Alla Pugacheva was born Alla Borisovna Pugacheva on April 15, 1949, in Moscow, Russia. Her father, named Boris Mikhailovich Pugachev, was a shoe factory manager in the city of Taldom, Russia. Her mother, named Zinaida Arkhipovna (nee Odegova), was a housewife. She has a junior brother, named Evgeni Borisovich Pugachev.

At the early age of 5, young Alla Pugacheva made her first public performance at the prestigious Pillar Hall of Palace of Unions in Moscow. From 1956-1965 she studied piano and singing at the music school No31. In 1965, she made her radio debut with the popular song 'Robot' on the Moscow Radio. From 1965-1971 she studied singing and choir directing at Moscow College of Music named after Ippolitov-Ivanov. From 1976-1981 she studied acting and directing at Moscow Institute of Theatrical Art (GITIS) from which she graduated as director.

In 1977 Pugacheva made her film debut in the title role in Zhenshchina, kotoraya poyot (1979). She also was a composer for that film under the nickname of 'Boris Gorbonos'. The film was a major box-office hit with attendance of more than 60 million in the Soviet Union. Pugacheva was named the best actress of the USSR for the year 1979. By that time she was already an internationally regarded pop-singer, having awards and recognition from such international music festivals as Sopot-78, MIDEM-1976, Zolotoi Orfei-75, and other. In 1997, she took part in Eurovision festival. Pugacheva has been a strong supporter for humanitarian causes. She made donations and performed charity concerts to help the victims of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.

Pugacheva performed and recorded over three hundred songs over the course of her career. Her international hit 'Million Roses' was written and recorded in collaboration with Latvian composer Raimonds Pauls, who has been working with Pugacheva on many other popular songs, and made several concert programs together. She also collaborated with such popular stars as Joe Dassin, Udo Lindenberg, Philipp Kirkorov, Kristina Orbakaite, Vladimir Presnyakov, and others. Pugacheva was awarded the State Prize of Russia (1995) and received many other awards. She was designated the Peoples Artist of the USSR in December of 1991.

Alla Pugacheva has been the indisputable leader in record sales in the USSR and in Russia, having sold over 100 million albums and singles during her career. Pugacheva has been helping many young singers and actors to become professionals. She is currently the Artistic Director and a host of her own TV show titled 'Fabrika Zvezd' (Factory of Stars). Her daughter, named Kristina Orbakaite, is a popular singer and actress in Russia. Pugacheva currently resides in Moscow, Russia.