Nexhmije Pagarusha [neˈd͡ʒmijɛ pagaˈɾuʃa]; 7 May 1933 – 7 February 2020) was an Albanian singer and actress from Republic of Kosovo, often referred to as the queen of Kosovan music. Pagarusha gained acclaim as a recording artist in Kosova and neighbouring countries for her distinct soprano vocal range, which she displayed performing various Kosovan folk songs during her career, which spanned 36 years, from 1948, in her debut in Radio Prishtina, to 1984, in her final concert in Sarajevo. Her music style was not limited just to Albanian music, as she performed rock, pop, funk, opera/classical, and many more. Nexhmije Pagarusha was born in the small village of Pagarusha, near the town of Mališevo, Vardar Banovina, Kingdom of Yugoslavia (present-day Kosovo). She finished primary school in Mališevo and then went to Belgrade, where she attended a  music school for three years, in the solo cantosection. She began her music career as a singer for Radio Pristina in 1948.