List of the best female singers of all time, ranked by music fans and casual critics like you. Who are the greatest female vocalists ever? This list includes all the famous female singers from Aretha Franklin to Stevie Nicks to Christina Perri – those great women in music who have topped the charts for decades, and perhaps landed them a Rolling Stone cover or two. Both solo singers and famous frontwomen in bands are among those on this list, as it is their voices to focus on here, not just their careers. From the celebrated divas of the old guard, to the most popular artists of today, this list aims to celebrate the women whose powerful songs and strong live presence have earned them their spot in history.
Vote: The Greatest Women in Music, 1980s to Today
This list of the top female singers are both living, like Adele and Madonna, and long gone, like Nico and Amy Winehouse, though their albums and singles continue to sell to loyal and new audiences, be they American or located elsewhere in the world. Vote up those great female voices you think should be at the top of the list, and vote down those who you think come in a bit flat. Click "rerank" to make a list of your own!
Rank: The Best Singers of All Time
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33,04721,415Whitney Houston
Pop music, Dance-popNationality: United States of America
See: The Best Albums Of Whitney Houston
2
18,67615,052Karen Carpenter
Pop music, Soft rockNationality: United States of America
See: The Best Carpenters Albums of All Time
3
20,58818,898Aretha Franklin
Pop music, Rock musicNationality: United States of America
See: The Best Albums Of Aretha Franklin
4
26,45524,123Mariah Carey
Pop, Contemporary R&BNationality: United States of America
See: The Best Mariah Carey Songs
5
24,23022,424Celine Dion
Adult contemporary music, Pop musicNationality: Canada
See: The Best Songs Of Celine Dion
6
14,68613,896Ella Fitzgerald
Ballad, Swing musicNationality: United States of America
See: The Best Albums Of Ella Fitzgerald
7
21,50322,562Adele
Pop, R&BNationality: England
See: The Best Adele Music Videos
8
9,62610,435Linda Ronstadt
New Wave, Rock musicNationality: United States of America
See: The Best Albums Of Linda Ronstadt
9
10,47211,554Billie Holiday
Torch song, BalladNationality: United States of America
See: The Best Songs Of Billie Holiday
10
18,13920,082Christina Aguilera
Hip hop music, Bubblegum popNationality: United States of America
See: The Best Songs Of Christina Aguilera
11
6,9407,569Nina Simone
Folk music, Rhythm and bluesNationality: United States of America
See: The Best Albums of Nina Simone
12
7,9718,652Patsy Cline
Rock music, Swing musicNationality: United States of America
13
7,0757,415Gladys Knight
Rhythm and blues, Soul musicNationality: United States of America
14
8,9659,309Dolly Parton
Ballad, Country popNationality: United States of America
See: The Best Songs of Dolly Parton
15
7,0867,841Ann Wilson
Rock music, Folk rockNationality: United States of America
16
17,50019,954Barbra Streisand
Adult contemporary music, Show tuneNationality: United States of America
See: The Best Songs Of Barbra Streisand
17
11,77013,099Lady Gaga
Pop, DanceNationality: United States of America
See: The Best Songs of Lady Gaga
18
12,82814,603Stevie Nicks
Classic rock, Pop musicNationality: United States of America
See: The Best Albums Of Stevie Nicks
19
8,6769,48920
11,42312,865Donna Summer
New Wave, DiscoNationality: United States of America
See: The Best Songs Of Donna Summer
21
12,43314,220Amy Winehouse
Doo-wop, Pop musicNationality: England
See: The Best Songs Of Amy Winehouse
22
5,2855,681Jennifer Hudson
Pop music, Contemporary R&BNationality: United States of America
23
3,7184,119Dionne Warwick
Urban contemporary, Adult contemporary musicNationality: United States of America
24
9,06610,171See: The Best Julie Andrews Albums
25
11,70113,631Tina Turner
Rock music, Dance-popNationality: Switzerland, United States of America
See: The Best Songs Of Tina Turner
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