonio Mariachi Academy.

Vanita Leo’s catalog continues to reflect that lineage while pushing boundaries forward. She released her debut EP Historia De Un Amor in 2023, followed by the critically acclaimed Cumbiamante in 2025. Her growing list of notable singles includes “solo tu bb,” “La Cumbia Wepa,” “Si Dios Quiere,” and “Suerte o Destino.”

Deeply connected to her hometown, Leo has consistently made San Antonio central to her artistic identity. Her 2025 track “San Antonio” has been described as a “heartbreaking love letter” to the city that shaped her sound and spirit.

In a previous interview with Tejano Nation, Vanita Leo spoke about the importance of honoring her roots while introducing her generation’s perspective. “I am a Tejana, and I grew up in the Tejano culture, and the music I make is inspired by my culture,” she shared. “So, you know, I definitely like to reach that audience and kind of show them what my generation’s kind of coming up with, cooking up in the studio.”

With national recognition from Rolling Stone and a sound firmly grounded in Tejano tradition, Vanita Leo’s moment is clearly just beginning—and 2026 already looks bright for one of San Antonio’s most exciting young voices.

Follow Tejano Nation on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram, and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with everything Tejano. Listen to new Tejano music first with our Spotify playlists and iHeartRadio podcast.

---

---