Marija Šerifović

Marija Šerifović was born on November 14, 1984, in the city of Kragujevac, in what was then Yugoslavia, now Serbia. She grew up in a musical family. Her mother, Verica Šerifović, is a well-known folk singer in Serbia. Her father, Rajko Šerifović, was also a musician. Marija was interested in music from a young age. She started singing when she was a child, and by the age of 12, she was already performing in public. One of her early performances was the song I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston.

In 2003, Marija released her first album. It was called Naj, najbolja, which means “The Best of the Best.” It introduced her to the Serbian music scene. Even though she was still very young, people noticed that she had a strong and emotional voice. In 2004, she took part in a music festival called Pjesma Mediterana in Budva, Montenegro. She performed a song called Bol do ludila and won first prize. That helped her become more popular in the region. With the song Ponuda she participated in the 2005 national selection for Eurovision in Serbia and Montenegro. 

Her second album, Bez ljubavi (“Without Love”), came out in 2006. That same year, she took part in the Serbian Radio Festival with the song U nedelju (“On Sunday”). The song was a big success and won awards. Critics praised her vocal power and her emotional performance. She was becoming one of the most respected pop singers in the country.

But the big turning point in her career came in 2007. That year, Marija competed in the national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest, representing the newly independent country of Serbia. She sang a ballad called Molitva (“Prayer”). The song was different from many other Eurovision entries at the time. It had no flashy dance moves, no gimmicks—just a powerful voice and a touching melody.

Marija won the national competition and went to Helsinki, Finland, to represent Serbia in Eurovision. On May 12, 2007, she performed Molitva in the Eurovision final. The performance moved people across Europe. At the end of the night, she had won the contest with 268 points. It was the first time Serbia competed as an independent country, and they won on their first try. The victory made Marija a national hero and a well-known name across Europe.

After Eurovision, Marija’s career became even bigger. In 2008, she released the album Nisam anđeo (“I’m Not an Angel”). The next year, she followed it with Anđeo (“Angel”). These albums had both ballads and more upbeat songs. Her fans appreciated her honest lyrics and strong emotional style.

In 2013, she surprised many people by publishing a documentary-style film about her life called Confession. In the film, she talked openly about her struggles, including her mental health, her private life, and the pressure of fame. Around the same time, she also publicly came out as gay. This was a bold move in a region where LGBTQ+ topics are still considered taboo by many. Her openness made her even more respected by many fans.

In 2014, she released another album, Hrabro (“Bravely”). The title matched her image—someone who is not afraid to be herself. Around this time, she also started working as a mentor and judge on the popular music competition show Zvezde Granda, similar to The Voice or American Idol. She started in 2015 and has been on the show for many seasons since then. Many young singers look up to her, and she is known as a strict but fair mentor.

In 2015, Marija took on a new role as a judge and mentor on the popular Serbian television singing competition Zvezde Granda. This show is similar to The Voice or American Idol and aims to discover new musical talents. Marija’s experience and success in the music industry made her a valuable addition to the show. She became known for her honest and direct feedback to contestants. Her mentorship proved effective, as her protégés Džejla Ramović and Mahir Mulalić won the competition in 2019 and 2021, respectively.

During this period, Marija continued to release new music. In 2015, she released the song Pametna i luda (“Smart and Crazy”), followed by Sama i nervozna (“Alone and Nervous”) in the same year. In 2016, she released Svoja i tvoja (“Mine and Yours”) and Deo prošlosti (“Part of the Past”). These songs showcased her powerful voice and emotional delivery, further solidifying her reputation as one of Serbia’s top vocalists.

Marija also focused on live performances. In March 2016, she held a significant concert at the Zetra Olympic Hall in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The concert was well-received, and fans appreciated her live singing abilities. Later that year, she performed at the National Theatre in Belgrade, Serbia. This performance sparked some controversy, as some felt that a pop concert was not suitable for a venue traditionally reserved for classical performances. Despite the debate, the concert was successful and demonstrated Marija’s versatility as an artist.

In 2017, Marija performed at the Belgrade Arena, one of the largest venues in Serbia. The concert was sold out, and she delivered a memorable performance that included her biggest hits. Fans praised her stage presence and vocal prowess.

Between March and May 2019, Marija embarked on a tour called Druga strana ploče (“The Other Side of the Record”). During this tour, she performed covers of her favorite songs by other artists, as well as her own hits. The tour included seven sold-out shows, six of which were held at Sava Centar in Belgrade, and one in SPC Vojvodina, Novi Sad. The concept of the tour was well-received, and fans appreciated her interpretations of classic songs.

In December 2022, Marija released the single Dobar Vam dan (“Good Day”). The song quickly gained popularity, amassing over a million views on YouTube within the first 24 hours of its release. This demonstrated her continued relevance in the music industry and her ability to connect with audiences.

In October 2023, she released her sixth studio album titled Dolazi ljubav (“Love is Coming”). The album featured a duet with Croatian singer Matija Cvek called Pola sunca (“Half of the Sun”). The song was well-received, and its music video garnered over a million views within two days of its release. The collaboration was praised for the chemistry between the two artists and the emotional depth of the song.

In 2024, Marija made headlines again when she announced she had become a mother. She had a son via a surrogate mother and shared the happy news with her fans. She said it was one of the most beautiful moments of her life.