All the GRAMMYS, Billboard, BET Awards and NAACP Image Awards are going to have to take a backseat to this. Mario and girlfriend Esmeralda Rios just welcomed a healthy baby boy into the family fold, making the 39-year-old R&B star a first-time father.
On his Instagram Stories, Mario, whose full name is Mario Dewar Barrett, showed his bootie-covered feet, keeping the beat inside the delivery room. Mario tagged the next shot with a note stating: “Doctor Barrett: Women are God’s greatest creation cuz what I witness today was only God’s work! Healthy baby boy!” The baby could be considered a bona fide snow baby, as it was born on January 26, 2026, the day after one of the most intense snowstorms across the U.S.
Mario first announced that he and his partner were expecting in August 2025, when the couple shared maternity photos on social. With a hand placed over Rios’ baby bump, he stated, “It’s a whole universe in there! I can’t wait.” Mario has expressed his desire to be a present dad, especially since he grew up without a father.
The news of a healthy baby boy is a joyous one, but Mario and Rios have had to deal with negative reactions to their pairing. Mario has shared that he and Rios are long-time acquaintances who came back together later in life and are now mature enough to handle parenthood and relationship criticism. The “Let Me Love You” singer addressed online commentary about their relationship, stressing that theirs is built on trust and love and that their partnership is a “safe place.”
In November 2025, Mario released his single “Home.” Produced by Dre Moon, Anthony Bell and Courtlin Jabrae, he sings about wanting to be in the place that he shares with his woman and partner. Now, with a new baby in tow, there are twice as many reasons to be where the heart is.
Congrats to the couple and welcome to their new baby boy!