Ceca (singer)
Svetlana Ražnatović (née Veličković; Serbian Cyrillic: Светлана Ражнатовић, née Величковић; pronounced [sʋětlana raʒnǎːtoʋit͡ɕ]; born 14 June 1973), better known as Ceca (Serbian Cyrillic: Цеца, pronounced [t͡sěːt͡sa]), is a Serbian singer. Born in Prokuplje and raised in Žitorađa, she made her recording debut in 1988 and has collectively released sixteen studio albums.
Ceca Цеца | |
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Ceca performing in 2018 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Svetlana Veličković |
| Born | June 14, 1973 Prokuplje, SR Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia |
| Genres | Pop-folk |
| Occupation(s) |
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| Instrument(s) | Vocals |
| Years active | 1988–present |
| Labels |
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| Spouse(s) | |
Dubbed the "Serbian Mother" (Srpska majka), she is recognized as one of the commercially most successful Serbian artists of all time with collective sales of seven million records. Furthermore, with 150,000 attendees, her 2013 concert in Ušće, Belgrade was one of the highest-attended concerts in the world. In 2023, Ražnatović also became the youngest recipient of the Life Achievement Award at the Serbian Folk Music Assembly.
Between 1995 and 2000, Ceca was married to Željko Ražnatović 'Arkan', with whom she has two children. In 2011, Ražnatović was convicted of embezzlement and illegal firearm possession; she was fined with 1,5 million euros and to a one year in house arrest.