About
Biography
Rita Guerra (born October 22, 1967) is a Portuguese singer-songwriter known for her powerful voice and decades-long career. She rose to prominence in Portugal in the early 1990s and even represented her country at the Eurovision Song Contest 2003. Beyond Eurovision, Rita Guerra’s career spans numerous hit albums, live concerts, and collaborations, making her one of Portugal’s most beloved pop artists.
Early Career
Born and raised in Lisbon, Guerra began performing in local venues as a teenager. She became a regular singer at Casino do Estoril by 1989, and in 1992 she made waves in the national music scene. That year she nearly won the Festival da Canção (Portugal’s Eurovision selection) with the song “Meu Amor Inventado Em Mim,” finishing second. She also released her debut album Pormenores Sem a MĂnima Importância in 1992, establishing herself as a rising star. Throughout the 1990s, Rita Guerra built her career with frequent live shows and several albums. She also participated in high-profile tribute concerts and revues during that decade, further cementing her reputation.
Rita recorded her 1995 album Independence Days entirely in English, reflecting her ambition to reach a broader audience. She collaborated with other artists and even lent her voice to Portuguese soundtracks of Disney animated films, expanding her fan base.
Eurovision 2003 and Breakthrough
In 2003, Rita Guerra reached an international audience when RTP invited her to represent Portugal at the Eurovision Song Contest. She performed the ballad “Deixa-me Sonhar” in Riga, Latvia, and although it finished 22nd, her powerful performance earned praise at home. The experience was bittersweet – her brother died of cancer just one day before the Eurovision final, news she learned only after she sang on stage.
Shortly after Eurovision, Rita Guerra’s career hit a new peak. She released a best-selling self-titled album, Rita, in 2005, which topped the Portuguese charts and earned double platinum certification. In 2006, she celebrated this success with her first major solo concert at Lisbon’s Coliseu dos Recreios, playing to a sold-out crowd. Around the same time, Guerra’s talent attracted international attention. She recorded duets with stars like Irish singer Ronan Keating and American artist Michael Bolton, introducing her voice to new audiences outside Portugal. In 2009, Portuguese communities abroad voted Rita Guerra the Best International Female Singer, reflecting her broad appeal.
Later Career and Recent Years
Through the 2010s, Rita Guerra remained a familiar and admired figure in Portuguese pop music. She continued to release new music, including albums like Luar (2010) and Retrato (2011), and maintained an active touring schedule. In early 2020, she reached a new generation of fans by winning the first season of A Máscara, Portugal’s version of The Masked Singer, dazzling viewers as the costumed “Crow”. That same year, during the COVID-19 pandemic, she released an uplifting single called “Tudo Vai Passar” (“Everything Will Pass”) to inspire hope. Most recently, in 2025, Rita Guerra put out a romantic ballad titled “Nas Pontas dos Pés” (“On Tiptoes”). Even after more than three decades in music, she shows no signs of slowing down and continues to evolve her artistry.
Personal Life
Rita Guerra’s personal life has seen many important moments alongside her music career. She married for the first time at just 16, a difficult relationship that ended after four years and gave her a son, Nuno. Her second son, Diogo, was born a few years later from another relationship. In 2005, Rita married Paulo Martins – the composer of her Eurovision song – and they had a daughter together, Madalena. Although that marriage ended, she briefly married actor António Pedro Cerdeira in 2011. In 2019, Rita Guerra found lasting happiness with her fifth husband, television director André Bergano.
She is the proud mother of three children (Nuno, Diogo, and Madalena) and often speaks about learning from her past experiences. In 2015, she released an autobiography in which she candidly discussed overcoming domestic violence and other personal struggles. Her enduring presence has made Rita Guerra a household name in Portugal’s music scene.
