Jelena Karleuša facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jelena Karleuša
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| Јелена Карлеуша | |
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Jelena Karleuša in 2017
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| Born | 17 August 1978 Belgrade, SR Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia
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| Other names | JK |
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| Years active | 1994–present |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Partner(s) | Zoran Davidović (1999–2000) |
| Children | 2 |
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Jelena Karleuša (Serbian Cyrillic: Јелена Карлеуша; born 17 August 1978) is a famous Serbian pop singer and TV personality. She was born and grew up in Belgrade. At 16, she started her music journey in 1995 with her first album.
Jelena has released twelve studio albums. She has also held two big concerts in Belgrade: the All About Diva Show in 2010 and the Viva La Diva Show in 2013. From 2015 to 2021, she was a judge on the singing show Zvezde Granda. Jelena is well-known for her unique style and strong opinions. She has many followers on social media, especially Instagram, and is sometimes called the "Lady Gaga of Serbia" or "Madonna of the Balkans".
Contents
Early Life and Education
Jelena Karleuša was born on 17 August 1978 in Belgrade, which was then part of Yugoslavia. Her mother, Divna Karleuša, was a journalist from Slovenia. Her father, Dragan Karleuša, was a police captain from Belgrade.
Jelena grew up in the Fontana neighborhood of New Belgrade. She lived with her mother after her parents divorced. She went to Zemun Gymnasium and later graduated from the New Belgrade High School of Tourism. Jelena has also shared that she attended music school as a child and learned to play the flute.
Music Career Highlights
1995–2003: Starting Out and First Hits
Jelena Karleuša began her music career at age sixteen. Her first album, Ogledalce, came out on 24 April 1995. She later released more albums like Ženite se, momci (1996), Veštice, vile (1997), and Jelena (1998). During this time, she started working with lyricist Marina Tucaković, who helped create some of her most popular songs. In 1999, she released Gili, gili.
Her sixth album, Za svoje godine, was released in 2001. In 2002, she released Samo za tvoje oči, which was produced with a Greek music label.
2004–2013: Big Albums and Concerts
In 2004, Jelena took part in Beovizija, a competition to choose Serbia's entry for the Eurovision Song Contest. She didn't make it to the final. After this, she faced some challenges with TV appearances.
On 22 February 2005, she released her album Magija. Her next album, JK Revolution, came out in 2008 and sold many copies. In 2009, she released a collection of her best songs called The Diamond Collection. Later that year, her song "Insomnia" became one of the first Serbian music videos to go viral on YouTube.
Jelena held her first major concert, the All About Diva Show, on 15 May 2010 at the Belgrade Arena. About 10,000 people attended. A live album and DVD of the concert were released later that year. Jelena also wrote a column in a newspaper, where she shared her views on various topics, including support for the LGBT community.
Her tenth studio album, Diva, was released on 11 June 2012. It included popular singles like "Insomnia". To promote the album, she held her second big concert, the Viva La Diva Show, on 15 June 2013 in Ušće, Belgrade.
2014–2022: TV Judge and New Music
In September 2015, Jelena joined the judging panel of the singing competition Zvezde Granda. She became well-known internationally for her fashion style. In 2016, Kim Kardashian praised Jelena's style.
In 2017, Jelena released new music after a break, including duets with Aca Lukas ("Bankina") and Azis ("Ostavljam te"). She performed these songs in the live finale of Zvezde Granda. In 2019, she performed "LaJK" with rapper Gazda Paja. In 2020, she held a successful online concert that attracted many viewers.
In September 2021, Jelena decided to leave Zvezde Granda after five seasons. For New Year's Eve, she performed in front of the National Assembly in Belgrade. In October 2022, she made her debut on the runway at a fashion show in Belgrade.
2023–Present: Alpha and Omega Albums
In August 2023, Jelena released two new studio albums, Alpha and Omega. These albums were released through her own company and in partnership with Virgin Music Group. On 18 September, she promoted the albums with a free concert at the Belgrade Waterfront. This show was broadcast on TV and featured other artists who worked with her on the albums.
In March 2024, Jelena walked the runway at Paris Fashion Week. In October 2024, she started her Alpha and Omega Tour in North Macedonia. She also launched her own fragrance and body mists.
Personal Life
Jelena Karleuša has been married twice. In 2004, she married Bojan Karić, but they divorced the following year. In 2008, she married footballer Duško Tošić. They have two daughters, Atina (born 2008) and Nika (born 2009). In September 2024, Jelena and Duško confirmed they were divorcing.
Jelena also holds a Slovenian passport because her mother was born in Ljubljana. She identifies as an atheist.
Activism and Support
Jelena Karleuša is a strong supporter of LGBT rights in Serbia. In 2010, she was named the Serbian female gay icon by the Gay Lesbian Info Centre. In 2017, she opened the annual Belgrade Pride event.
As a vegetarian, Jelena also speaks out for animal rights. In 2018, she worked with PETA on their campaign against fur.
Throughout her career, Jelena has supported many other good causes. After the 2014 Southeast Europe floods, she helped shelters in Serbia by providing essential items. She also contributed to ALS research. In 2015, she performed at a charity concert for cancer patients in Sarajevo. In 2018, she donated money to a water polo club to help heat their pool in winter.
Discography
- Studio albums
- Ogledalce (1995)
- Ženite se momci (1996)
- Veštice, vile (1997)
- Jelena (1998)
- Gili, gili (1999)
- Za svoje godine (2001)
- Samo za tvoje oči (2002)
- Magija (2005)
- JK Revolution (2008)
- Diva (2012)
- Alpha (2023)
- Omega (2023)
Awards and Nominations
| Award | Year | Category | Nominee/work | Result | Ref. |
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| Oskar Popularnosti | 1999 | Album of the Year | Gili, gili | Won | |
| 2001 | Performer of the year | Herself | Won | ||
| 2004 | Female Performer of the Year | Won | |||
| 2005 | Album of the Year | Magija | Won | ||
| 2008 | JK Revolution | Won | |||
| 2011 | Herself | Female Folk Singer of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Music Awards Ceremony | 2019 | Collaboration of the Year | "Bankina" (feat. Aca Lukas) | Won | |
| 2020 | Trap Collaboration of the Year | "LaJK" (feat. Gazda Paja) | Won |
See also
In Spanish: Jelena Karleuša para niños
