# Preslava

**Preslava** (Преслава) is the stage name of Petya Koleva Ivanova (Петя Колева Иванова), a Bulgarian pop-folk singer born in 1984 in Dobrich, who signed a contract with the Payner music company in 2004 and has been working there ever since.<sup>[1](https://preslavaonline.com/bio/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[2](https://open.spotify.com/artist/2Dj0euYPa8eiI6Ee5VLBwg)</sup> She is one of the most awarded Bulgarian singers, with eight studio albums and over 150 songs according to her Spotify artist profile.<sup>[2](https://open.spotify.com/artist/2Dj0euYPa8eiI6Ee5VLBwg)</sup>

| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Petya Koleva Ivanova, born 1984, Dobrich<sup>[1](https://preslavaonline.com/bio/)</sup> |
| Payner contract | Signed 20 January 2004<sup>[3](https://pronewsdobrich.bg/2021/01/20/17-godini-ot-nachaloto-na-zvezdnata-kariera-na-pop-folk-zvezdata-ot-dobrich-preslava/)</sup> |
| First song | Duet "Нежен рекет" with Milko Kalaidjiev, spring 2004<sup>[1](https://preslavaonline.com/bio/)</sup> |
| Debut album | *Preslava*, late autumn 2004, 16 songs<sup>[4](https://preslavaonline.com/music/)</sup> |
| Signature hit | "Дяволско желание", April 2005<sup>[5](https://www.24plovdiv.bg/novini/article/18302327)</sup> |
| 2019 sales peak | *Да гори в любов* was Bulgaria's number-one album by sales for two consecutive months<sup>[6](https://signal.bg/%d0%bf%d1%80%d0%b5%d1%81%d0%bb%d0%b0%d0%b2%d0%b0-%d0%be%d1%82%d0%bd%d0%be%d0%b2%d0%be-%d0%b5-%d0%bd%d0%be%d0%bc%d0%b5%d1%80-%d0%b5%d0%b4%d0%bd%d0%be/)</sup> |
| Anniversary concert | November 2024, about 15,000 attendees<sup>[7](https://nova.bg/news/view/2024/11/17/477368/m%D0%B5%D0%B3%D0%B0%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%86%D0%B5%D1%80%D1%82%D1%8A%D1%82-%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B5%D1%81%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B0-15-000-%D0%B4%D1%83%D1%88%D0%B8-%D0%B8-%D0%B4%D0%B5%D1%81%D0%B5%D1%82%D0%BA%D0%B8-%D0%B7%D0%B2%D0%B5%D0%B7%D0%B4%D0%B8-%D0%B2-%D0%BF%D1%83%D0%B1%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B0-%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE/)</sup> |

## Who she is

Preslava was born Petya Koleva Ivanova in Dobrich.<sup>[1](https://preslavaonline.com/bio/)</sup> Her mother Yanka is a seamstress and her father Kolyo an international driver; her older sister Ivelina is also a singer, working in folk music.<sup>[5](https://www.24plovdiv.bg/novini/article/18302327)</sup>

She started working as a singer at 15 while still at music school, and at 18 joined Milko Kalaydzhiev's orchestra.<sup>[2](https://open.spotify.com/artist/2Dj0euYPa8eiI6Ee5VLBwg)</sup> Her official site describes her repertoire as spanning pop-folk, Bulgarian folk songs, pop, rock, and jazz.<sup>[4](https://preslavaonline.com/music/)</sup>

## Early life and debut

In the summer of 2003, Milko Kalaidjiev, a star of Payner and Planeta TV, discovered Preslava and invited her to sing in restaurants along the [Black Sea](https://www.edgepedia.org/black-sea) coast.<sup>[3](https://pronewsdobrich.bg/2021/01/20/17-godini-ot-nachaloto-na-zvezdnata-kariera-na-pop-folk-zvezdata-ot-dobrich-preslava/)</sup>

20 January 2004 marks the start of her professional career: the contract with Payner signed that day.<sup>[3](https://pronewsdobrich.bg/2021/01/20/17-godini-ot-nachaloto-na-zvezdnata-kariera-na-pop-folk-zvezdata-ot-dobrich-preslava/)</sup> Kalaidjiev helped her start at the company, and her first released song was a duet with him titled "Нежен рекет", out in spring 2004.<sup>[1](https://preslavaonline.com/bio/)</sup> Her debut album *Preslava* followed in late autumn 2004, issued on audiocassette and CD with 16 songs, six of them given music videos.<sup>[4](https://preslavaonline.com/music/)</sup>

## Discography and hit songs

Her Spotify profile counts eight studio albums and over 150 songs across her career, while a press feature counts 6 albums, 3 compilations, and two video albums in her first 15 years.<sup>[2](https://open.spotify.com/artist/2Dj0euYPa8eiI6Ee5VLBwg)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[8](https://www.flagman.bg/article/180600)</sup>

The song "Дяволско желание", released in April 2005, became one of her biggest hits; the album of the same name followed in November 2005 with 12 songs, four of them made into videos.<sup>[1](https://preslavaonline.com/bio/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[4](https://preslavaonline.com/music/)</sup> Radio Veselina calls it her first total hit and notes it remains current.<sup>[9](https://www.radioveselina.bg/articles/8100/preslava-praznuva-20-godini-na-scena)</sup> Later retrospectives add "Водка с утеха", "Новата ти", "Лъжа е," and "Ако" among her biggest songs.<sup>[10](https://trafficnews.bg/bohemi/101-rozi-razdorapriiatelkite-preslava-i-galena-130873/)</sup>

In September 2019 she released the album *Да гори в любов*.<sup>[6](https://signal.bg/%d0%bf%d1%80%d0%b5%d1%81%d0%bb%d0%b0%d0%b2%d0%b0-%d0%be%d1%82%d0%bd%d0%be%d0%b2%d0%be-%d0%b5-%d0%bd%d0%be%d0%bc%d0%b5%d1%80-%d0%b5%d0%b4%d0%bd%d0%be/)</sup> Recent singles carry credited songwriting: the ballad "Писмо" has music by Preslava herself, arrangement by Daniel Ganev, and lyrics by Petya Radeva.<sup>[11](https://www.radioveselina.bg/news/9558/pismo-novata-raztyrsvashta-balada-na-preslava)</sup>

## By the numbers

*Да гори в любов*, released on 9 September 2019, sold out in record-short periods and required a second pressing within the same month; Payner's sales reports had it as the number-one album by sales in Bulgaria for a second consecutive month, ahead of other solo albums and compilations.<sup>[6](https://signal.bg/%d0%bf%d1%80%d0%b5%d1%81%d0%bb%d0%b0%d0%b2%d0%b0-%d0%be%d1%82%d0%bd%d0%be%d0%b2%d0%be-%d0%b5-%d0%bd%d0%be%d0%bc%d0%b5%d1%80-%d0%b5%d0%b4%d0%bd%d0%be/)</sup> In that same sales month she charted with two further albums, the gold collection "Хитовете на Преслава," and "Как ти стои".<sup>[6](https://signal.bg/%d0%bf%d1%80%d0%b5%d1%81%d0%bb%d0%b0%d0%b2%d0%b0-%d0%be%d1%82%d0%bd%d0%be%d0%b2%d0%be-%d0%b5-%d0%bd%d0%be%d0%bc%d0%b5%d1%80-%d0%b5%d0%b4%d0%bd%d0%be/)</sup>

Her 20-years-on-stage mega-concert in November 2024 drew about 15,000 people, with dozens of Bulgarian stars in the audience, including Galena.<sup>[7](https://nova.bg/news/view/2024/11/17/477368/m%D0%B5%D0%B3%D0%B0%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%86%D0%B5%D1%80%D1%82%D1%8A%D1%82-%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B5%D1%81%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B0-15-000-%D0%B4%D1%83%D1%88%D0%B8-%D0%B8-%D0%B4%D0%B5%D1%81%D0%B5%D1%82%D0%BA%D0%B8-%D0%B7%D0%B2%D0%B5%D0%B7%D0%B4%D0%B8-%D0%B2-%D0%BF%D1%83%D0%B1%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B0-%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE/)</sup> On award counts, one press feature credits her with 14 "Singer of the Year" prizes and over 60 awards in 15 years on stage,<sup>[8](https://www.flagman.bg/article/180600)</sup> while another names her "Singer of the Year" 13 times.<sup>[10](https://trafficnews.bg/bohemi/101-rozi-razdorapriiatelkite-preslava-i-galena-130873/)</sup>

## Awards and the Planeta stage

She is among the most awarded Bulgarian singers, with Balkan Star at international music awards in Turkey, Montenegro, and [North Macedonia](https://www.edgepedia.org/north-macedonia).<sup>[9](https://www.radioveselina.bg/articles/8100/preslava-praznuva-20-godini-na-scena)</sup> At the 2007 Planeta TV awards ceremony she received two prizes and performed "Лъжа е" and "Водка с утеха", closing the ceremony with "Не съм ангел".<sup>[12](https://www.avtora.com/preslava-triumfira-na-nagradite-na-planeta)</sup>

The infrastructure behind her career is Payner's: Planeta TV was founded in 2001, followed by Planeta Folk TV in 2007 with an HD upgrade in 2010, and in the 2000s chalga (Bulgarian pop-folk music genre with folk, oriental, and pop elements) production grew, producing more songs, more videos, and more stars.<sup>[13](https://kabk.github.io/go-theses-20-nedislav-kamburov/)</sup> The BBC describes Payner as the leading producer and distributor of chalga and among Bulgaria's most successful businesses.<sup>[14](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-21364650)</sup>

## How she compares with her Planeta peers

The most documented comparison is with Galena (Galina Vicheva Gencheva, born in Smyadovo).<sup>[15](https://www.slava.bg/profiles/256.html?sql_which=994)</sup> By the flagman.bg tally, Preslava holds 14 "Singer of the Year" prizes against Galena's 4, though Galena's total award count of 70 exceeds Preslava's over 60; Galena has 5 albums to Preslava's 6 in that count, with both credited with 3 compilations and 2 video albums.<sup>[8](https://www.flagman.bg/article/180600)</sup> At the anniversary concert, Galena appeared beside Preslava in the audience.<sup>[7](https://nova.bg/news/view/2024/11/17/477368/m%D0%B5%D0%B3%D0%B0%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%86%D0%B5%D1%80%D1%82%D1%8A%D1%82-%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B5%D1%81%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B0-15-000-%D0%B4%D1%83%D1%88%D0%B8-%D0%B8-%D0%B4%D0%B5%D1%81%D0%B5%D1%82%D0%BA%D0%B8-%D0%B7%D0%B2%D0%B5%D0%B7%D0%B4%D0%B8-%D0%B2-%D0%BF%D1%83%D0%B1%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B0-%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE/)</sup>

Chalga, the scene both belong to, carries a contested status. Timothy Rice records that pop-folk accounted for 85% of music production in Bulgaria by the late 1990s, with about thirty private recording companies devoted mainly to pop-folk in the early 1990s.<sup>[16](https://eefc.org/wp-content/uploads/Rice-Bulgaria-or-Chalgaria.pdf)</sup> Among members of the Bulgarian intellectual elite, scholarship notes, chalga has widely been claimed "the worst music in the world".<sup>[17](https://medialnistudia.fsv.cuni.cz/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/2015_02_05_Sentevska.pdf)</sup>

## Recent developments

The November 2024 anniversary concert before about 15,000 attendees marked two decades on stage.<sup>[7](https://nova.bg/news/view/2024/11/17/477368/m%D0%B5%D0%B3%D0%B0%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%86%D0%B5%D1%80%D1%82%D1%8A%D1%82-%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B5%D1%81%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B0-15-000-%D0%B4%D1%83%D1%88%D0%B8-%D0%B8-%D0%B4%D0%B5%D1%81%D0%B5%D1%82%D0%BA%D0%B8-%D0%B7%D0%B2%D0%B5%D0%B7%D0%B4%D0%B8-%D0%B2-%D0%BF%D1%83%D0%B1%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B0-%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE/)</sup> In the months around it she released three new songs in succession: "Старата ни песен", "Нищо," and the ballad "Писмо", the last with her own music, Daniel Ganev's arrangement, and Petya Radeva's lyrics.<sup>[11](https://www.radioveselina.bg/news/9558/pismo-novata-raztyrsvashta-balada-na-preslava)</sup> Deezer's catalog lists a live release, *PRESLAVA DELUXE ARCHIVES (Live)*, under Planeta Archives dated 20 July 2026.<sup>[18](https://www.deezer.com/bg/artist/6937433)</sup>

## References

1. [Биография - Preslava Online](https://preslavaonline.com/bio/)
2. [Preslava | Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/artist/2Dj0euYPa8eiI6Ee5VLBwg)
3. [17 години от началото на звездната кариера на поп фолк звездата от Добрич Преслава](https://pronewsdobrich.bg/2021/01/20/17-godini-ot-nachaloto-na-zvezdnata-kariera-na-pop-folk-zvezdata-ot-dobrich-preslava/)
4. [Музика - Preslava Online](https://preslavaonline.com/music/)
5. [Преслава на 40 - пълна метаморфоза (24 Plovdiv)](https://www.24plovdiv.bg/novini/article/18302327)
6. [Преслава отново е номер едно | Signal.bg](https://signal.bg/%d0%bf%d1%80%d0%b5%d1%81%d0%bb%d0%b0%d0%b2%d0%b0-%d0%be%d1%82%d0%bd%d0%be%d0%b2%d0%be-%d0%b5-%d0%bd%d0%be%d0%bc%d0%b5%d1%80-%d0%b5%d0%b4%d0%bd%d0%be/)
7. [Мегаконцертът на Преслава: 15 000 души и десетки звезди в публиката](https://nova.bg/news/view/2024/11/17/477368/m%D0%B5%D0%B3%D0%B0%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%86%D0%B5%D1%80%D1%82%D1%8A%D1%82-%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B5%D1%81%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B0-15-000-%D0%B4%D1%83%D1%88%D0%B8-%D0%B8-%D0%B4%D0%B5%D1%81%D0%B5%D1%82%D0%BA%D0%B8-%D0%B7%D0%B2%D0%B5%D0%B7%D0%B4%D0%B8-%D0%B2-%D0%BF%D1%83%D0%B1%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B0-%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE/)
8. [Преслава и Галена са скарани, не си говорят от месеци](https://www.flagman.bg/article/180600)
9. [Преслава празнува 20 години на сцена (Radio Veselina)](https://www.radioveselina.bg/articles/8100/preslava-praznuva-20-godini-na-scena)
10. [101 рози на раздора – "приятелките" Преслава и Галена](https://trafficnews.bg/bohemi/101-rozi-razdorapriiatelkite-preslava-i-galena-130873/)
11. ["Писмо" - новата разтърсваща балада на Преслава](https://www.radioveselina.bg/news/9558/pismo-novata-raztyrsvashta-balada-na-preslava)
12. [Преслава триумфира на наградите на Планета](https://www.avtora.com/preslava-triumfira-na-nagradite-na-planeta)
13. [Chalga – The Music in Bulgarian Life (Nedislav G. Kamburov)](https://kabk.github.io/go-theses-20-nedislav-kamburov/)
14. [Bulgaria's chalga pop-folk: A cultural rift (BBC News)](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-21364650)
15. [Профилът на Галена - slava.bg](https://www.slava.bg/profiles/256.html?sql_which=994)
16. [Bulgaria or Chalgaria (Timothy Rice)](https://eefc.org/wp-content/uploads/Rice-Bulgaria-or-Chalgaria.pdf)
17. ["Turbo folk rules!" (Mediální studia, 2015)](https://medialnistudia.fsv.cuni.cz/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/2015_02_05_Sentevska.pdf)
18. [Preslava | Deezer](https://www.deezer.com/bg/artist/6937433)

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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Music scenes › Continental European scenes › Balkan and Greek popular music › Artists, groups, and people: Balkan and Greek popular music › Bulgarian pop and chalga*

*Initially written Sep 19, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 19, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026 · Last review: Sep 19, 2026*

*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*

License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license