Ciara is promoting a new phase of her career that spans music, film and philanthropy as she readies her long-gestating album CiCi and settles into life in New York City with husband Russell Wilson.
The R&B star said the album — which she has worked on for nearly five years — represents greater creative control after founding her own label, Beauty Marks Entertainment, and called the lead single “Ecstasy” one of her sexiest tracks. The song’s video has inspired a viral challenge in which fans attempt a gravity-defying move that makes the singer appear to float atop a folding chair. “There’s nothing better than when people engage with you on your ideas,” she said.
Ciara, 39, said she and Wilson — who recently joined the New York Giants — moved to Manhattan earlier this summer and are adjusting to city life with their blended family of four children. She praised New York for being family-friendly while also offering nightlife and cultural opportunities the couple enjoys. “We love our date nights! They say you can never eat enough in your lifetime to get to all of the restaurants here,” she said, adding that she plans to take in theater — counting Hamilton among the shows she has not yet seen.
The singer said CiCi grew out of creativity that was partly fueled during the pandemic and is a labor of love for longtime fans. She described the record as liberating and said ownership of her music has been “one of the most gratifying experiences.” Though she has not announced a tour, she said the goal is to take the project around the world and that she and her team are working on plans for 2026.
Ciara has maintained a public artistic identity since her 2004 breakthrough with the single “Goodies,” which propelled her to mainstream success and helped define what critics called “crunk&B.” Over two decades she has released hits including “1, 2 Step,” “Love Sex Magic” and “Level Up,” and has expanded her creative work to include film production.
She and Wilson have launched Why Not You youth centers in partnership with local Boys & Girls Clubs in Pittsburgh and Atlanta, and the couple plans to open additional centers in the tristate area. Ciara said community uplift, especially for girls and young women, has been a through line in her career; she opened a dance studio in Atlanta on the city’s second annual “Ciara Day.”
On the film front, Ciara highlighted Why Not You Productions’ first major feature in partnership with Amazon Studios, Sarah’s Oil, which is due Nov. 7. The dramatization tells the true story of Sarah Rector, an 11-year-old who became the first Black female millionaire in the early 1900s after discovering the value of oil on land she owned. Ciara called Rector’s story “incredible” and said it resonates with efforts to elevate Black history and highlight pioneering women.
Ciara also confirmed involvement in the sequel to The Devil Wears Prada, scheduled for release in 2026, calling her role “a special moment” in the film without offering plot details. The singer said appearing in the sequel was motivating and represents another outlet for her creative ambitions.
Throughout the interview she reflected on the physical demands of performance after having four children and joked about aging, while stressing mental-health practices and giving herself grace. She described maintaining dance technique — what she called a “strong knee game” — as a priority and acknowledged that core strength requires extra attention after multiple pregnancies.
Her fashion profile remains prominent. In a downtown shoot for Alexa magazine, Ciara cited the Lower East Side’s color and street art as a cinematic backdrop and highlighted several looks she enjoyed, including a faux-fur Dolce & Gabbana outfit she described as “boss-tomboy-like.” She said having Fashion Week and other major events close to home is “amazing.”
Ciara’s trajectory from a teenage breakout star to an artist who owns her label and produces film signals a widening of her professional focus. She said the new album is both a personal statement and a thank-you to fans who have followed her since the early 2000s. “I’m kind of feeling like I’m just getting started,” she said.
Ciara’s forthcoming activities — the release of CiCi, a possible global tour in 2026, the Nov. 7 release of Sarah’s Oil and her appearance in a high-profile sequel — position her simultaneously in music, film and philanthropy as she continues to build on a more than 20-year career in entertainment.