Who are the best singers of all time? That's a tough question to ask. This list includes many of the greatest, most famous vocalists ever, from all genres of music. From the old guard to new legends in the making, these talented singers are among the most popular in the world thanks to their commanding live performance and powerful singing voices. Whether it's the incomparable, late, great Whitney Houston with her extraordinary pop and R&B tones or rock icons like Freddie Mercury from Queen, Jim Morrison from The Doors or John Lennon and/or Paul McCartney from The Beatles, this list spans decades of incredible musicians. What singers do you feel are the greatest of all time? What are some of the greatest voices in music? Who's the best singer alive today? Which late powerhouse has cemented their place in history? Vote for your favorites, vote down any you don't like and feel free to rerank this list your way.
Vote: The Best Rock Vocalists
Putting together the top singers in music history is a tall order. Everyone has an opinion. Some might lean more toward rock vocalists as their personal favorite (think Ann Wilson, Stevie Nicks and Mick Jagger), while others might prefer excellent pop or R&B vocalists like the late Michael Jackson, Ray Charles, or even Stevie Wonder, James Brown or Aretha Franklin.
Rank: The Top Female Vocalists of the Last Decade
Country musicians could also easily be included on this list. Musicians like Johnny Cash and Keith Whitley gave new meaning to great vocals with outstanding country songs. Female country artists, including modern era vocalists like Carrie Underwood could also be included. If country's your thing, vote and add away! Now, help decide who are the greatest singers of all time.
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56,25434,229Freddie Mercury (born Farrokh Bulsara; 5 September 1946 – 24 November 1991) was a British... more
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37,65134,111Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter,... more3
30,19528,114Whitney Elizabeth Houston (August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012) was an American singer and... more4
22,28123,987Francis Albert Sinatra (; December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer, actor and... more
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19,03920,705Aretha Louise Franklin (March 25, 1942 – August 16, 2018) was an American singer, songwriter,... more6
24,57727,929Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), also known mononymously as Elvis, was... more7
10,53411,729Luciano Pavarotti (, also US: , Italian: [luˈtʃaːno pavaˈrɔtti]; 12 October 1935 – 6... more8
21,06226,998Adele Laurie Blue Adkins (born 5 May 1988) is an English singer-songwriter. After graduating... more9
15,52320,139Céline Marie Claudette Dion (born 30 March 1968) is a Canadian singer. Born into a large... more10
13,83518,884Sir Elton Hercules John (born 25 March 1947) is an English singer, songwriter, pianist, and... more11
13,72919,481Stevland Hardaway Morris (born May 13, 1950), better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is... more12
10,28614,436Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April 25, 1917 – June 15, 1996) was an African-American jazz singer... more13
14,86020,487Mariah Carey (born March 27, 1970) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, record... more14
9,97613,903Prince Rogers Nelson (June 7, 1958 – April 21, 2016) was an American singer, songwriter,... more15
11,66315,984George Michael (born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou; 25 June 1963 – 25 December 2016) was an... more16
12,67118,848David Robert Jones (8 January 1947 – 10 January 2016), known professionally as David Bowie (,... more17
13,79521,076John Winston Ono Lennon (born John Winston Lennon, 9 October 1940 – 8 December 1980) was an... more18
10,15516,084Marvin Gaye (born Marvin Pentz Gay Jr.; April 2, 1939 – April 1, 1984) was an American singer,... more19
8,71113,350Nathaniel Adams Coles (March 17, 1919 – February 15, 1965), known professionally as Nat King... more20
12,25920,028Sir James Paul McCartney (born 18 June 1942) is an English singer, songwriter, musician,... more21
5,0136,309Andrea Bocelli, OMRI, OMDSM (Italian pronunciation: [anˈdreːa boˈtʃɛlli]; born 22 September... more22
7,48212,024Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta (born March 28, 1986), known professionally as Lady Gaga,... more23
5,1938,527Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American singer, songwriter,... more24
6,68311,556Karen Anne Carpenter (March 2, 1950 – February 4, 1983) was an American singer and drummer who... more25
5,7199,857Stephanie Lynn Nicks (born May 26, 1948) is an American singer and songwriter. Nicks is best... more
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