After 30 Years in Music, Shakira Says ‘It Feels Like I’m Just Starting’

Nearly three decades after leaving her native Colombia, Shakira has become one of the most influential music artists of the 21st century. She continues to surprise us, not as someone living on past achievements but as a renewed cultural force. In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, the 49-year-old singer-songwriter expressed a feeling that few artists at her level are willing to share: “It feels like I’m just starting.”

Shakira’s view, shaped by her triumph over personal and professional challenges, reframes her 30-plus-year journey. It’s not an end, but the start of a new chapter. This message of renewal comes as she gets ready for one of the biggest moments in her career: headlining the first World Cup Final halftime show with Madonna and BTS on July 19, 2026.

From Barranquilla to Global Pop Icon

Born Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll in Barranquilla, Colombia, she signed her first record contract as a teenager and built a catalog that blends Latin, pop, and rock. Over her career, Shakira has sold more than 95 million records worldwide, becoming the best-selling female Latin artist ever and winning several Grammy and Latin Grammy Awards.

Her early work in Spanish-language rock, featuring acclaimed albums like Dónde Están los Ladrones? (1998), set the stage for her crossover success. Breakout hits like “Whenever, Wherever” and “Hips Don’t Lie” propelled her to mainstream pop stardom.

However, Shakira’s journey has not followed a straight path. The past few years tested her strength, from a high-profile breakup with Gerard Piqué to a well-publicized tax case in Spain. In her PEOPLE interview, she stated that these experiences “made [her] stronger,” highlighting the live-oriented spirit behind her latest work.

World Cup Spotlight: Legacy and Reinvention

Shakira’s connection to the FIFA World Cup goes back more than a decade before her 2026 involvement. Her 2010 hit “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” remains one of the tournament’s most lasting songs, with billions of views and a strong presence in World Cup culture.

Now, Shakira is back on the global stage with “Dai Dai,” the official song for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, recorded with Nigerian artist Burna Boy. The royalties from this track will go entirely to the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, linking her music to important social causes.

When discussing the World Cup and her halftime show role, Shakira focused on unity and hope: “Every World Cup is really magical, and I think this one is going to be all about bringing people together.” This puts her in a position not just as a performer but as a cultural ambassador at a time when sports, music, and community come together.

A New Era of Confidence and Influence

Today, Shakira’s story is about the confidence she has gained through her experiences. She shared advice she would give her younger self: “Believe in yourself more… even though we don’t look as perfect as in our 20s, it’s beautiful to just be yourself.” These thoughts reflect larger discussions about staying power, identity, and creative change in music, especially for women in an industry that often focuses on youth.

Her current world tour, promoting the album Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran, has set attendance records and confirmed her draw at the box office. Live audiences from Rio’s Copacabana Beach to packed stadiums around the world have shown that Shakira’s global appeal remains strong.

The Road Ahead: Still Beginning

As Shakira approaches what could be the most-watched performance of her career, her main message is clear: just because you’ve been in the industry for a long time doesn’t mean you stop growing. “There’s always a lesson, and we have to be grateful for all those lessons,” she said, “even for the people that leave you with scars, because they just make us better.”

In a time when success is often measured by viral hits and quick cycles, Shakira’s career, now spanning three decades, shows resilience and the power of purpose. For an artist who has already changed global pop music, she insists that this moment is not a peak but a fresh start.