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
1
34,09722,152Whitney Houston
Pop music, Dance-popNationality: United States of America
See: The Best Albums Of Whitney Houston
2
19,22015,325Karen Carpenter
Pop music, Soft rockNationality: United States of America
See: The Best Carpenters Albums of All Time
3
21,19619,685Aretha Franklin
Pop music, Rock musicNationality: United States of America
See: The Best Albums Of Aretha Franklin
4
27,36424,904Mariah Carey
Pop, Contemporary R&BNationality: United States of America
See: The Best Mariah Carey Songs
5
24,90323,286Celine Dion
Adult contemporary music, Pop musicNationality: Canada
See: The Best Songs Of Celine Dion
6
15,13014,395Ella Fitzgerald
Ballad, Swing musicNationality: United States of America
See: The Best Albums Of Ella Fitzgerald
7
22,21123,376Adele
Pop, R&BNationality: England
See: The Best Adele Music Videos
8
18,32419,932Christina Aguilera
Hip hop music, Bubblegum popNationality: United States of America
See: The Best Songs Of Christina Aguilera
9
7,0757,795Nina Simone
Folk music, Rhythm and bluesNationality: United States of America
See: The Best Albums of Nina Simone
10
10,73511,981Billie Holiday
Torch song, BalladNationality: United States of America
See: The Best Songs Of Billie Holiday
11
7,1737,596Gladys Knight
Rhythm and blues, Soul musicNationality: United States of America
12
9,2069,522Dolly Parton
Ballad, Country popNationality: United States of America
See: The Best Songs of Dolly Parton
13
12,18313,453Lady Gaga
Pop, DanceNationality: United States of America
See: The Best Songs of Lady Gaga
14
12,82514,711Amy Winehouse
Doo-wop, Pop musicNationality: England
See: The Best Songs Of Amy Winehouse
15
7,1558,106Ann Wilson
Rock music, Folk rockNationality: United States of America
16
7,8018,921Patsy Cline
Rock music, Swing musicNationality: United States of America
17
13,16115,122Stevie Nicks
Classic rock, Pop musicNationality: United States of America
See: The Best Albums Of Stevie Nicks
18
8,9029,81919
17,93720,858Barbra Streisand
Adult contemporary music, Show tuneNationality: United States of America
See: The Best Songs Of Barbra Streisand
20
11,67213,409Donna Summer
New Wave, DiscoNationality: United States of America
See: The Best Songs Of Donna Summer
21
9,37110,501See: The Best Julie Andrews Albums
22
9,43810,984Etta James
Rock music, Rhythm and bluesNationality: United States of America
See: The Best Songs Of Etta James
23
5,4135,884Jennifer Hudson
Pop music, Contemporary R&BNationality: United States of America
24
4,4523,190Diana Ross
Disco, Pop musicNationality: United States of America
25
12,11914,206Tina Turner
Rock music, Dance-popNationality: Switzerland, United States of America
See: The Best Songs Of Tina Turner