Who Is Gianna Nannini?

Gianna Nannini is an Italian singer-songwriter, guitarist, and musician. She made her debut in 1976 with the album Gianna Nannini and has since gone on to become one of the most successful Italian artists of all time. Her career has spanned over four decades and she has released 21 studio albums and numerous singles. She is also well known for her political activism which has earned her a place as a leading figure in Italian culture.

Early Life and Career

Gianna Nannini was born in Siena, Italy on June 14, 1954. She attended the University of Pisa where she studied classical literature before deciding to pursue a career in music. In 1975, she released her first single, America, followed by her debut album Gianna Nannini in 1976. In 1979 she released her second album California which became a huge hit in Italy and established her as one of the leading figures of Italian pop music. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Gianna continued to release successful albums and singles including the hits Bello E Impossibile (1986), Fotoromanza (1984) and Un'estate Italiana (1990).

Later Career

In 2000, Gianna released the album Giannadream which was a huge success in Italy and Europe selling over two million copies worldwide. She followed this up with the album Profumo (2004), Inno (2009) and Amore Gigante (2017). Throughout her career, Gianna has collaborated with numerous artists including Ray Charles, Elton John, Lionel Richie, Sting and many more. In 2012 she was awarded the MTV Legend Award for her achievements in music.

Personal Life

Gianna is married to Massimo Ranieri and they have a daughter named Penelope Jane born in 1996. She is also an active campaigner for animal rights and environmental causes. She currently lives in Tuscany with her family.

Awards

Throughout her career, Gianna has been honored with numerous awards including five World Music Awards, two MTV Music Awards and one MTV Legend Award. She was also awarded the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic by President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi in 2006.