Lepa Brena (born Fahreta Jahić on October 20, 1960 in Tuzla, BiH) is one of the most famous singers of the former Yugoslavia. With about 40 million records sold, it is the most successful Yugoslav pop star and is often credited with the popularization of turbo-folk music. She grew up in Brčko (Bosnia and Herzegovina) in a large Muslim family. In her youth, she trained in basketball, where she was nicknamed ‘Bren’ on the advice of a coach (because, as the coach said, it is difficult to pronounce the name Fahret). She started playing music more seriously already in elementary school – she had her first performance in the fifth grade by singing the song ‘Sviraj mi o her’ by Kemal Monten.
Career start and sweet sin
She started her career in 1980 as a band singer lyre show, which was soon renamed sweet sin. She already recorded her first album with the band in 1982 Čačak, Čačak She also appeared in the movie tight skin (1982). Even then, hits from that album stood out on stage, such as ‘Mile voli disko’ and ‘Sitnije, cile, smaller’, which showed Brena’s ability to popularize the combination of folk tradition and modern pop. The sweet sin with Brena and Slobodan Živojinović quickly became a sensation – their performances captivated with energy and a somewhat provocative style, which was unusual for that time. At Jugovisija in 1983, they performed with the song ‘Sitnije, cile, smaller’ even though that competition was not reserved for folk performers at the time. These initial successes established the status of Lipa Brena as a regional pop-folk star.
The most famous hits
- Mile loves disco (1982)
- Smaller, whole, smaller (1983)
- Let’s love each other (1987)
- Yugoslav woman (1989)
- come in freely (2008)
These songs are regularly cited as symbols of Brena’s career and are often played at retro music stations.
Lepa Brena soon became a performance-star: at the beginning of 1987, she broke the record with the band by holding 31 consecutive concerts in the Belgrade Union House. In 1989, she had the biggest concert of her career – she performed in front of about 122,000 people at the ‘Vasil Levski’ stadium in Sofia (Bulgaria), where she was lowered to the stage by helicopter. A spectacle to remember. With this, she confirmed the status of the Balkan pop diva and gained cult status among the audience.
Movies and multimedia
In addition to music, Lepa Brena also made her acting side famous. She is best known for her main role in the cult series of Yugoslav comedies “Let’s love each other” (1987, 1989, 1990), where she shared a scene with her own hits with legendary actors such as Dragomir Bojanić Gaga and Velimir Živojinović. These music-film projects further strengthened Brena’s image – she became one of the few singers whose albums are at the same time at the top of music charts and in the repertoire of cinemas. She made other less notable roles in domestic comedies in the 1980s (eg. tight skin, 1982).
Personal life and business ventures
Since 1991, Lepa Brena has been married to Yugoslav tennis player Slobodan (Bob) Živojinović. The couple has two sons: Stefan (born in 1992) and Viktor (born in 1998). Over the years, they also performed together on the music scene, and Brena became recognizable for her luxurious lifestyle and humanitarian work (he helps various foundations and participates in voluntary actions).
In 1998, Lepa Brena founded her own publishing house with her husband and friend Saša Popović Grand production, which soon became the largest entertainment company in the Balkans. She continued in successful entrepreneurship in the 21st century – 2019. All the remaining shares of Grand were sold to the media group United Media for about 30 million euros. On that occasion, Brena’s business legacy was confirmed as extremely valuable, and Brena has since retired from co-ownership, focusing on her musical career.
Back to the scene and new projects
In the early 2000s, Lepa Brena had several challenges: in 2000 she released her last joint album Sun eclipse With the sweet sin, and in the same year their family survived the kidnapping of the eldest son Stefan (according to reports, 2.5 million German marks were allegedly paid for the ransom). There was a short break and a move to Florida, but already in 2008 Brena returned to music with a new album Come in freely… and a big concert tour in Europe and Australia.
This was followed by an album Vicious circle (2011) with a concert in the Belgrade Arena, and an album in 2013 Original and newly composed folk songs dedicated to his deceased mother. In the last decade, Lepa Brena regularly publishes new projects and tours: 2018 releases an album Does it matter if you sing or sing After which he starts a regional tour, and in 2024 he holds a spectacular concert in Arena Zagreb. Furthermore, Brena is still working on new music – at the end of 2025, she released a single “The Empress”.
Conclusion
Lepa Brena remains an icon of the Balkan music scene and a symbol of an era of pop stars. Her rich career – from the first steps in sweet sin, through countless hits and film achievements, to successful entrepreneurship – shows her versatility and professionalism. Today, more than four decades after the first performance, he continues to perform, attract audiences and enjoy the status of a legend. If this article was useful to you, share it and follow us for more detailed biographies and interesting things from the world of entertainment!
Sources: Facts about the life and career of Lepa Brena are supported by relevant sources, including wiki pages and music portals.
Cover photo: rlicul, CC BY-SA 3.0, Via Wikimedia Commons
