Paco Zazueta is a Mexican singer and entrepreneur born January 22, 1987, in Ciudad Obregon, Sonora. He gained recognition from reality show La Academia in 2011 and married actress Melissa Barrera in 2019. He balances his music career with running his family’s butcher business, Carnes Zazueta.
Why Everyone’s Asking About Melissa Barrera’s Husband
Melissa Barrera has become a household name in Hollywood. Her roles in Scream, Scream VI, In the Heights, and Abigail put her on the map as one of Mexico’s biggest exports to American cinema. When someone reaches that level of fame, people naturally wonder about their personal life.
That curiosity leads straight to Paco Zazueta. He’s not your typical celebrity spouse content to live in the shadows. Before Melissa became a scream queen, Paco was already building his own career as a regional Mexican singer. He’s also an entrepreneur who helps run a family meat distribution business that’s been operating since 1971.
This isn’t a story about someone riding coattails. Paco has three distinct identities: a musician who appeared on national television, a businessman managing a profitable family company, and a supportive husband to one of Hollywood’s rising stars. Each role requires different skills, and he’s managed to balance all three without losing himself in the process.
From Ciudad Obregon to La Academia Stage
Paco Zazueta was born Francisco José Zazueta Rosales on January 22, 1987, in Ciudad Obregón, Sonora. His parents, Xavier Zazueta and Francisca Munoz, raised him alongside two sisters, Marysol and Fernanda. The family lived in a city known for its agricultural industry and strong connection to regional Mexican music traditions.
Ciudad Obregon sits in northern Mexico’s Sonora state, where banda and norteno music run deep in the culture. Growing up there meant constant exposure to these sounds at family gatherings, local events, and radio stations. Paco absorbed this musical environment from childhood.
He attended Colegio Teresiano de la Vera-Cruz for his early education, then moved on to Universidad Trech Milenio for higher studies. But formal education wasn’t where his passion lived. Music called to him stronger than any degree program could.
In 2011, at age 24, Paco auditioned for La Academia, a Mexican reality television competition similar to American Idol. The show gave talented singers a platform to reach millions of viewers across Mexico. Paco made it onto the show, which would change his life in ways he couldn’t predict.
The Music Career That Launched on Reality TV
La Academia 2011 wasn’t easy for Paco or the other contestants. Reality television creates an intense pressure cooker environment where competitors face elimination weekly. Paco navigated these challenges while showcasing his vocal abilities in the regional Mexican and Latin pop styles he’d grown up loving.
He didn’t win the competition. But the exposure mattered more than the trophy. Television appearances gave him name recognition across Mexico. Fans who watched him perform week after week wanted to hear more of his music.
In 2012, Paco released his self-titled debut album. The 12-track collection showed his range as an artist. Songs like “Ya Te Perdi La Fe” and “Para Amarnos Mas” became fan favorites. “Te Lo Pido Por Favor” demonstrated his ability to convey emotion through vocals. The album also included “Melissa,” a romantic ballad he wrote for his then-girlfriend.
The 2012 album remains his only major studio release. He hasn’t put out new music in over a decade. This isn’t due to lack of talent or fan interest. Life simply took him in other directions. Managing a family business requires time and attention. Supporting Melissa’s career as it exploded internationally meant being flexible with his own ambitions.
Some artists might feel bitter about an interrupted music career. Paco appears to have made peace with it. His social media shows someone content with where life took him, not someone desperately clinging to past glory.
How Paco Met Melissa Barrera (and Why It Worked)
The best part of La Academia for Paco wasn’t the music exposure. It was meeting Melissa Barrera. She was also a contestant in 2011, competing while dealing with the harsh criticism and manufactured drama that reality TV thrives on.
Melissa later told Variety that reality television felt like a “snake pit.” The show’s producers used psychological tactics that made her question her singing abilities. She considered quitting multiple times. Paco became her anchor during those difficult moments.
“We would take turns telling each other we had what it takes to stick it out,” Melissa explained in the 2019 interview. When one of them felt defeated, the other provided encouragement. This mutual support system kept them both in the competition longer than they might have lasted alone.
They started dating in September 2011, after the show ended. Their relationship developed away from cameras and public scrutiny. Six years later, in June 2017, Paco proposed. They announced their engagement on Instagram, sharing the news with fans who’d followed their journey since La Academia.
The wedding took place in February 2019. Paco performed “Melissa,” the song he’d written and named after her, as a wedding gift. The gesture showed how deeply music connected them, even if it wasn’t the primary focus of Paco’s life anymore.
Their relationship works because they respect each other’s separate careers. Melissa’s acting demands take her to Los Angeles and New York for months at a time. Paco’s business responsibilities keep him grounded in Mexico. They maintain three homes, one in each city, to accommodate their complicated schedules.
They don’t have children yet as of 2024. Melissa has mentioned feeling nervous about motherhood, joking that she freaks out when left alone with their two dogs. For now, they focus on supporting each other’s professional goals while making time for their marriage.
Running a Family Butcher Shop While Making Music
Carnes Zazueta isn’t some side hobby Paco dabbles in when he’s bored. It’s a serious family business that his father founded in 1971, more than 50 years ago. The company distributes and sells meat products, operating both a physical location in Ciudad Obregon and an online sales platform.
Paco helps his father manage the business. This involves overseeing operations, handling suppliers, managing employees, and ensuring product quality. It’s not glamorous work compared to performing on stage, but it’s stable and profitable.
The meat industry in Sonora is significant. The state produces a substantial portion of Mexico’s beef supply. Running a successful butcher shop and distribution company in that environment requires business skills and relationship management. Paco has both.
Balancing music and business isn’t easy. When he was actively recording and performing, he had to split his attention between two demanding careers. As his music activities slowed down, the business side took more of his focus. He found a rhythm that works for his life circumstances.
Many people in Mexico maintain family businesses alongside other careers. It’s part of the cultural fabric. Paco’s situation isn’t unusual in that context. What makes it noteworthy is his willingness to prioritize family responsibility over potential fame. He could have pushed harder on his music career, but he chose stability instead.
Life as a Celebrity Spouse (Without Losing Yourself)
Melissa Barrera’s Hollywood success created an interesting dynamic in their marriage. She went from Mexican telenovelas to major American films. Her roles in Scream and Scream VI made her an international star. In the Heights showed her range as a musical performer. Abigail and Your Monster expanded her horror credentials.
Meanwhile, Paco stayed in Mexico, running the family business and occasionally posting music content on social media. Some people might struggle with that disparity in fame and recognition. Paco doesn’t seem to.
He shows up for Melissa when it matters. Photos from red carpet events show them together at premieres. In April 2024, he attended the Los Angeles premiere of Abigail with her. He posts supportive messages about her work on his social media accounts. He celebrates her achievements publicly.
But he also maintains his own identity. His Instagram account (@xavierzazuetaoficial) shows his life beyond being Melissa’s husband. He shares workout content, travel photos, and occasional music clips. He doesn’t use her fame to build his own profile aggressively.
This balance takes maturity. Many celebrity marriages crumble under the pressure of fame disparity. One partner feels overshadowed, resentment builds, and the relationship ends. Paco and Melissa avoided that trap by establishing mutual respect early in their relationship, back when they were both struggling contestants on La Academia.
The physical distance helps, ironically. Because they live separately for long stretches, they appreciate their time together more. They don’t take each other for granted. When Melissa travels for work, Paco handles the business in Mexico. When she’s home, they focus on quality time together.
Melissa has described Paco as her rock. That’s not empty celebrity-speak. During difficult periods, like when she was fired from Scream VII in 2023 for social media posts about the Gaza conflict, Paco provided emotional support away from public scrutiny. That kind of partnership sustains long-term relationships.
What Paco Zazueta Is Worth Today
Multiple sources estimate Paco Zazueta’s net worth at approximately $1 million as of 2024. That figure comes from combined income sources: his music career, family business profits, and various investments.
His 2012 album still generates streaming revenue on platforms like Spotify and Apple Music. These aren’t massive numbers, but they provide consistent passive income. Artists earn between $0.003 and $0.005 per stream on Spotify. With thousands of monthly listeners, that adds up over time.
The bigger financial contributor is likely Carnes Zazueta. A successful meat distribution business in Sonora can be quite profitable, especially one that’s been operating for five decades. Established customer relationships, reliable suppliers, and brand recognition all contribute to steady revenue.
Paco also benefits from a social media presence. His Instagram following of over 42,000 provides opportunities for brand partnerships and sponsorships. While he doesn’t appear to pursue these aggressively, they remain available options.
Where Paco Zazueta Stands in 2025
As of December 2024, Paco Zazueta maintains a relatively low profile compared to his wife’s Hollywood visibility. He continues managing Carnes Zazueta while occasionally sharing music content on social media platforms. His YouTube channel has over 6,000 subscribers who follow his musical updates.
Recent social media posts show he stays active with fitness routines and travel. He practices yoga and meditation regularly, promoting a balanced lifestyle to his followers. This wellness focus suggests someone comfortable with where his life has landed.
He and Melissa remain married and appear strong as a couple. They were photographed together at the Abigail premiere in April 2024, showing their relationship has weathered the challenges of distance and fame disparity. They maintain their three-home arrangement between Mexico, Los Angeles, and New York.
Will he release new music? There’s no public indication of upcoming projects. His 2012 album remains his only major studio work. But that doesn’t mean he’s abandoned music entirely. He still plays guitar, writes songs, and shares occasional clips with fans. Music remains part of his identity, even if it’s not his primary focus.
