Helene Fischer, born Elena Evgenievna Petrach on August 5, 1984, in Krasnoyarsk, Siberia (then part of the Soviet Union), is a Russian-born German singer, entertainer, and actress widely regarded as the "Queen of Schlager" for her contributions to German pop and schlager music. The daughter of Volga German parents—her father a physical education teacher and her mother an engineer—she moved with her family to West Germany at age four, settling in Neustadt an der Weinstraße.
Fischer trained in singing and acting at the Frankfurt Stage & Musical School, performing in productions at theaters like the Staatstheater Darmstadt before launching her professional career in 2005 with her debut single "Manchmal möcht' ich einfach nur" and album So nah. She has since released numerous chart-topping albums, including the multi-platinum Farbenspiel (2013) and Helene Fischer (2017), selling over 18 million records worldwide. Known for her high-energy live shows and TV specials like Die Helene Fischer Show, she has garnered 17 Echo Awards, four Krone der Volksmusik honors, and three Bambi Awards, while also appearing in films and series such as Tatort and Das Traumschiff. In 2018, she ranked eighth on Forbes' list of the world's highest-paid women in music, earning $32 million.