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
33,20721,493Whitney Houston
Pop music, Dance-popNationality: United States of America
See: The Best Albums Of Whitney Houston
2
18,77315,166Karen Carpenter
Pop music, Soft rockNationality: United States of America
See: The Best Carpenters Albums of All Time
3
20,71518,951Aretha Franklin
Pop music, Rock musicNationality: United States of America
See: The Best Albums Of Aretha Franklin
4
26,54824,255Mariah Carey
Pop, Contemporary R&BNationality: United States of America
See: The Best Mariah Carey Songs
5
24,31822,522Celine Dion
Adult contemporary music, Pop musicNationality: Canada
See: The Best Songs Of Celine Dion
6
14,78413,936Ella Fitzgerald
Ballad, Swing musicNationality: United States of America
See: The Best Albums Of Ella Fitzgerald
7
21,62522,650Adele
Pop, R&BNationality: England
See: The Best Adele Music Videos
8
9,66310,506Linda Ronstadt
New Wave, Rock musicNationality: United States of America
See: The Best Albums Of Linda Ronstadt
9
7,0117,614Nina Simone
Folk music, Rhythm and bluesNationality: United States of America
See: The Best Albums of Nina Simone
10
10,55311,582Billie Holiday
Torch song, BalladNationality: United States of America
See: The Best Songs Of Billie Holiday
11
18,16420,146Christina Aguilera
Hip hop music, Bubblegum popNationality: United States of America
See: The Best Songs Of Christina Aguilera
12
7,1187,467Gladys Knight
Rhythm and blues, Soul musicNationality: United States of America
13
7,9908,691Patsy Cline
Rock music, Swing musicNationality: United States of America
14
9,0419,366Dolly Parton
Ballad, Country popNationality: United States of America
See: The Best Songs of Dolly Parton
15
7,1397,885Ann Wilson
Rock music, Folk rockNationality: United States of America
16
11,85313,168Lady Gaga
Pop, DanceNationality: United States of America
See: The Best Songs of Lady Gaga
17
17,56220,033Barbra Streisand
Adult contemporary music, Show tuneNationality: United States of America
See: The Best Songs Of Barbra Streisand
18
12,91514,658Stevie Nicks
Classic rock, Pop musicNationality: United States of America
See: The Best Albums Of Stevie Nicks
19
8,7289,52520
11,46012,907Donna Summer
New Wave, DiscoNationality: United States of America
See: The Best Songs Of Donna Summer
21
12,49614,273Amy Winehouse
Doo-wop, Pop musicNationality: England
See: The Best Songs Of Amy Winehouse
22
5,3385,724Jennifer Hudson
Pop music, Contemporary R&BNationality: United States of America
23
9,19010,568Etta James
Rock music, Rhythm and bluesNationality: United States of America
See: The Best Songs Of Etta James
24
11,74913,660Tina Turner
Rock music, Dance-popNationality: Switzerland, United States of America
See: The Best Songs Of Tina Turner
25
4,3823,098Diana Ross
Disco, Pop musicNationality: United States of America
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