Benny Blanco: The Hitmaker Behind Music’s Biggest Stars and Selena Gomez’s Husband

The Unlikely Path: From Virginia Kid to Global Producer

Benjamin Joseph Levin—known to the world as Benny Blanco—grew up far from the glamour of Los Angeles or New York’s music scene. Raised in Reston, Virginia, Blanco was, by his own admission, just a chubby Jewish kid with big dreams. He wanted to be a rapper, but the world wasn’t quite ready to listen. “No one cares what a chubby Jewish kid from Virginia thinks,” he once told The New York Times. That sense of outsider status never left him, shaping a career built on humility and relentless experimentation.

Blanco’s musical journey took a sharp turn when he discovered that his true passion lay behind the mixing desk. He pivoted to production, working long hours perfecting beats and melodies in his bedroom, sending demos to anyone who’d listen. It wasn’t long before his talent caught the attention of Dr. Luke, the prolific pop producer behind hits for Katy Perry, Kesha, and Britney Spears. Under Dr. Luke’s mentorship, Blanco learned the inner workings of pop alchemy. The partnership paid off: together, they co-wrote and produced anthems like Kesha’s “Tik Tok” and Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream.”

In the years that followed, Blanco quietly became the architect of a generation’s soundtrack. His fingerprints are everywhere: Ed Sheeran’s “Don’t,” Rihanna’s “Diamonds,” Justin Bieber’s “Love Yourself,” and even The Weeknd’s hits. Yet, despite his growing résumé, Blanco remained self-effacing. “I don’t think there’s any world where I’d say, ‘Yeah, man, I’m a hitmaker.’ I’m the guy who comes in and tries to approach music from a place of true feeling and emotion,” he told NME in 2021.

Creative Chemistry: The Gomez Connection

Benny Blanco’s name became inextricably linked with Selena Gomez long before tabloid headlines and red carpet photos. Their first meeting was almost accidental—a 16-year-old Gomez, on the brink of stardom, was introduced to Blanco by her mother to discuss business. But it wasn’t until 2015 that sparks flew creatively. Blanco produced two standout tracks for Gomez’s album: “Same Old Love” and “Kill Em With Kindness.” Their professional synergy was palpable, but at the time, friendship was the only thing on the table.

The years rolled by, with each pursuing separate paths. Gomez navigated a high-profile relationship with Justin Bieber, while Blanco found success both in the studio and, briefly, in his personal life with model Elsie Hewitt. But as fate would have it, Blanco and Gomez’s paths converged again in 2023. By then, Blanco had helped shape Gomez’s return to pop with the single “Single Soon.” The collaboration reignited their connection, this time beyond music.

What began as an invitation to a charity event soon blossomed into something more. Their first date was so low-key that Blanco didn’t even realize it was a date until Gomez pointed it out mid-dinner. “I had no idea!” he later laughed in an interview with InStyle. By late 2023, the couple was inseparable, with Gomez confirming their relationship on social media: “He is my absolute everything in my heart.”

A Love Story Played in the Spotlight

The world watched as Benny Blanco and Selena Gomez’s relationship unfolded with both candor and discretion. Public appearances—like their courtside moment at a Lakers game or their affectionate debut on the Golden Globes red carpet—were sprinkled with genuine warmth, not just celebrity gloss. The couple’s dynamic was refreshingly down-to-earth. Gomez, in a candid moment on Vanity Fair, called Blanco her “best friend,” confessing, “I’ve never been loved this way. He’s just been a light in my life.”

In 2024, the couple reached several milestones. Gomez said “I love you” first, a moment she shared with fans during a playful TikTok challenge. Blanco’s response? A quiet, supportive presence—always ready with a homemade cheesesteak or a word of encouragement. Their bond extended into their work, culminating in the joint album “I Said I Love You First” and its deluxe edition, “…And You Said It Back.”

Their engagement was as unique as their relationship. Blanco proposed almost exactly a year after they went public, orchestrating a Taco Bell-themed moment on a Los Angeles soundstage, surrounded by friends and family. The ring—a custom marquise-cut diamond with a wrap-around eternity band—was co-designed by the couple, symbolizing both partnership and creativity. Gomez later revealed she was saving the most intimate proposal details for their future children.

By September 2025, the love story reached a new chapter: marriage. The wedding was a private affair in Santa Barbara, attended by close friends including Martin Short, Steve Martin, Paris Hilton, and Taylor Swift—who, true to her word, served as flower girl. “Forever begins now,” Gomez wrote on Instagram, displaying her ring. Blanco responded in the comments: “Hey wait… that’s my wife.” (Us Weekly, CNN)

Beyond the Studio: Benny Blanco’s Other Passions

While music is Blanco’s core, he’s not content to limit himself to songwriting. He has run two record labels—Mad Love Records and Friends Keep Secrets—nurturing talents like Jessie Ware and Cashmere Cat. His creative curiosity extends to the kitchen as well. In recent years, he’s become a food media personality, collaborating with chef Matty Matheson on YouTube series like “Matty and Benny Eat Out America” and “Stupid F*cking Cooking Show.” In 2025, he released his first cookbook, “Open Wide: A Cookbook for Friends,” which Gomez proudly promoted on her own social channels.

Blanco is also open about his struggles with mental health. In interviews with Howard Stern and others, he’s described his battles with anxiety and impostor syndrome—experiences that resonate with Gomez, who has chronicled her own mental health journey in the Apple TV+ documentary “My Mind & Me.” Blanco credits cognitive behavioral therapy with helping him manage his anxiety, describing it as a “toolbox” he now shares with friends and collaborators alike.

Looking Forward: Family and the Future

Benny Blanco and Selena Gomez are candid about wanting children, often sharing their hopes for the future in interviews and social media posts. “I love kids; I love being an uncle,” Blanco told InStyle. “I want to be a dad, though, God willing.” Gomez, who dotes on her younger sister, has echoed those dreams: “I’m so excited for our future as parents.”

Their wedding may have skipped certain traditions (no towering cake, just a mini one to freeze for themselves), but the couple’s approach to life is about authenticity and shared joy. Close friends, meaningful rituals, and a deep commitment to each other define their story far more than any headline or paparazzi photo could capture.

Assessment: Benny Blanco’s journey from industry outsider to pop music’s secret architect—and now, Selena Gomez’s husband—underscores the power of quiet resilience and genuine connection. His story is not just about hits and headlines, but about the steady, sincere work of building a life and love that feels true, no matter who’s watching.