Jennylyn Mercado is back where she started—and this time, it feels personal.
The Ultimate Star and longtime rom-com queen is returning to music with JEN Deluxe, a more intimate and heartfelt repackage of her 2025 Star Music EP JEN. The project drops on all major digital platforms at midnight on August 21.
For Mercado, this isn’t just another release. Music has always been her first love. She began her career as a singer, and even as acting brought her major success and awards, she kept finding her way back to it. At a recent media conference and exclusive film showing for JEN Deluxe, she made that clear: before the acting roles and the fame, music was her priority. She stepped away for a while to focus on her family, but now she’s coming full circle under Star Music.
She didn’t hold back on the gratitude either. Speaking at the event, Mercado thanked ABS-CBN Music creatives, content, and operations head Jonathan Manalo and the entire Star Music team, calling them “the best in the business.” Manalo, who produced the original JEN EP and worked with her on the standout track “Paulit-Ulit Kang Pipiliin,” said he’s proud of her as she prepares to drop the deluxe edition.
As part of the launch held at Art in Island in Cubao, Mercado also shared a short film that brings the emotions behind JEN Deluxe to life. The visual piece gives fans a closer, more personal look at the stories and feelings woven into the album. She performed “Di Man Masabi,” one of the tracks from the eight-song project, during the media conference. Her husband, actor Dennis Trillo, and their family were there to support her.
JEN Deluxe continues the all-Filipino, emotionally driven direction of the original EP. Songs like “Ayaw Pang Umuwi,” “Hindi Pa Rin Sapat,” and “Paulit-Ulit Kang Pipiliin” explored different stages of love. The deluxe version expands that narrative into something more complete and intimate—a collection that tells a story of love, life, and every emotion in between.
Fans can pre-save the project now and stream it starting at 12 midnight on August 21. For Mercado, who has balanced high-profile acting roles, entrepreneurship, and family life, this release feels like a quiet but firm reminder: music still has a special place. And she’s choosing to share that passion once again.