Her professional career as a singer started in 1997, when she won "Most promising singer award" at the Portorož festival. Her appearance was encouraged by known local composer Danilo Kocjančič, which together with lyrics writer Drago Mislej – Mef and Marino Legovič wrote the winning song and later the whole material for her first album.[1][2]
Kovač had made three previous attempts to represent Slovenia. In Slovenia's 1999 national final, she won the televote but finished second after the jury vote was given. She also finished fifth in 2001 and 10th in 1997. She later attempted to represent Slovenia in 2020, and finished fourth in the national final.[citation needed]
Tinkara Kovač, 2014
1997: Veter z juga (Danilo Kocjančič - Drago Mislej - Marino Legovič) – 10th (574 televotes)
Kovač achieved formal music education as a professor with a degree in flute playing at the Giuseppe Tartini conservatory in Trieste. She lives near the Karst Plateau together with her partner and two daughters.[1][12]
She is of partial Hungarian ancestry.[13]