Serbian singers Zlata Petrović and Aleksandra Mladenović reflect on rural roots

Profiles of Serbian singers Zlata Petrović and Aleksandra Mladenović highlight their early lives and roots in rural Serbia.

Zlata Petrović grew up in Grabovac near Obrenovac. Neighbors describe her as a dedicated individual who supported her family financially and completed her schooling through external examinations after the fourth grade. She is noted for inheriting her singing talent from her late mother, Dragica, who was well-regarded in the community.

Aleksandra Mladenović was raised in the village of Samarinovac near Žitorađa. Her upbringing involved helping her parents with agricultural work, including carrying watermelons in the fields to earn her first money. Like Petrović, Mladenović completed her final year of high school via external exams due to her early musical career and participation in the competition 'Zvezde Granda'.