Ciara
Biography
Ciara Princess Wilson (née Harris), born on October 25, 1985, in Fort Hood, Texas, is an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and actress. As the only child in a military family, she grew up on army bases across the globe, including in Germany, New York, California, and Arizona, before her family settled in Atlanta, Georgia. Inspired by a performance by Destiny's Child, Ciara decided to pursue a music career. In her teens, she was part of an all-girl group called Hearsay. After the group disbanded, she focused on her songwriting and landed a publishing deal. This led to a meeting with producer Jazze Pha, who helped her sign a record deal with LaFace Records.
Music Career
2004–2005: Goodies
Ciara's career launched with her debut album "Goodies," released on September 28, 2004. The album's lead single of the same name, featuring Petey Pablo, soared to the top of the Billboard Hot 100. Subsequent singles, "1, 2 Step" featuring Missy Elliott, and "Oh" featuring Ludacris, both peaked at number two on the chart. The album was a commercial success, earning a triple-platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It also garnered four Grammy Award nominations.
2006–2011: Ciara: The Evolution, Fantasy Ride, and Basic Instinct
Her second album, "Ciara: The Evolution," released in 2006, debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and was certified platinum. It featured the hit singles "Get Up," "Promise," and "Like a Boy." In 2009, Ciara released her third album, "Fantasy Ride," which included the Grammy-nominated, top-ten hit "Love Sex Magic," featuring Justin Timberlake. Her fourth album, "Basic Instinct," was released in 2010.
2012–Present: Subsequent Albums and Label Changes
In 2011, she signed with Epic Records and released her self-titled fifth album, "Ciara," in 2013, which featured the hit single "Body Party." This was followed by the album "Jackie" in 2015. In 2019, she released her seventh studio album, "Beauty Marks," on her own label, Beauty Marks Entertainment. This album included the popular single "Level Up."
Acting and Business Ventures
Ciara has also pursued a career in acting, appearing in films such as "All You've Got" (2006), "Mama, I Want to Sing!" (2012), and "That's My Boy" (2012). She also had a recurring role in the TV series "The Game" and starred as the adult Nettie in the 2023 remake of "The Color Purple." In 2016, she signed a modeling contract with IMG and became a global brand ambassador for Revlon. Her business ventures include her own record label, Beauty Marks Entertainment, and the fashion house The House of LR&C, co-founded with her husband. She has also invested in Ten To One Rum and has endorsement deals with brands like Adidas and Verizon.
Personal Life
Ciara was previously engaged to rapper Future, with whom she has a son, Future Zahir Wilburn, born in 2014. In 2016, she married NFL quarterback Russell Wilson. They have three children together: a daughter, Sienna Princess Wilson, a son, Win Harrison Wilson, and a daughter, Amora Princess Wilson. Ciara and her family are known for their philanthropic efforts.