Sanna Nielsen was born and grew up in Bromölla, Skåne. Her career started at several talent searches, the first being in 1992 in Olofström. In 1994 she participated in a talent search in Kallinge and won with the song "Can You Feel the Love Tonight". Nielsen performed with the danceband Mats Elmes between 1995 and 1996 at the age of eleven.[2]
At the same time she reached the number one spot on the Svensktoppen Chart with the song "Till en fågel".[3] Nielsen became the youngest person to reach number one at the chart.[4]
In September 1996 Nielsens debut album "Silvertoner" was released.[5] A reviewer of the album for Göteborgs-Posten compared Nielsen to Carola Häggkvist and Sissel Kyrkjebø.[6] During the following years Nielsen released the Christmas album Min önskejul in 1997 and the music single "Time to Say Goodbye" in 1999.[7] During her high school years, she studied the Estetichal programme and mostly music at Helenehoms Gymnastin in Malmö.[8]
In February 2006, her second solo music album Nära mej, nära dej was released with lyrics and music by Fredrik Kempe and Marcos Ubeda.[11] In July-August 2007 she was on a new music tour called Sommar, Sommar, Sommar along with Shirley Clamp and Sonja Aldén.[12] In April 2008 the album Stronger was released, an album completely in English language, the first time Nielsen had such an album.[13] The same year the album Our Christmas was released, containing Christmas songs along with Shirley Clamp and Sonja Aldén.[14] In December 2013 Nielsen released her seventh studio album called Min jul with Christmas songs.[15]