“Pagnia Xiong is incomparable […] her voice and presence in both speech and song command every scene she is in.”
— TWIN CITIES AGENDA
Pagnia Xiong
Full Name
Pajnyiag Xyooj
Hmong Name
Pawn-YEE-ah Shong
Pronunciation
The Highlights
Pagnia’s Journey
Internationally-Acclaimed Hmong Music Artist
Pagnia has recorded three full-length albums, each reflecting her artistic growth: Nyob Ib Sab (2006), Ntseeg Kuv (2010), and Plhis Suab (2016).
Global Community
Pagnia's music and performances have garnered millions of views, reaching audiences from Fresno, California to Vientiane, Laos. Her work has been featured in prominent media outlets including the Star Tribune, WCCO CBS News Minnesota, and 3HMONGTV - Twin Cities Hmong Television.
Keynote Speaker & Performer
Pagnia has delivered keynote addresses and concerts at prestigious institutions such as the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Hmong National Development.
GreenRoom Fellow & Actor
In 2022, Pagnia was selected as one of ten fellows in GreenRoom, a groundbreaking musical theater fellowship for BIPOC artists, created by the Ordway Center for Performing Arts. This prestigious opportunity marked a significant milestone in her career, paving the way for her mainstage acting debut as "Shia" in AGAIN (2023), the first-ever professional musical production written by a Hmong American playwright.
Historic Performance
On July 22, 2021, Pagnia made history as the first Hmong American female music artist to perform at a major U.S. league sporting event, performing the national anthem at a Minnesota Twins game. She subsequently performed for the Minnesota Lynx in September 2021 and the Minnesota Timberwolves in March 2022.
Career Highlight
On December 15, 2023, Pagnia executive produced her first solo concert in Minnesota, Pagnia in Love: Live in Concert, held at the prestigious Ordway Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Saint Paul.
“…Powerful Pagnia Xiong”
- STAR TRIBUNE
The Story
Official
Bio
Pagnia Xiong is an internationally recognized Hmong-American singer, actor, and creative producer whose work reflects both her cultural heritage and personal journey.
A self-taught artist, Xiong pursued a career in music despite challenges, using her platform for nearly two decades to advocate for women's empowerment, self-love, and the pursuit of dreams.
Since debuting in 2006, Xiong has released three full-length albums—Nyob Ib Sab (2006), Ntseeg Kuv (2010), and Plhis Suab (2016)—each marking a significant evolution in her artistic career. Her live performances have reached audiences of over 200,000 worldwide, while her keynote concerts and speaking engagements have inspired individuals across academic institutions and community settings.
In 2011, Xiong participated in a collaborative recording of Hmoob Yuavtsum Hlub Hmoob, a widely recognized Hmong anthem. The project garnered over 1.9 million views and sparked a global movement of unity within the Hmong community, connecting individuals from Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Bangkok, Thailand.
Her contributions to the arts and advocacy have been widely recognized. In 2017, Xiong received the Authentic Emergent Leadership Award from the Hmong Women Summit: The Authenticity Project for her impact on the Hmong community. In July 2021, she made history as the first Hmong American female music artist to perform at a major U.S. league sporting event.
Photo Credit: Rich Ryan
Expanding her artistic repertoire, Xiong entered the world of theater as a GreenRoom fellow at the Ordway in 2022. In April 2023, she made her main stage acting debut in AGAIN produced by Theater Mu, the second-largest Asian American theater company in the United States. Her performance received critical acclaim, with the Star Tribune describing her presence as "powerful" and Twin Cities Agenda calling her "incomparable" in both speech and song.
On December 15, 2023, Xiong headlined and executive produced her first solo concert in Minnesota, Pagnia in Love: Live in Concert, at the Ordway, a highly anticipated event that left audiences deeply moved.
In 2024, she was invited to perform the national anthem for Saint Paul Mayor Melvin Carter’s State of the City Address and completed intensive training at the Wesley-Balk Opera/Music-Theater Institute, a prestigious program for professional musical storytelling.
In February 2025, Xiong announced the launch of her first Hmong Music Mentorship program, designed to guide and support emerging Hmong artists in their musical careers.
As she looks to the future, Xiong continues to push creative boundaries, committed to inspiring and uplifting through music, performance, and mentorship.
