Ivete Sangalo (born May 27, 1972) is a Brazilian singer, songwriter, actress, television presenter, and one of the defining figures of modern axe music. Born in Juazeiro, Bahia, she developed her performance skills by singing at school events, bars, and local shows before establishing herself on the Salvador music scene. Her music is rooted in axe, the exuberant Bahian style associated with carnival, but her repertoire also incorporates samba-reggae, Brazilian pop, samba, reggae, and Latin influences.
Sangalo became nationally known in 1993, when she was chosen as the lead singer of Banda Eva. With her energetic stage presence and powerful contralto voice, she helped turn the group into one of Brazil's most successful axe acts. Banda Eva's live performances became especially popular, and the band sold millions of records during Sangalo's tenure. She left the group at the end of the 1990s to pursue a solo career, making the transition without losing the carnival-driven momentum that had first made her famous.
Her self-titled solo debut, released in 1999, established Sangalo as a major recording artist in her own right. The album included the romantic song "Se Eu Nao Te Amasse Tanto Assim" and the festive "Canibal." She followed it with Beat Beleza in 2000 and Festa in 2001. The title track of Festa became one of her signature songs and demonstrated her ability to turn the communal energy of Bahian carnival into mainstream Brazilian pop. Her songwriting and performances combined accessible melodies with rhythmic arrangements designed for both radio play and large audiences.
Sangalo's reputation as a live performer grew through a series of ambitious concert recordings. MTV Ao Vivo - Ivete Sangalo, released in 2004, featured "Sorte Grande," a song that became widely known by its popular nickname, "Poeira." Its enthusiastic reception helped make the album and DVD landmark releases in Brazilian music. In 2007, Multishow Ao Vivo - Ivete no Maracana documented a major concert at Rio de Janeiro's Maracana Stadium and became one of the most successful Brazilian music DVDs of its era. Later live projects included performances at Madison Square Garden in New York and the commemorative recording Ivete Sangalo 20 Anos.
Alongside her central pop and carnival repertoire, Sangalo has recorded in more intimate and collaborative settings. Pode Entrar, released in 2009, was built around informal performances with invited artists including Maria Bethania, Carlinhos Brown, Lulu Santos, and Marcelo Camelo. She has also worked with established Brazilian singers and composers such as Gilberto Gil and Caetano Veloso, revealing a broader musical range than her celebratory hits alone might suggest.
Sangalo has maintained a substantial presence in Brazilian television and film. She hosted Estacao Globo and later presented programs including The Masked Singer Brasil and Pipoca da Ivete. As an actress, she appeared in Brazilian productions such as Gabriela and also contributed Brazilian Portuguese voice work to animated films including Planes and Smurfs: The Lost Village.
Known for her spontaneity, humor, vocal force, and command of a stadium-sized audience, Ivete Sangalo has become one of Brazil's most successful female recording artists. Her career connects Bahia's carnival traditions with the national pop market, while her live albums and television work have made her a broader entertainment figure beyond music.