From Nivaldo to Gusttavo Lima: the trajectory of the ‘ambassador’ of the sertanejo

Gusttavo Lima is aiming at politics. And also in the international musical career. She is still a partner of an insurer, owner of a hash, rancher, entrepreneur of other artists and poster boy from brands ranging from perfumes to refrigerators.

Born Nivaldo Batista de Lima in Presidente Olegário (MG) in 1989, the singer tried several times to burst in music, faced difficulties and considered giving up. At 13, he was deluded with an invitation to play in Brasilia. He was abandoned at the bus station by the subject who promised to pick him up. He slept three nights at the station, playing guitar and singing to get some exchanges.

There was also pairs, trios and bands until arriving in Goiânia, already in a solo career, encouraged by a cousin who sang the ball: “This is where the countrymen happen.” But it was only in 2008, when he added a second T to the stage name (Gustavo Lima with one T had only owner), who achieved success.

In 2011, he said his first mega hit, “Ballad”, that of the chorus “Tchê Tchererê, Gusttavo Lima and you”. The music reached international projection, winning Billboard Top 10 in Belgium and the Netherlands and the top 25 in France. In Brazil, it was in the top three for a year.

In 2015, came another turning point: the “Buteco do Gusttavo Lima” tour, with appearances by Zezé Di Camargo and Luciano, Leonardo, Jorge and Mateus and Bruno and Marrone. In the same year, Gusttavo left the producer Audio Mix and founded his ballad Events.

Currently, the countryman has 45.5 million followers on Instagram and 13.3 million monthly listeners in Spotify. It is more than Ivete Sangalo, for example, who has 36.7 million on the Zuckerberg social network and 6.9 million on the Swedish music platform. Nicknamed Ambassador, the singer, however, dreams much higher than that.

Mega Star

Two weeks ago, he hired Dody Sirena, a musical entrepreneur who worked for three decades with Roberto Carlos. Dody’s project for Gusttavo, whom he considers “the greatest Brazilian artist of today”, is to expand his career to the Latin American market. The pair closed agreement with Sony Global for the release of a disc in Spanish later this year.

“It will be a successful scandal he singing in Spanish. We are working on marketing strategies for this second semester release,” Dody tells F5. For 2026, he plans an international tour of the ambassador. “He’s a Mega Star,” says the businessman.

The international agenda does not prevent Gusttavo himself – that he simultaneously invests in the political career. Last Wednesday (5), the governor of Goiás, Ronaldo Caiado (União Brasil), said he will compose the plate with the singer to run for the presidency of the Republic in 2026.

Gusttavo, however, has no party affiliation yet. Invited by União and PP, he said he has no “definitions” yet and that any decision about his political future will only be made in 2026. Caiado is ineligible. In December 2024, the Goiás Regional Electoral Court (TRE-GO) made the state governor ineligible for eight years for abuse of political power in municipal elections. Even so, he marked the release of his pre-candidacy for April 4. Gusttavo has already confirmed presence.

Greek mythology

Parallel to the conservative agroboy style, a look that includes full beard, tight pants and cowboy hat, Gusttavo Lima carries a discreet tattoo on the temple. The body part is unusual among sertanejos – it is usually more common to rappers and funkeiros. But the drawing, almost always hidden by the thick rods of luxurious glasses, marks the obsession of Gusttavo: a Greek column.

The Greek columns are present in emoji form in almost all publications of the singer. They also print the wall of their office in Bem Protege, insurer of which he is a partner, and were reproduced in megalomaniac size on the facade of his mansion in Bela Vista (GO) – Architecture became meme on the internet.

The property, which has already been blocked by the court, has a private airport with huge track, garage for ten cars and 200 square meters pool. Gusttavo, however, does not live in it. He lives in Miami with his wife, Andressa Suita, and the couple’s two sons, Gabriel, 7, and Samuel, 6. The ambassador also has two other farms in Minas Gerais and Mato Grosso, where he invests in cattle and soy.

The obsession of the singer with Greece extends to his own country, one of his favorite destinations. It was there that he took José André da Rocha Neto in September last year, owner of the platform, and his wife, Aislla Rocha, both investigated in Operation Integration for alleged money laundering through sports betting.

The couple traveled on the Gusttavo Lima plane and enjoyed their birthday party at a Yacht in Mykonos. Ronaldo Caiado was on board too. On the way back, the couple of Bet went right there by the Mediterranean. Gusttavo was arrested, accused of arising from the suspects. The inquiry, however, was filed for lack of sufficient elements for the complaint.

Millionaire

The Bets scandal was not the first image crisis Gusttavo faced. In 2022, he was at the center of controversies on millionaire shows paid by municipalities of small municipalities. It received R $ 1.2 million from the City Hall of Conceição do Mato Dentro (MG) and R $ 800 thousand for a show in São Luiz de Roraima, a city with just over 8 thousand inhabitants.

The ambassador’s success, however, only grows. The cash flow is also the pin. The candidacy is still an uncertain shot, but there is no shortage of enthusiasts. The obsession of the countryman through the symbol of the greatest civilization of antiquity marries well with his ambitious project: he wants to be a candidate for president, international artist and wants to profit. With whatever it is.