Full Name | Ciara Princess Harris |
Age | 37 years old |
Birthday | October 25, 1985 |
Birthplace | Austin, Texas, United States |
Net Worth | $20 million |
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Grammy-winning Ciara is an influential R&B singer, songwriter and dancer who rose to fame in the mid-2000s with her hip hop infused crunk&B sound. With chart-topping hits like "Goodies" and "1, 2 Step," Ciara has become one of the most recognizable faces in music known for her signature style, dance skills and girl-next-door charm.
Humble Beginnings
Born in Austin, Texas, Ciara bounced around army bases in Germany, New York, California, Arizona and Nevada as a kid due to her father Carlton Harris’ job. This allowed her to experience diverse music influences. According to Ciara, her mother Jackie had "perfect pitch," which she inherited and honed through years of vocal training.
Ciara formed her first group, the rap trio Hearsay, at age 13. In 2002, she was introduced to producer Jazze Pha, who signed her to his Sho‘nuff label. Ciara recorded demos that impressed L.A. Reid, who signed her to LaFace Records at age 16. Her musical journey was just beginning.
Goodies: Rise to Stardom
Ciara‘s debut studio album Goodies was released in September 2004. Propelled by hits “1, 2 Step,” “Oh” and the title track “Goodies,” the album debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, eventually reaching triple platinum status. Goodies earned Ciara four Grammy nominations, along with BET Awards for “Best New Artist” and “Viewer’s Choice.”
But Ciara’s success didn’t come easy. She shares: “When recording ‘Goodies,’ people at my label told me it wouldn’t work, that I sounded too much like a dude rapping. But I persevered and did my own thing.” Clearly, sticking to her guns paid off in a big way!
Evolution: Soaring to Greater Heights
Her 2006 sophomore album Ciara: The Evolution reached platinum status and spawned the infectious #1 hit “Promise.” The same year, Ciara made her acting debut in the MTV film All You’ve Got. Her subsequent albums, including Fantasy Ride (2009) and Basic Instinct (2010), continued her success, cementing Ciara as a household name in R&B.
Some key highlights of Ciara’s glittering career include:
- 3 Grammy Awards
- 9 BET Awards
- 4 Billboard Music Awards
- 2 MTV Video Music Awards
- World record for most downloaded song in 24 hours ("Love Sex Magic")
- First female artist signed to Nike‘s Jordan brand
Collaborations with artists like Missy Elliott, Nicki Minaj and Pitbull have shown her versatility across musical genres. According to Billboard, Ciara is “a true singer’s singer who has consistently tops the charts."
Giving Back
Aside from her music, Ciara is dedicated to philanthropy and giving back. She has been associated with organizations like the Make-A-Wish Foundation and founded the Ciara Yarusah Wilson Scholarship Fund for young women pursuing careers in creative arts. Most recently in 2022, Ciara donated $25,000 to her former elementary school toward arts education.
“I want to do my part,” Ciara says. “If I can help one person or inspire one young girl to follow her passion, then I’ve made a difference.” What an inspiration!
Loving Wife and Mother
On the personal front, Ciara began dating rapper Future in 2013 after collaborating on the song “Body Party.” They got engaged shortly after and had a son, Future Zahir Wilburn, in 2014. However, the couple called off their engagement in August 2014.
Ciara then started dating NFL quarterback Russell Wilson in early 2015. They announced their engagement in March 2016 and tied the knot at the lavish Peckforton Castle in Cheshire, England on July 6, 2016. Ciara gave birth to daughter Sienna Princess Wilson in April 2017 followed by son Win Harrison Wilson in July 2020.
According to Ciara, Russell brought faith and compassion into her life when she needed it most: “He‘s everything I prayed for, amazing kind of guy.” The adorable family of five currently resides in Denver, Colorado.
The Legacy of a Princess
Selling over 23 million records worldwide, Ciara has left an indelible mark in R&B music. She has paved the way for female artists to succeed on their own creative terms. Her hit songs continue to light up dance floors 15 years later.
For me, Ciara will always be the bubbly R&B princess dancing to infectious beats and belting out empowering lyrics. Though she came from humble beginnings, through raw talent, resilience and hard work, Ciara actualized her musical dreams. She has inspired millions of young women like myself to chase our passions. After all these years, my admiration for Ciara has only grown – she is the true embodiment of a multifaceted artist.