Carly Rae Jepsen almost brought her pop magic to Heated Rivalry, but her connection to the hockey romance may be even more personal than fans realized.
While discussing her upcoming double album, Day and Night, Jepsen revealed that she was approached about writing an original song for the first season of the hit series. Unfortunately, the collaboration never made it onto the ice.
“They didn’t have the budget for it,” Jepsen told The Hollywood Reporter.
That does not mean the dream is dead. With Heated Rivalry returning for a second season, Jepsen said contributing a song to the next chapter would be a “dream.” She has not heard from creator Jacob Tierney about making it happen yet, but she certainly sounds ready to answer the call.
“It was an incredible show,” she added.
Carly Rae Jepsen’s Very Ilya Connection
As if the possibility of an original Jepsen song playing over Shane and Ilya’s romance were not exciting enough, the singer casually dropped another detail guaranteed to delight fans.
Jepsen welcomed her first child with her husband, Cole M.G.N., earlier this year. Their son’s name is Ilya, which just happens to be the name of Connor Storrie’s fan-favorite Heated Rivalry character.
“Ilya is the name of my son,” Jepsen said before teasing, “Maybe, not maybe because of that show.”
She did not fully confirm whether Ilya Rozanov inspired the name, but she did not exactly shut down the theory either. For now, fans will simply have to enjoy the possibility that one of pop music’s most beloved voices named her baby after television’s favorite Russian hockey player.
Tierney previously said he wanted Jepsen to create an original song for the first season, but the production could not make the collaboration work financially. Now that both sides have publicly expressed interest, perhaps Season 2 can finally deliver the Carly Rae Jepsen needle drop the series deserves.
In the meantime, Jepsen is preparing to release Day and Night on Sept. 18. The double album will explore two sides of her sound, pairing the psychedelic pop of Day with the synth-heavy electropop of Night.
Everything to Know About Heated Rivalry Season 2
The Heated Rivalry universe is about to get even bigger. Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie will return as Shane and Ilya for the second season, following the couple as their romance becomes harder to keep private.
Inspired by Rachel Reid’s The Long Game and Role Model, the new chapter will expand beyond Shane and Ilya’s relationship with additional players and love stories. Justice Smith, Charlie Gillespie, Emily Hampshire, Edvin Ryding, Priyanka, Robert Naylor, Sabrina Jalees and Daniel Diemer are among the new cast members joining the series when it returns in April 2027.
