Joelma (singer)

Joelma da Silva Mendes, best known only as Joelma (born June 22, 1974) is a Brazilian singer, songwriter, and dancer. The singer since the age of 19, Joelma began her career in 1994, and in 1998 she met and married the musician and producer, Ximbinha, forming with him the Banda Calypso in June 1999. Together, achieved fame and success, and became sales record holders in albums in Brazil, launching thirteen studio albums, ten live albums and eight video albums which generated singles successes. In 2015, Joelma and Ximbinha announced the end of marriage and the band, giving birth to the recording of their first album only in the same year.

On April 29, 2016, her released debut album as solo artist, the homonym Joelma, released through Universal Music, debuted in second place on the Pro-Música Brazil album chart Brazil (PMB) and the Billboard Brazil Albums Chart. From that album, the first single "Não Teve Amor", along with the tracks "Ai Coração" and "Debaixo do Mesmo Céu". On April 28, 2017, Joelma released the first DVD and live album, Avante. The project generated singles like "Amor Novo", with features Brazilian singer Ivete Sangalo, and "Chora Não Coração".

Joelma is world renowned for her performance and vocal irreverence. Throughout her career, she sold about 22 million albums, becoming one of the most sold artists in the history of the Brazilian music industry. She and singer Ivete Sangalo are the only Latin American artists to receive a fivefold diamond record album certification. In her career, she won several important awards including Melhores do Ano, Multishow Brazilian Music Award, Troféu Imprensa, as well as compete three times a Latin Grammy. Joelma is also internationally known, performing in countries such as Portugal, United States, Switzerland, Germany, Spain, Italy, Angola, England, Sweden, Cape Verde, Bolivia, Peru, Argentina and French Guiana. She was found four times - in 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2012 respectively - one of the 100 most women sexy world of all time by the magazine VIP. Joelma has an estimated net worth of more than R $300 million, and has been elected several times by Forbes as of 2011 as one of the best paid singers of the year in the country.