Laura Pausini
Who was Laura Pausini?
Italian pop singer who won the Sanremo Music Festival in 1993 at age 18 and became one of the most successful Italian artists internationally.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Laura Pausini (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Laura Pausini, born on 16 May 1974, is an Italian singer and songwriter known for her international success. Hailing from Faenza, she rose to fame in 1993 at 18 by winning the newcomer section of the 43rd Sanremo Music Festival with "La solitudine." This song became a hit both in Italy and internationally. Her debut album, released on 23 April 1993, sold two million copies worldwide and made her a major name in the international music scene.
Pausini's ability to sing in multiple languages has been key to her global reach. She mainly performs in Italian and Spanish but has also recorded in Portuguese, English, French, German, Latin, Chinese, Catalan, Neapolitan, Romanian, Romagnol, and Sicilian. This talent has helped her connect with audiences around the world. Her second album, "Laura" (1994), sold three million copies globally, confirming her status as an artist who can cross cultural boundaries.
Over her career, Pausini has released fifteen studio albums, two international greatest hits albums, and a compilation album for English-speaking audiences. In 2014, FIMI recognized her sales of more than 70 million records with a FIMI Icon Award. She is the fourth best-selling female artist in Latin music and the top-selling non-Spanish speaking female in the genre. Remarkably, as noted by AllMusic's Jason Birchmeier in 2004, she achieved this without breaking into the English-language market.
Alongside her music career, Pausini has ventured into television and live entertainment. She was a coach on The Voice in Mexico and Spain, judged the first two series of La banda, and appeared on Spain's The X Factor. In 2016, she co-hosted the variety show "Laura & Paola" with actress Paola Cortellesi. She also co-hosted the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 and will present the Sanremo Music Festival in 2026, returning to the event that launched her career.
Before Fame
Laura Pausini was born in Faenza in 1974 and grew up during a time of growth for Italian pop music worldwide. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Italian artists were gaining more attention globally, especially in Latin America, where the Italian language and style resonated well.
The Sanremo Music Festival, important for Pausini's career, had long been Italy's top music show and a springboard for international careers. By the early 1990s, the festival sought to promote artists with wide appeal, making it perfect for a young artist like Pausini, who had language skills and cross-cultural attraction.
Key Achievements
- Won Sanremo Music Festival newcomer section in 1993 with "La solitudine"
- Sold over 70 million records worldwide, certified by FIMI Icon Award in 2014
- Won Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop Album (2006) and multiple Latin Grammy Awards
- Became fourth best-selling female artist in Latin music despite not being a native Spanish speaker
- Named Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year in 2023
Did You Know?
- 01.She has recorded songs in eleven different languages, including Chinese and Latin
- 02.Her debut song "La solitudine" became an Italian standard and launched her career when she was only 18 years old
- 03.In 2025, Billboard ranked her 9th on their "Best 50 Female Latin Pop Artists of All Time" list despite not being a native Spanish speaker
- 04.She presented both Eurovision Song Contest 2022 and Sanremo Music Festival 2026, the same competition where she won as a newcomer in 1993
- 05.She received FIMI Icon Award certification for selling over 70 million records, making her the best-selling non-Spanish speaking female Latin music artist
Family & Personal Life
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Commander of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic | — | — |
| Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop Album | 2006 | — |
| Latin Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Album | 2005 | — |
| Latin Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Album | 2007 | — |
| Latin Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Album | 2009 | — |
| Latin Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album | 2018 | — |
| Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year | 2023 | — |