Elissa was born on October 27, 1972 to a Lebanese father Zakaria Khoury and a Syrian mother Youmna Suud. In 1992, she competed in "Studio El Fan" and won a silver medal. She released her debut album "Baddi Doub" in 1999 with EMI. In 2006, Elissa released "Bastanak", her fifth studio album. "Bastanak" () became her most successful album. It peaked at number-one in eight Arab music charts. The album won the World Music Award for "Best Arabic Artist". She has done a lot of duets with famous Arab and international singers as well. She has done duets with Ragheb Alama, Cheb Mami, Fadl Shaker, Chris DeBurgh and Gypsy Kings.