Who Is Nena? Age, Biography and Wiki
Born on March 24, 1960, Nena, whose real name is Gabriele Susanne Kerner, is a renowned German singer and songwriter. She rose to fame in the 1980s with her hit single "99 Luftballons," which remains a pop-culture anthem to this day. With a career spanning over four decades, Nena has not only captured the hearts of her fans through her music but has also established herself as a cultural icon in the German-speaking world.
As of 2025, Nena is 65 years old. Her music is celebrated for its catchy melodies and thought-provoking lyrics, addressing various social and political themes.
| Occupation | Pop Singer |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | March 24, 1960 |
| Age | 65 Years |
| Birth Place | Hagen, North Rhine-Westphalia, West Germany |
| Horoscope | Aries |
| Country | Germany |
Popularity
Nena's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
At 65, Nena has maintained a striking appearance. Her height is approximately 5 feet 6 inches (168 cm) and she weighs around 130 pounds (59 kg). Her body measurements are reported to be 34-26-36 inches, showcasing her timeless appeal. Nena has always emphasized the importance of a healthy lifestyle, which is reflected in her appearance.
Nena's next album, Oldschool, which was produced by the German rapper and hip hop artist Samy Deluxe, was released on 27 February 2015. Distribution rights for the album were agreed with Sony Music, 22 years after the company dropped Nena as a recording artist.
The album maintained Nena's 21st century chart success pattern (top 5 in Germany, top 10 in Austria, top 20 in Switzerland) but the first two singles released from the album failed to chart.
However, for the first time in Nena's career, another track from the album ("Magie"), which was not released as a single, crept into the lower echelons of the German singles chart solely by virtue of downloads.
Then, in April 2016, fourteen months after Oldschool's release, the third single from the album, "Genau jetzt", returned Nena to the German Top 30 singles chart for the first time in six years.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Nena has had a number of relationships throughout her life. Currently, she appears to be single, focusing on her career and personal growth. She shares three children from her previous relationships, who have always been a significant part of her life. Nena values her family and often speaks about the joy her children bring to her life.
She was the oldest out of three children; her father was a teacher. She spent the earliest part of her childhood in Breckerfeld and later lived in Hagen. She acquired her nickname “Nena” while on a vacation to Mallorca, Spain, with her parents. Nena (from Niña) is a Spanish word meaning "baby girl".
In 1977, she left high school before gaining the Abitur, and in the three following years she was trained as a goldsmith.
Net Worth and Salary
As of 2025, Nena's net worth is estimated to be around $10 million. This wealth is primarily derived from her successful music career, including album sales, concert tours, and various endorsements. Nena continues to perform, which contributes significantly to her earnings, ensuring she remains a prominent figure in the music industry.
The period between the releases of Oldschool and the 2020 album Licht is the longest in Nena's career between new studio albums.
In an era when artists tend to generate more revenue from live performances than recordings, Nena released two live albums and restricted her studio work to one-track collaborations with Zara Larsson, Dave Stewart, Trettmann and fellow guests from the 2016 Sing meinen Song series.
In February 2019 Nena provided vocals for the title track and lead single of Schiller's album Morgenstund which entered the German album chart at number 1 and the top 10 of both the Austrian and Swiss album charts.
In February 2020 Nena announced new music would be published "soon" and a month later on her 60th birthday released the single "Licht", which became the title track of her next studio album released on 16 October.
Licht maintained Nena's 21st century album chart pattern by reaching No.3 in Germany, No.9 in Switzerland and No.11 in Austria, although none of its three singles released ahead of the album charted.
Career, Business, and Investments
Nena's career took off in the early 1980s, and she has released numerous albums and singles since then. Beyond music, Nena has ventured into various business endeavors, including fashion and lifestyle brands that resonate with her artistic sensibilities. Her investments are believed to be strategically focused in the entertainment sector, and she continues to explore new musical projects that reflect her evolving artistry.
Gabriele Susanne Kerner (born 24 March 1960), better known by her stage name Nena, is a German singer who rose to international fame in 1983 as the lead vocalist of the band Nena with the Neue Deutsche Welle song "99 Luftballons". In that same year, the band re-recorded this song in English as "99 Red Balloons".
Nena's re-recording of some of the band's old hit songs as a solo artist, produced by the co-composer of most of them, her former Nena band colleague and keyboard player Uwe Fahrenkrog-Petersen, rekindled her solo career in 2002.
Combined with the success of the Nena band years, she has sold over 25 million records, making her the most successful German pop singer in chart history.
Social Network
Nena remains active on social media, engaging with her fans through platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Her online presence maintains her relevance in today's digital age, allowing her to connect with both new and longtime fans. She often shares insights into her life, music projects, and personal philosophies, making her a relatable and cherished figure in the entertainment world.
In addition to citing the Ramones, David Bowie and Debbie Harry as early influences, Nena's main artistic source of inspiration and her favourite band is the Rolling Stones. Nena has covered their songs in concert and on her 2007 Cover Me album.
In 1984 Nena said, "If I hadn't started listening to the Rolling Stones when I was 12 I'd have been a different person, a secretary or something like that."
Education
Nena's formal education details are less publicized; however, it is known that she displayed a passion for music from a young age. She honed her skills through various local music groups before breaking into the mainstream. Nena attributes much of her artistic development to real-life experiences rather than traditional academic pathways, making her journey uniquely inspiring.
In 2003, she took the stage during the Howard Jones 20th Anniversary concert at the Shepherd's Bush Empire in London to sing "99 Luftballons", with both German and English lyrics. In 2004, Nena went on stage at the Mayday Music Festival in Dortmund, accompanied by the techno duo.
She sang the song "Bang Bang", and was later joined on stage by DJ Westbam to perform "Oldschool Baby". In March 2015, Nena promoted the release of the Oldschool album with a "club tour" of 16 smaller venues (for 200 to 700 people) including her former primary school.
A recording of one of these concerts – at the SO36 club in Berlin on 4 March 2015 – was released as Nena's sixth live album Live at SO36 on 4 March 2016, exactly one year later.
Later in 2015, Nena announced her intention to perform live in the US for the first time by way of a similar "club tour", which was initially planned for early 2016 before taking place as a three-date "mini tour" in September and October.
During this tour, Nena met Dave Stewart with whom she collaborated to release in March 2018 the single "Be my rebel", the video for which went on to win 40 international awards.
