Paola Jara
Paola Jara (born Paula Andrea Zapata Jaramillo on May 16, 1983, in Apartadó, Antioquia, Colombia) is the leading female voice in Colombian popular music and one of the genre's most internationally recognized artists. Drawn to music from an early age, she began performing professionally at just 10 years old as a member of the children's group Tares Club in Medellín, singing everything from Christmas carols to vallenato at local events.
At 14, she signed her first recording contract with Codiscos and released a ranchera album, becoming one of the youngest female artists in Colombia to record in the genre. Producers quickly recognized her as the natural successor to the legendary Helenita Vargas, who was then the country's only major female representative of ranchera music.
Today, after more than three decades in the industry, nearly 7 million Instagram followers, and tours across three continents, Paola Jara has become the most internationally successful female artist in Colombian popular music, breaking barriers in a genre historically dominated by men.
Paola's breakthrough came when she opened for Vicente Fernández and Alejandro Fernández in Medellín, followed shortly by opening for Juan Gabriel in the same city—performances that established her as one of Colombia's rising regional music stars.
In 2009, working with renowned producer Iván Calderón, she released her self-titled album, featuring the hit single "Voy a Olvidarte," which topped Colombian radio and television charts.
Her career reached a new level in 2016 with "Que Sufra, Que Chupe y Que Llore," alongside Francy, a song that became an anthem for women within Colombian popular music. A year later, she released "Murió el Amor," widely regarded as her signature hit and the song that firmly established her throughout Latin America's digital music platforms.
Her 2019 album En Tus Manos produced some of her most streamed songs, including "Mala Mujer" and "Como Si Nada."
In 2021, she received her first major international recognition by winning Best Regional Popular Artist at the HEAT Latin Music Awards.
In 2025, Paola made history as the first female Colombian popular music artist ever nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best Música Mexicana Album (Including Tejano) category for her album Sin Rodeos. She has also received multiple nominations and honors from major Latin music awards.
In 2026, she teamed up with Jessi Uribe to release the collaborative album Despecho a 2 Voces, whose launch livestream attracted more than one million simultaneous viewers, underscoring the project's enormous popularity.
Throughout her career, Paola Jara has built a diverse catalog of collaborations that reflect both her deep roots in Colombian regional music and her growing international reach.
Her duet with Francy, "Que Sufra, Que Chupe y Que Llore" (2016), became one of the defining songs of the genre that year.
Her creative partnership with Jessi Uribe began with "Como Si Nada" (2019), continued with "La Conquista," winner of the Premio Nuestra Tierra for Best Popular Song, and culminated in their 2026 joint album Despecho a 2 Voces.
In 2025, she released "No Será Tan Fácil" with Ecuadorian star Dayanara, winner of the Premio Disco Rojo 2025.
Internationally, she has collaborated with Chiquis Rivera and Chilean cumbia icon Américo, while also recording with legendary vallenato group Binomio de Oro de América on their 2014 album Inigualable, showcasing a versatility that extends well beyond traditional Colombian popular music.
Paola Jara's live career reflects her evolution from opening act to headliner on some of the most important stages in Colombia and abroad.
After opening concerts for Vicente Fernández, Alejandro Fernández, and Juan Gabriel early in her career, she went on to become a regular performer at Colombia's biggest festivals and fairs, sharing the stage with artists including Darío Gómez, Marbelle, and Jhonny Rivera.
In January 2025, she performed at the Superconcierto de la Feria de Manizales before more than 30,000 attendees, alongside Juan Luis Guerra, Ryan Castro, and Jessi Uribe.
That same year, she performed with Jessi Uribe at Movistar Arena Chile as part of Despecho a Dos Voces, and later headlined Entre Tres in Bogotá alongside fellow Colombian popular music stars Arelys Henao and Francy.
In 2026, she launched her international Vuelve Tour, which included a major performance at Bogotá's Estadio El Campín, four sold-out dates across Ecuador, and a successful European leg with concerts in Madrid, Barcelona, and Paris, several of which sold out—representing a landmark achievement for Colombian regional music in Europe.
Television has played an important role throughout Paola Jara's career.
She first gained exposure as a television host and entertainer on regional Colombian networks including Paisa Visión and Cosmovisión, while simultaneously building her music career.
She later competed as a finalist on RCN Television's talent competition Se Busca Intérprete, representing Colombian popular music under the mentorship of Galy Galiano, a pivotal moment that significantly increased her national profile.
In 2017 and 2018, she appeared as a featured guest on Canal 1's Guerreros and De Fiesta con Danny Marín, performing her music and participating in interviews.
She later became a coach on the hit talent competition A Otro Nivel, mentoring and developing emerging artists in Colombian popular music.
Expanding into acting, she also appeared in the television series Un Bandido Honrado, available internationally on Netflix.
Whether on stage or on screen, Paola Jara has consistently demonstrated a natural ability to connect with audiences, solidifying her status as one of Colombia's most influential contemporary artists.
At 14, she signed her first recording contract with Codiscos and released a ranchera album, becoming one of the youngest female artists in Colombia to record in the genre. Producers quickly recognized her as the natural successor to the legendary Helenita Vargas, who was then the country's only major female representative of ranchera music.
Today, after more than three decades in the industry, nearly 7 million Instagram followers, and tours across three continents, Paola Jara has become the most internationally successful female artist in Colombian popular music, breaking barriers in a genre historically dominated by men.
Paola's breakthrough came when she opened for Vicente Fernández and Alejandro Fernández in Medellín, followed shortly by opening for Juan Gabriel in the same city—performances that established her as one of Colombia's rising regional music stars.
In 2009, working with renowned producer Iván Calderón, she released her self-titled album, featuring the hit single "Voy a Olvidarte," which topped Colombian radio and television charts.
Her career reached a new level in 2016 with "Que Sufra, Que Chupe y Que Llore," alongside Francy, a song that became an anthem for women within Colombian popular music. A year later, she released "Murió el Amor," widely regarded as her signature hit and the song that firmly established her throughout Latin America's digital music platforms.
Her 2019 album En Tus Manos produced some of her most streamed songs, including "Mala Mujer" and "Como Si Nada."
In 2021, she received her first major international recognition by winning Best Regional Popular Artist at the HEAT Latin Music Awards.
In 2025, Paola made history as the first female Colombian popular music artist ever nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best Música Mexicana Album (Including Tejano) category for her album Sin Rodeos. She has also received multiple nominations and honors from major Latin music awards.
In 2026, she teamed up with Jessi Uribe to release the collaborative album Despecho a 2 Voces, whose launch livestream attracted more than one million simultaneous viewers, underscoring the project's enormous popularity.
Throughout her career, Paola Jara has built a diverse catalog of collaborations that reflect both her deep roots in Colombian regional music and her growing international reach.
Her duet with Francy, "Que Sufra, Que Chupe y Que Llore" (2016), became one of the defining songs of the genre that year.
Her creative partnership with Jessi Uribe began with "Como Si Nada" (2019), continued with "La Conquista," winner of the Premio Nuestra Tierra for Best Popular Song, and culminated in their 2026 joint album Despecho a 2 Voces.
In 2025, she released "No Será Tan Fácil" with Ecuadorian star Dayanara, winner of the Premio Disco Rojo 2025.
Internationally, she has collaborated with Chiquis Rivera and Chilean cumbia icon Américo, while also recording with legendary vallenato group Binomio de Oro de América on their 2014 album Inigualable, showcasing a versatility that extends well beyond traditional Colombian popular music.
Paola Jara's live career reflects her evolution from opening act to headliner on some of the most important stages in Colombia and abroad.
After opening concerts for Vicente Fernández, Alejandro Fernández, and Juan Gabriel early in her career, she went on to become a regular performer at Colombia's biggest festivals and fairs, sharing the stage with artists including Darío Gómez, Marbelle, and Jhonny Rivera.
In January 2025, she performed at the Superconcierto de la Feria de Manizales before more than 30,000 attendees, alongside Juan Luis Guerra, Ryan Castro, and Jessi Uribe.
That same year, she performed with Jessi Uribe at Movistar Arena Chile as part of Despecho a Dos Voces, and later headlined Entre Tres in Bogotá alongside fellow Colombian popular music stars Arelys Henao and Francy.
In 2026, she launched her international Vuelve Tour, which included a major performance at Bogotá's Estadio El Campín, four sold-out dates across Ecuador, and a successful European leg with concerts in Madrid, Barcelona, and Paris, several of which sold out—representing a landmark achievement for Colombian regional music in Europe.
Television has played an important role throughout Paola Jara's career.
She first gained exposure as a television host and entertainer on regional Colombian networks including Paisa Visión and Cosmovisión, while simultaneously building her music career.
She later competed as a finalist on RCN Television's talent competition Se Busca Intérprete, representing Colombian popular music under the mentorship of Galy Galiano, a pivotal moment that significantly increased her national profile.
In 2017 and 2018, she appeared as a featured guest on Canal 1's Guerreros and De Fiesta con Danny Marín, performing her music and participating in interviews.
She later became a coach on the hit talent competition A Otro Nivel, mentoring and developing emerging artists in Colombian popular music.
Expanding into acting, she also appeared in the television series Un Bandido Honrado, available internationally on Netflix.
Whether on stage or on screen, Paola Jara has consistently demonstrated a natural ability to connect with audiences, solidifying her status as one of Colombia's most influential contemporary artists.