sertanejas

Sertanejas are female singers who perform sertanejo, a Brazilian musical genre rooted in rural life that blends traditional viola-based folk with modern pop and country influences. The term denotes women active in the sertanejo scene, including solo artists and members of vocal groups.

Origins of sertanejo trace to rural central Brazil in the early 20th century, evolving from raiz sertanejo with lyric themes about land and work. Women began to gain prominence from the late 20th century, with Roberta Miranda among the early widely recognized figures. In the 2000s, the rise of sertanejo universitário, a youth-oriented and increasingly pop-influenced variant, expanded female visibility and commercial prominence for many sertanejas.

The genre includes both traditional, harmonized ballads and up-tempo songs, often featuring guitar or viola accompaniment and expressive vocal delivery. Lyrical themes commonly address love, heartbreak, and life in rural areas. Sertanejas perform as solo artists, in duos, or in groups, and may cross over into broader Brazilian pop or media stages.

Notable sertanejas include solo artists such as Roberta Miranda, Paula Fernandes, and Marília Mendonça, and female-led groups or duos such as Simone & Simaria and Maiara & Maraísa. Their work reflects both the genre’s rural roots and its contemporary, mainstream iterations, contributing to the ongoing evolution and diversification of sertanejo in Brazil.