Carole Samaha

Carole Samaha (; born July 25, 1972) is a Lebanese Egyptian singer, actress, and performer. She has released six studio albums. Samaha has a Master's degree in acting and directing, which she earned in 1999 from the Saint Joseph University of Beirut.

In 2004, she won the Arab Music Award for best female newcomer. She has also won multiple Murex d'Or awards and was nominated for best Arabia New Act in the MTV Europe Music Awards 2008.

Before starting her pop music career, Carole Samaha was a classical actress and worked extensively with Mansour Rahbani and Marwan Rahbani. Her first music single was Bi Sabah el Alf el Talet in 2000.

In 2007, Carole Samaha returned to the theater to play Zenobia in the Rahbani musical with the same name. She established her own production company, Lacarma, in 2009. In 2011, Carole Samaha starred in the TV series Al Shahroura, broadcast during Ramadan, as the singer and actress Sabah. In 2013, she was a judge on The X Factor (Arabic TV series) and she was the mentor for Young Pharoz, Maraya and Les Bledards Ninja. Later that year, she created the musical show "The Lady", produced by Rotana, which premiered on August 10, 2013.

Early life Samaha was born on July 25, 1972, in Beirut to Antoine Samaha from Khenchara, Metn, a direct relative of Lebanese politician Shafik Mebarak Samaha (who left Zahlé, Lebanon for Colombia at the beginning of the 20th century) and Nouhad Hawi from Dhour El Choueir, Metn. Through the former, she is also related to Shafik Mebarak, nephew of Shakira. She has two brothers.

Personal life On November 1, 2013, Samaha married Walid Mostafa, an Egyptian businessman, in a civil ceremony in Limassol, Cyprus, following an 18-month courtship and short engagement. On August 31, 2015, Carole Samaha gave birth to a baby girl, Tala. She is a Maronite Christian. She holds both Lebanese and Egyptian citizenships, and in 2014 she began residing in Egypt with her late husband.

Public statements and activism In July 2014, Samaha visited the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan as a goodwill ambassador for the International Network for Rights and Development, where she met Syrian refugees and distributed gifts to children.

In 2017, Samaha expressed support for a Lebanese court ruling that stated homosexuality was a natural right and not a criminal offense, praising the judge who issued the decision. She also expressed support for LGBT rights, stating that people should accept homosexuals "as they are", while saying she remained uncertain about same-sex adoption.

During the 2019–2020 Lebanese protests, Samaha supported the protest movement and women's rights, including by performing a modified version of the Lebanese national anthem that explicitly included women.

In 2020, Samaha attracted controversy after describing the COVID-19 vaccine as "the deal of the century" and expressing opposition to vaccination on social media. She also promoted disputed claims linking some vaccines to autism, drawing criticism from social media users and medical professionals. In 2021, Samaha sparked controversy after saying she did not identify as a feminist, arguing that men and women were not physically equal. She later clarified that she supported equal rights but rejected what she viewed as extremist forms of feminism.

In 2023, Samaha sparked controversy over gender identity comments, saying humans are biologically either male or female and claiming that some doctors abroad delay assigning a newborn's sex until their gender identity is determined, calling such ideas an "agenda." She also linked COVID-19, vaccination, climate change, and LGBTQ-related campaigns to population reduction claims, and said that the film Barbie promoted avoiding marriage and having children.

In 2026, amid the conflict in southern Lebanon, Samaha stated that "the South is not for sale" and criticized contact with Israeli military officials.

Discography Album 2003 Helm( – A Dream) Oughniat El Toufoula( – Children Songs)2004 Ana Horra( – I'm Free)2006 Adwa' Al Shohra( – Lights of Fame)2009 Hdoudi Sama( – The Sky Is My Limit)2013 Ehssas( – A Feeling)2016 Zekrayati( – Memories)2020 Christmas Carole(Christmas songs)

Single Year Song Album Lebanese Charts Egyptian Charts Translation