Ciara Leaked ‘Promise’ After It Was Called The ‘Worst R&B Song’ By A Record Exec

Ciara knows a hit where she hears it.

Speaking with Bustle, Ciara detailed how she leaked her hit song “Promise” in 2006 after her label didn’t believe it had potential. In fact, an executive at Sony described the song as “the worst R&B record.” 

“We leaked it at an Atlanta radio station and literally the song took off and was a monster,” she recalled.”I ended up having my first No. 1 album. And that week was a big week — it was me, Gwen Stefani, Eminem, everyone.”

While her intuition was right in that instance, she did admit to not always getting it right. But even when it does go her way, nothing shakes her belief in herself.

“There’s been times when maybe it doesn’t work as well as I thought it would,” she said. “But I’ve been pretty consistent in my belief, so I won’t stop believing.”

When it comes to measuring success, the “Goodies” will never let accolades wouldn’t let accolades define her. She mentioned her song “Body Party” and its No. 1 placement on R&B/hip-hop radio in 2013

“You would think that that metric would automatically classify you for a nomination, right?” she asked. “No. 1 song, moving the needle in a pretty cool direction, I would say, and I don’t have a nomination.”

“If I was basing it off of the metrics [of awards], then I would feel like I failed,” she added.

It’s been 20 years since her debut album and Ciara is better than ever. In 2024, she hit the road with Missy Elliott, Busta Rhymes, and Timbaland for the Out of This World — The Missy Elliott Experience. She even brought her family along for the ride.

My kids traveled with me, and I couldn’t have done it any other way,” she told PEOPLE. “They were like little precious babies of a tour having so much fun with Auntie, Missy, and Uncle Busta,” she says. “I mean, it’s just the energy was just incredible.”

“So I can say the first summer with four that wasn’t too bad,” she added, “I was like, ‘This is what life is about.’ So, the little joys in life. I’m so grateful.”