 Bethânia was ranks in 2012, by "Rolling Stone Brasil" magazine, as the fifth biggest voice of Brazilian music.Bethânia is the sixth out of eight children born into the family of José Telles Veloso ("Seu Zeca"), a government official, and Claudionor Viana Telles Veloso ("Dona Canô"), a housewife.The name "Maria Bethânia" was chosen by her brother Caetano Veloso after the homonymous hit song written by composer Capiba and famous at the time in the voice of Nélson Gonçalves.