1. Early Life and Education
Kristína Peláková was born on August 20, 1987, in Svidník, a town in the Prešov Region of eastern Slovakia (then Czechoslovakia). From a young age, she showed a strong aptitude for music, beginning her journey as a child singer, dancer, and piano player. Following the encouragement and advice of her music teacher, Kristína decided to pursue singing as her main field of study. She enrolled at the Conservatoire (Music School) in Košice, where she specialized in vocal performance.
During her studies in Košice, Kristína frequently visited the local Jazz Club, which proved to be a pivotal location in her early career. It was there that she met Martin Kavulič, a former member of the 1996 Eurodance unit "Extasy". Kavulič quickly recognized her talent and became her producer. With his guidance and assistance, Kristína secured a record deal with H.o.M.E. Production, a record label based in Bratislava, marking a significant step towards her professional music career.
2. Music Career
Kristína's musical journey began with her debut in 2007, and she has since achieved considerable success with numerous album releases and popular singles, solidifying her status as a leading artist in Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
2.1. Early Debut and Breakthrough
Kristína's professional music career commenced in 2007 with the release of her debut single, "Som tvojaSom tvojaSlovak", which featured the rapper Opak from the hip-hop group A.M.O. The following year, in 2008, her subsequent single, "Vráť mi tie hviezdyVráť mi tie hviezdySlovak", achieved significant success, becoming a hit across Slovakia. Building on this early momentum, Kristína released her debut album, "....ešte váham....ešte váhamSlovak", later that same year. The album was well-received and marked her official entry into the music scene, laying the groundwork for her future successes.
2.2. Eurovision Song Contest 2010
In 2010, Kristína was selected to represent Slovakia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 held in Oslo, Norway. She participated with her song "Horehronie", which was composed by her long-time producer, Martin Kavulič. During the national selection process, Kristína's performance garnered the largest share of television votes and secured second place in the jury vote, leading to her overall victory and the opportunity to represent her country on the international stage.

The song "Horehronie" takes its title from a rural region in Slovakia that borders the Hron River, known for its picturesque nature. The lyrics of the song tell the poignant story of a heartbroken girl who finds comfort and solace in the beauty of nature, reflecting a theme of emotional healing through connection with the environment. Prior to the contest, "Horehronie" proved to be exceptionally popular domestically, peaking at number one on the Slovak airplay chart and becoming a major hit in Slovakia. Despite its domestic success and widespread popularity, Kristína's entry did not qualify from the semi-final at the Eurovision Song Contest, finishing in 16th place with a total of 24 points. Nevertheless, the music video for "Horehronie" remains one of the most viewed videos on the official Eurovision YouTube channel.
2.3. Post-Eurovision Releases and Continued Success
Following her participation in the Eurovision Song Contest, Kristína continued to release music, maintaining her prominent status in the Slovak and Czech music scenes. In October 2010, her single "V sieti ťa mámV sieti ťa mámSlovak" reached number one on the Slovak airplay chart, marking her third chart-topping single, following "HorehronieHorehronieSlovak" earlier that year and "StonkaStonkaSlovak" in 2009. The success of the single coincided with the release of her second studio album, also titled "V sieti ťa mámV sieti ťa mámSlovak", in October 2010. Critics generally praised the album for its contemporary production.
In 2011, Kristína released the song "Life Is A GameEnglish", which was chosen as the official song for the 2011 Ice Hockey Championship held in Slovakia, further cementing her public presence. She continued her prolific output with the release of her album "Na slnečnej strane svetaNa slnečnej strane svetaSlovak" in 2012. In 2014, she released the compilation album "Tie NajTie NajSlovak", which included the hit singles "Rozchodový reggaetonRozchodový reggaetonSlovak" and "Ta neTa neSlovak". Notably, "Ta neTa neSlovak" became her first top-ten single in Poland, extending her reach beyond the Slovak and Czech markets. "Tie NajTie NajSlovak" subsequently achieved platinum certification in Slovakia, indicating significant sales success.
Kristína's fifth album, "Mať SrdceMať SrdceSlovak", was released in 2017. This album featured the Slovak top-ten singles "Si pre mňa bestSi pre mňa bestSlovak" and "Láska bombováLáska bombováSlovak". Demonstrating her versatility and desire to connect with a younger audience, she released her first children's album, "SnívankySnívankySlovak", in 2020. These releases underscore Kristína's consistent presence and evolving artistry in the Central European music landscape throughout the 2010s.
3. Other Activities
Beyond her musical endeavors, Kristína has participated in other public activities, showcasing her diverse talents and connecting with a broader audience.
3.1. Participation in 'Tanec Snov'
In 2015, Kristína took part in "Tanec snov" (Dance of Dreams), a popular Slovak dancing competition. She was partnered with professional dancer Karol Kotlár for the duration of the series. The duo showcased their skills in various dance styles over several weeks of the competition. Kristína and Karol Kotlár performed consistently well throughout the show, ultimately reaching the final and finishing as runners-up in the competition.
The following table details their performances and scores during "Tanec Snov":
Week # | Dance/Song | Judges' score | Result | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Guest judge | Ďurovčík | Máziková | Modrovský | |||
1 | Waltz/ "Unchained MelodyEnglish" | 6 | 4 | 6 | 4 | No Elimination |
2 | Quickstep/ "You're the One That I WantEnglish" | 8 | 6 | 7 | 6 | Safe |
3 | Jive/ "Marry YouEnglish" | 9 | 7 | 7 | 7 | Safe |
4 | Samba/ "Ai Se Eu Te PegoAi Se Eu Te PegoPortuguese" | 10 | 8 | 10 | 9 | Safe |
5 | Slowfox/ "The Pink Panther ThemeEnglish" Jive/ "Let's Twist AgainEnglish" | 9 10 | 6 5 | 7 8 | 7 8 | Safe |
6 | Salsa/ "Conga (song)CongaEnglish" Rumba/ "Když muž se ženou snídáKdyž muž se ženou snídáCzech" | 10 10 | 8 4 | 9 7 | 9 7 | Safe |
7 Semi-final | Cha-cha-cha/ "Hey! Baby (Bruce Channel song)Hey! BabyEnglish" Folklore/Slovak traditional music | 10 10 | 8 8 | 9 10 | 9 9 | Safe |
8 Final | Showdance/ "A Little Less ConversationEnglish" Samba/ "Ai Se Eu Te PegoAi Se Eu Te PegoPortuguese" Sandungueo/ "Crazy in LoveEnglish" | 10 10 10 | 9 10 9 | 9 10 10 | 9 10 10 | Runner-up |
4. Discography
Kristína's discography comprises six studio albums and a comprehensive collection of singles and other charted songs that have contributed to her widespread recognition.
4.1. Albums
- ....ešte váham....ešte váhamSlovak (2008)
- V sieti ťa mámV sieti ťa mámSlovak (2010)
- Na slnečnej strane svetaNa slnečnej strane svetaSlovak (2012)
- Tie NajTie NajSlovak (2014)
- Mať SrdceMať SrdceSlovak (2017)
- SnívankySnívankySlovak (2020)
4.2. Singles
Year | Single | Peak chart positions CZ | Peak chart positions SK | Peak chart positions PL | Album | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
50 | 100 | 50 | 100 | 40 | |||
2007 | "Som tvojaSom tvojaSlovak" | ||||||
13 | 34 | ||||||
....ešte váham....ešte váhamSlovak | |||||||
2008 | "Vráť mi tie hviezdyVráť mi tie hviezdySlovak" | ||||||
4 | 6 | ||||||
....ešte váham....ešte váhamSlovak | |||||||
"Ešte váhamEšte váhamSlovak" | 5 | 59 | 6 | ||||
....ešte váham....ešte váhamSlovak | |||||||
2009 | "StonkaStonkaSlovak" | 5 | 28 | 1 | 4 | ||
V sieti ťa mámV sieti ťa mámSlovak | |||||||
2010 | "Horehronie" | 2 | 30 | 1 | 1 | ||
V sieti ťa mámV sieti ťa mámSlovak | |||||||
"Tak si pustím svoj songTak si pustím svoj songSlovak" | |||||||
4 | 27 | ||||||
V sieti ťa mámV sieti ťa mámSlovak | |||||||
"V sieti ťa mámV sieti ťa mámSlovak" | 19 | ||||||
1 | 1 | ||||||
V sieti ťa mámV sieti ťa mámSlovak | |||||||
"Vianočná náladaVianočná náladaSlovak" | 43 | ||||||
1 | 10 | ||||||
V sieti ťa mámV sieti ťa mámSlovak | |||||||
2011 | "Pri oltáriPri oltáriSlovak" | 7 | 33 | 1 | 10 | ||
V sieti ťa mámV sieti ťa mámSlovak | |||||||
"Tajná láskaTajná láskaSlovak" | |||||||
10 | 63 | ||||||
V sieti ťa mámV sieti ťa mámSlovak | |||||||
"Life Is A GameEnglish" | |||||||
2 | 13 | ||||||
non-album single | |||||||
2012 | "JabĺčkoJabĺčkoSlovak" | 6 | 24 | 13 | |||
Na slnečnej strane svetaNa slnečnej strane svetaSlovak | |||||||
"Viem lebo viemViem lebo viemSlovak" | |||||||
4 | 7 | ||||||
Na slnečnej strane svetaNa slnečnej strane svetaSlovak | |||||||
2013 | "Život je vždy fajnŽivot je vždy fajnSlovak" | 20 | 94 | 6 | 68 | ||
Tie NajTie NajSlovak | |||||||
2014 | "Rozchodový reggaetonRozchodový reggaetonSlovak" | 16 | 68 | 12 | 94 | ||
Tie NajTie NajSlovak | |||||||
"NavždyNavždySlovak" | |||||||
8 | 69 | 12 | Tie NajTie NajSlovak | ||||
"Ta neTa neSlovak" | |||||||
4 | 32 | 3 | Tie NajTie NajSlovak | ||||
2015 | "Na bieleho konaNa bieleho konaSlovak" | ||||||
7 | 47 | ||||||
Mať SrdceMať SrdceSlovak | |||||||
2016 | "Si pre mňa bestSi pre mňa bestSlovak" | 39 | |||||
5 | 43 | ||||||
Mať SrdceMať SrdceSlovak | |||||||
"Láska bombováLáska bombováSlovak" | 42 | ||||||
3 | 39 | ||||||
Mať SrdceMať SrdceSlovak | |||||||
"Vianočná jahodaVianočná jahodaSlovak" | 43 | ||||||
Mať SrdceMať SrdceSlovak | |||||||
2017 | "Mať srdceMať srdceSlovak" | ||||||
12 | 72 | ||||||
Mať SrdceMať SrdceSlovak | |||||||
"SympatieSympatieSlovak" | |||||||
non-album singles | |||||||
2019 | "Ked nam dvom je do spevuKed nam dvom je do spevuSlovak" | ||||||
non-album singles | |||||||
2020 | "Na dlaniNa dlaniSlovak" | ||||||
non-album singles | |||||||
2022 | "OceánOceánSlovak" | ||||||
non-album singles | |||||||
2023 | "Pre TebaPre TebaSlovak" | ||||||
non-album singles |
4.3. Other Charted Songs
Year | Single | Peak positions CZ | Peak positions SK | Album | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
50 | 100 | 50 | 100 | |||
2012 | "Ovoňaj ma ako ružuOvoňaj ma ako ružuSlovak" | |||||
16 | ||||||
Na slnečnej strane svetaNa slnečnej strane svetaSlovak | ||||||
"ĽudskosťĽudskosťSlovak" | ||||||
28 | ||||||
Na slnečnej strane svetaNa slnečnej strane svetaSlovak | ||||||
2014 | "Letím v dušiLetím v dušiSlovak" | |||||
10 | ||||||
Tie NajTie NajSlovak | ||||||
"Obyčajná ženaObyčajná ženaSlovak" | 39 | |||||
12 | ||||||
non-album single |
5. Tours
Kristína has actively engaged in concert tours throughout her career, particularly in her home country of Slovakia and the neighboring Czech Republic, reinforcing her connection with fans across the region.
From 2010 to 2012, she embarked on the "Horehronie Tour," named after her iconic Eurovision song. This tour saw her perform in various locations across both the Czech Republic and Slovakia, allowing her to reach a wide audience and capitalize on the success of her popular hits.
6. Public Image and Impact
Kristína has cultivated a strong public image as one of the most beloved and popular female artists in both Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Her consistent success, particularly with chart-topping singles and albums, has solidified her position as a significant figure in contemporary Central European music.
Her music, often characterized by catchy melodies and relatable lyrics, resonates deeply with audiences, as evidenced by her extensive tours and sustained presence on national airplay charts. Through her distinct vocal style and engaging performances, Kristína has contributed to shaping the sound of mainstream pop in the region, influencing a generation of listeners and aspiring artists. Her widespread popularity underscores her considerable impact on the cultural landscape of both countries.