Carolina Giraldo Navarro, known by the world as Karol G, was born on February 14, 1994, in Medellin, Colombia. She's a Latina Powerhouse in every sense of the word, challenging barriers and frontiers and becoming one of the biggest artists in the Spanish-speaking world. As the daughter of Guillermo Giraldo and Martha Navarro, Karol grew up in a musical family, playing a defining role in the career she wanted to pursue. Nevertheless, the start of her career was difficult, facing failure time and time again.
Karol G's musical career began in 2006, after participating in the reality show "The X Factor," in Colombia. While she didn't win, the experience got her her first record deal with Flamingo Records and Diamond Music, resulting in her now iconic moniker Karol G. She released her first single the following year, and continued to put out music that didn't make much of an impact.
This all pushed Karol to leave music and travel to New York to study marketing. In an interview with The New York Times, Karol G revealed that her father was responsible for getting her back on a mic. “My father stopped talking to me for three months. He was like, ‘No, you can’t do that. You are throwing away seven years of our hard work. I know who you are. I know we can get it. It’s hard, but when we get it, it’s going to be bigger than the rest.’”
"With social media, people always show the successful and happiest parts of the world. I wanted my fans to know that it's difficult and that all processes are the same. Big blessings take time."
After attending a conference in Boston, she understood that it was possible to make a living from making music. “I know I love music and I do this for passion, but the teaching at that conference was how the music can be a really big business, and how you can work like that," she said.
Karol G returned invigorated to Colombia, studying music at the University of Antioquia. In 2013, she had her first breakthrough, releasing "301" alongside Reykon. This allowed her to begin performing across countries and opened doors for more collaborations, including Nicky Jam. She signed with Universal Music Latino in 2014, and moved to New York.
In 2017, Karol G released her debut record, "Unstoppable." The record features collaborations with Bad Bunny and more, landing her a spot at the top of the Billboard charts. Some time later came "Tusa," her collaboration with Nicki Minaj, becoming her biggest hit to date and paving the way for Karol G's international crossover. In 2018, she won the Latin Grammy for Best New Artist. Her rise hasn't stopped.
"You have to be you. You have to be authentic. If you have something in your heart, just follow that."
In 2023, Karol released her biggest record yet, "Mañana sera bonito." The album made her the first woman to debut at the number one spot on the Billboard 200 charts with a record in Spanish. Her single "TQG" alongside Shakira entered the Top 10 at the Billboard Hot 100 and won the Latin Grammy for Best Urban Song. That year, Karol also won the Latin Grammy for Best Record of the Year and Best Urban Record. In 2024, she became the first female artist to win a Grammy for Best Urban Music Album.
In 2025, Karol G released her documentary "Karol G: Mañana fue muy bonito," available on Netflix. The film was the most-watched project in 19 countries. The documentary, inspired by her groundbreaking album, shows an intimate look at Karol's life, showing the hard road she walked to achieve her dreams. This year, she released her new album, "Tropicoqueta," and will be headlining Coachella, marking her as the first Latina to achieve this goal.