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On a recent episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Shakira surprised everyone by sharing a fun backstory about one of her biggest hits, Hips Don’t Lie. Fallon asked if the song was always planned for her 2005 album Oral Fixation, Vol. 2.
Shakira revealed it actually wasn’t! The album had already been released when she met up with Wyclef Jean, and they started working on the track afterward. So, Hips Don’t Lie wasn’t part of the original album release at all.
She described the whole thing like it was meant to be — saying she even dreamed about Wyclef the night before her manager called to say he wanted to collaborate. Right away, she knew they had a potential hit on their hands.
Feeling that gut instinct, Shakira took a bold step and contacted Donny Lenner, who was in charge at Epic Records back then. She asked him to pull the album off the shelves so they could add the new song. At first, he was hesitant because the albums were already out there. But Shakira was so confident, she convinced him to listen.
Eventually, the label agreed to repackage the album with Hips Don’t Lie included — a risky move that totally paid off. The song shot to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became one of Shakira’s most iconic tracks.
Now, with 2025 marking 20 years since its release, her story about the song feels extra special — a perfect example of trusting your instincts and taking chances.