Ciara Princess Harris, a renowned vocalist, was born on October 25, 1985, in Fort Hood, Texas, to Jackie Harris (née Smith) and Carlton Clay Harris. As a result of her father's service in the United States Army, Ciara spent her formative years residing on army bases across Germany, New York, Utah, California, Arizona, and Nevada. During her teenage years, Ciara and her family ultimately settled in Atlanta.
Ciara credits her early exposure to Destiny's Child's performance on television with inspiring her to pursue a career in music. This serendipitous encounter sparked a passion that would guide her professional journey. Prior to embarking on her solo path, Ciara was a member of the girl group Hear'Say, where she honed her songwriting skills and recorded demos. However, creative differences eventually led to her departure from the group.
Undeterred, Ciara secured a publishing deal and collaborated with producer Jazze Pha, whom she affectionately referred to as her "musical soul mate." Ciara's academic pursuits did not overshadow her artistic ambitions; she graduated from Riverdale High School in Riverdale, Georgia, in 2003.
Ciara's professional breakthrough arrived when she was signed by LaFace Records executive L.A. Reid, facilitated by Jazze Pha's endorsement. With her debut album, Goodies, in production, Ciara co-wrote a demo with songwriter Sean Garrett, who is also credited as co-writer of Usher's international hit, Yeah!.
