Kaci Battaglia, known professionally as Kaci, is an American singer, songwriter and dancer associated with teen pop, dance-pop and contemporary R&B. Born in Clearwater, Florida, on October 3, 1987, she began performing publicly as a child and developed her career through local appearances, vocal training and early recordings. Her stage name was initially styled as Kaci Lyn before she adopted Kaci as her professional identity.
Battaglia started singing at an early age and performed at sporting events, community programs and other public gatherings in the Tampa Bay area. She also appeared in commercials and took part in the family video film *Camp Tanglefoot: It All Adds Up* (1999). At the age of ten, she recorded *A Thousand Stars*, an independently released album produced by her mother. The project helped establish Battaglia as a young performer and brought her to the attention of songwriter and producer Joel Diamond.
After signing with Curb Records in 2000, Battaglia began recording material aimed at the international pop market. Her first major single, "Paradise," was released in 2001. Built around polished pop production with Latin and dance influences, the song became her breakthrough recording. It reached number 11 on the UK Singles Chart and introduced Battaglia to audiences beyond the United States. The accompanying music video presented her as a youthful but highly choreographed pop performer, matching the bright, energetic sound of the single.
Her debut album, *Paradise*, followed in 2001 and was later issued in the United States under the title *I'm Not Anybody's Girl*. The record combined teen-pop songwriting with contemporary R&B, electronic production and Latin-flavored arrangements. It produced several further singles, including "Tu Amor," "I'm Not Anybody's Girl" and a cover of "I Think I Love You." The latter became her highest-charting UK single, reaching number 10. During this period, Battaglia promoted the album in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Japan, Germany and the United States, while also opening for acts such as O-Town, the Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC.
After the promotional cycle for her debut, Battaglia's recording activity became less consistent. She remained involved in songwriting and recorded "TXT Me," a song that won BBC Radio 2's "Search for a Songwriter" competition. She also contributed "I Will Learn to Love Again" to the soundtrack of *The Perfect Man* (2005).
Battaglia returned to the pop and dance market with the single "Can't Help Myself" in 2007. Her second studio album, *Bring It On*, arrived in 2010 after a lengthy gap between full-length releases. The album marked a clear change from her earlier teen-pop material, emphasizing club-oriented production, electropop textures and a more mature performance style. "Crazy Possessive" became a number-one hit on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart, while "Body Shots," featuring Ludacris, achieved the same position. The videos for both songs emphasized dance, attitude and nightlife imagery, reflecting Battaglia's move toward adult dance-pop.
Battaglia was active as a recording artist through the early 2010s before largely withdrawing from the music business. Her career remains notable for the contrast between her early international teen-pop success and her later return as a dance artist. In 2024, *Best of Kaci Battaglia* revisited highlights from her recording career.