Kruševac (Serbian: Крушевац [krûʃɛʋat͡s] ( listen)) is a city and municipality, and the administrative center of the Rasina District, in central Serbia. According to the 2011 census, the municipality has a population of 127,429, while the town has 57,627.

The city was founded in 1371, by Prince Lazar of Serbia (1371–1389), who used it as his seat.

The etymology is derived from the Serbian word for "pear", kruška.

Kruševac was founded in 1371, as a fortified town in the possession of Lord Lazar Hrebeljanović. The Lazarica Church (or Church of St. Stephen [Nemanja]) was built by Lazar between 1375–1378, in the Morava architectural style, in the village of . It is mentioned in one of Lazar's edicts in 1387, as his seat, when he affirmed the rights of Venetian merchants on Serbian territory. In preparation for the Battle of Kosovo (1389) against the Ottoman Empire, the Serbian army assembled in the city. The site of Lazar's palace is marked by a ruined enclosure containing a fragment of the tower of his spouse Princess Milica, and according to legend, tidings of the defeat were brought to her by crows from the battlefield. After the battle, the city was held by Princess Milica as her seat. The little remains of Lazar's city is the Kruševac Fortress, which was declared a Cultural Monument of Exceptional Importance in 1979. Several old Ottoman houses were left at the beginning of the 20th century, besides an old Turkish fountain and bath, which was known as Alacahisar (Aladža Hisar) during Ottoman rule between 1427-1833 (nominally to 1867) except Austrian occupations between 1688–1690 and 1717-1739.

Željko Joksimović or often credited Zeljko Joksimovic (Serbian: Жељко Јоксимовић, pronounced [ʒěːʎko jôksimoʋitɕ]; born 20 April 1972 in Belgrade, SR Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia) is a Serbian singer, composer and producer. He is also well known in all European countries. He represented Serbia and Montenegro in the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Lane moje", placing 2nd behind Ukrainian singer Ruslana. He represented Serbia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 in Baku, Azerbaijan and finished 3rd.

Željko Joksimović was born on 20 April 1972 in Belgrade and grew up in the city of Valjevo. Željko’s first international success came at the age of 12, when he won the title of First Accordion of Europe at the prestigious music festival in Paris. He graduated from the Music University in Belgrade and launched his professional music career in 1997. In 1998 he won a contest at the Pjesma Mediterana festival with the song "Pesma Sirena", which led to opportunities to perform at more prestigious festivals in Belarus. The Serbian musician won the "Grand-Prix" award at two festivals in that country. Joksimović can play 11 different musical instruments including accordion, piano, guitar, drums.