Shakira returned to the recording studio with music producer AC, also known as Alexander Castillo, only five months after releasing her first album in seven years. The pop star shared two pictures of herself working with Castillo, whom she met in 2017, the same year he was nominated for a Latin Grammy award for producing Ricky Martin's hit song "Vente Pa' Ca". It is unclear if any songs from their collaboration will be released. Shakira recently stated that she is open to romance after her 12-year relationship with retired footballer Gerard Pique ended in 2022, but emphasized that her priority is the emotional well-being of their two sons, Milan and Sasha. The Colombian singer has been romantically linked to various other figures, including video actor Luciano Lavecchia, Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton, and Miami Heat striker Jimmy Butler. She has not publicly had a partner since Pique, who has quickly moved on with his 25-year-old Cosmo employee-turned-girlfriend Clara Chía Marty. Shakira's twelfth album, "Entre Parentheses - Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran", peaked at number 13 on the US Billboard 200 chart. In November 2021, she paid $34 million in unpaid taxes for the years 2012, 2014, and 2018 in Spain to avoid a possible eight-year prison sentence.