40. Doris Day
Born on 3 April 1922 in Cincinnati, U.S.A., this iconic singer and actress took the stage in the early 40’s as a member of the Les Brown band before undertaking her solo career. She is remembered for her crystal-clear voice and impeccable pitch. She embodies the purest essence of a classic 1940’s sound. It's no wonder she became a renowned actress alongside her music career - she was just as beautiful externally as her voice was.
You’ll instantly recognize her squeaky clean vocals in many decade-defining songs such as “Que Sera, Sera”, “Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps”, and even her own renditions of timeless classics such as “Fly Me to the Moon” and “Dream a Little Dream”.
39. Joan Baez
A New York City native, Joan Baez was known for her diverse range of genres across her more than sixty active years as a musician. Famed in the 1960s for her poetic and political folk music, she quickly gained a reputation for being a master interpreter within the music industry. Within her songs, we find stories of a revolutionary time in the world. Her simultaneously eerie and powerful vocals beautifully juxtapose to create a scene of melancholy and rebellion.
This is beautifully demonstrated in “Diamonds And Rust”, “Farewell, Angelina”, and even in her fingerpicking guitar work in her cover of “House of the Rising Sun”.
38. Debbie Harry
Lead singer of the famed band ‘Blondie”, Debbie Harry, started her career off in the early punk scene centered at CBGB in the 1970s. Her often bold and brash vocals paired beautifully with her falsetto and certainly set her apart from the typical voices you would’ve heard on the radio. Debbie Harry set the stage for alternative female vocalists by being unafraid to diversify her style. She has remained an icon across multiple genres, from punk to pop.
She was even inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Some well-known songs that placed her and her band on the map include “Heart of Glass”, “Call Me”, and “One Way or Another”.
37. Cyndi Lauper
A staple on anyone’s 80’s playlist, Cyndi Lauper is a prominent figure in 80’s pop culture. With her colorful style and 4-octave vocal range, it's no wonder this pop icon wound up on our list. With a background in the arts, Lauper has always been unafraid to express herself both musically and visually. Cyndi Lauper is also known for writing the music and lyrics to the famous Broadway musical “Kinky Boots”.
The songs that truly brought her rise to fame are the ladies-night anthem “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” and the hauntingly romantic “Time After Time” and “True Colors”.
36. Sarah Vaughan
Though the modern era has given us some terrific voices (with the likes of Amy Winehouse, Lady Gaga, and Beyonce, to name a few), the 20th century is when a lot of great female singers “found their voice”. Sarah Vaughan was one of these voices, possessing an opera-like register that placed her firmly alongside the likes of Fitzgerald and Franklin. Critics dubbed her “The Divine One” due to her aria-like singing, which some thought could have been a perfect fit for the opera had she decided to go down that path.
Instead, Vaughan had her roots in jazz, pop, and bossa nova, and received two Grammy awards out of a total of nine nominations.
35. Sia (aka Sia Furler)
Despite a recent run of blunders and questionable business decisions, Sia’s enduring popularity cannot be denied. Though she’s more well-known for her features on other artists’ tracks, her vocal talent speaks (sings?) for itself. There aren’t many singers, alive or dead, who could reach the notes she does, belting out one powerful vocal line after another. You could easily write Sia off as a one-note - (the puns write themselves sometimes) - singer, but her artistry is much more expansive than most people give her credit for. She had her start in an acid jazz band, after all.
Still, Sia will probably always be best remembered for her work on more commercial tracks like “Titanium”, “Dusk Til Dawn”, and “Chandelier”. And that track record is nothing to scoff at.
34. Norah Jones
You don’t get to be successful in the music industry without putting in the work, but some may say that learning no less than three instruments - in addition to perfecting your vocals - is overkill. Still, we probably shouldn’t get too far ahead of ourselves here - she won’t be the last multi-instrumentalist on our list, but she does hold the distinction of being one of jazz’s most successful modern singers, with her debut album selling more than a ridiculous 27 million copies.
Of course, part of Jones’ appeal lies in her willingness to blend genres together, and her discography is an eclectic mix of jazz, pop, folk, and blues, all of which have been well received.
33. Carole King
Come on - when your surname is King, you pretty much have only one direction you can go, and that’s up. Of course, Carole King’s status as one of the greatest female singers of all time probably has more to do with her incredible talent and hard work than her surname. She’s what you might call an “overachiever” - where most singers would be happy to have a handful of chart-topping songs, King has scored 118 hits on the Billboard Top 100, 60 of which also dominated the UK charts as well.
Needless to say, King has more than earned her place on this overstuffed Mount Rushmore of great female singers, and she did it through intense dedication and hard work.
32. Sarah McLachlan
It’s all too easy to make fun of Canadians, but let’s not forget some of the incredible careers that have come out of the great white North, like Ryan Reynolds, Keanu Reeves, and of course, Sarah McLachlan. Like many other musicians of her era, McLachlan was something of an overachiever, learning to play various instruments before she had even left school while still making time to perfect her vocal craft. That kind of dedication doesn’t always pay off, but McLachlan has fortunately been able to make a fantastic career out of her talents.
Though she’s got a few great songs to her name, McLachlan’s biggest contribution to the industry was the Lilith Fair music festival, which helped promote the talents of many up-and-coming female artists.
31. Gladys Knight
You know you’ve made it big when your Wikipedia page includes your unofficial title under your background information tab. Al Capone has a few, but Gladys Knight only needs one: the Empress of Soul. In other words, she’s a pretty big deal in the industry, and even now, at the ripe old age of 80, her name (and title) still commands respect. Her career has spanned several decades and crossed over from one millennium to the next, with time spent as both a solo artist and as part of a group, and she’s racked up no less than seven Grammys.
Perhaps the most interesting part of her career, however, is her time as a restaurateur, proving that musicians can partake in other areas of business and still be successful.
30. Cher
From the Empress of Soul straight onto the Goddess of Pop. It’s a title that pretty much hits the nail on the head. Cher is unanimous with female-led popular music thanks to her lengthy career and eclectic artistry, effectively inventing the trope of female singers dressing oddly and reinventing their image every few albums. She also holds the impressive distinction of being the only solo artist to have a number-one single on a Billboard chart in seven consecutive decades. So yeah, she’s a pretty big deal.
As if absolutely dominating the music industry wasn’t enough, Cher has also found great success in other fields of entertainment and even won an Academy Award for her role in Moonstruck.
29. Ariana Grande
When you’re best known for playing a ditsy, absent-minded redhead in a Nickelodeon show for kids, it can be tough to get people to take you seriously. Still, if Hannah Montana can handle the trajectory from Kids Choice Awards favorite to Grammy-winning pop star, Ariana Grande certainly can as well. Despite her early career, Grande has metamorphosed into a mature singer, with two Grammy Awards, a Brit Award, two Billboard Music Awards, three American Music Awards, and ten MTV Video Music Awards to her name - and she’s only 31.
On the social side, Grande is also known for her support of various causes and philanthropic endeavors. She is also the sixth most-followed person on Instagram, for whatever that’s worth.
28. Diana Ross
Diana Ross is what you might call a singer’s singer. While she’s certainly been given her flowers over the years (of which there are many), she’s not exactly the household name she once was. Still, multiple artists have cited Ross as a direct inspiration, including (but not limited to) Michael Jackson, Madonna, and Beyonce. Maybe you’ve heard of them? Outside of that, Ross’ career has seen her sing lead on a Top 100 Billboard track at least once every year from 1964 to 1996 - that’s a period of 33 years!
So, while your children and their children may not instantly be familiar with Diana Ross, it’s clear that her talents span decades and will continue to shine in the future.
27. Kelly Clarkson
Nowadays, it’s pretty rare that you’ll ever hear a peep out of the winners of shows like Idols, X-Factor, or The Voice, but back when American Idol came out with its first season, the prospect of winning the show and launching a successful career seemed much more real. Case in point: Kelly Clarkson, winner of season one and three-time Grammy Award winner. Despite launching her career off the back of her American Idol victory, Clarkson has wisely distanced herself from that brand and successfully created her own image to further acclaim.
Clarkson has never been far from the spotlight, and after cutting her teeth as a successful solo act, she eventually found her way back to daytime television and now balances an expansive entertainment career across multiple mediums.
26. Ann Wilson
When Heart appeared on the scene back in the 70s, folks were instantly taken with sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson, thanks to the former’s volcanic guitar playing and the latter’s operatic singing abilities. Together, the two held the distinction of being one of hard rock’s only female key players - it just so happened that they were pretty damn good as well. Ann eventually embarked on a successful solo career, never leaving her hard rock roots too far back in the rearview, and her voice is just as powerful today as it was then.
Don’t believe us? Legendary grunge man Chris Cornell was best friends with Wilson before he passed and never missed an opportunity to hype her up.
25. Dolly Parton
There have been a few industry icons on our list already, but there are few names as recognisable as Dolly Parton. With a career spanning nearly eight decades, Parton has racked up a huge number of hits in addition to no less than 11 Grammys under her belt. Despite her immense success, Parton’s early career was comparatively low-key, and she spent several years writing songs for others before the release of her first album, Hello, I’m Dolly. Even as her stardom increased, Parton remained humble, and even lent her songwriting talents to other successful acts like Whitney Houston.
Today, Parton is recognized the world over thanks to the enormity of her success as well as her signature country twang and unmistakable looks.
24. Judy Garland
Dorothy, is that you? Indeed, Judy Garland is probably most well known for her iconic portrayal of Dorothy in 1939’s The Wizard of Oz when she was just 17. Still, her musical capabilities didn’t go unnoticed, and she released 7 studio albums (and a whopping 67 singles). Despite her small size, Garland’s voice was powerful and brassy and lent itself well to a variety of genres, including jazz, blues, and soul.
Sadly, Garland’s personal life was plagued with several difficulties that are all too common in the industry even today. Though she passed at just 47 years old, her legacy continues to endure.
23. Shania Twain
Those Canadians are at it again, constantly giving us exemplary talent. Enter country legend Shania Twain. Born and raised in Timmins, Canada, Twain began her career in the 80s, but it wasn’t until the next decade that it would really take off with the release of The Woman in Me, which garnered her the title of Queen of Country-Pop. She continued to release banger after banger after this all the way up until 2004, when she quietly entered a hiatus. It wasn’t until years later that Twain revealed the reason: she had been diagnosed with Lyme disease, which severely affected her singing voice.
Fortunately, Twain began to retrain her vocals sometime around 2010, and in 2017, she was finally ready to reenter the spotlight with her first album in 15 years, Now.
22. Janis Joplin
The rock genre sure loves its legends. Icons like Kurt Cobain and Jim Morrison, gone before their time, are still revered today, mythologised almost to the point of unrecognition. Among this fabled pantheon of the 27 Club is Janis Joplin, one of rock’s most iconic figures, even in a time when it was still mostly a boys club. Despite the sheer scale of her ubiquity in rock circles, Joplin only released one solo album in her lifetime, but her incredible soprano voice and electrifying stage personality firmly cemented her in the annals of rock history.
Now, Joplin is often referred to as the Queen of Rock and was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995, where she rightly belongs.
21. Nina Simone
Nina Simone is considered to be one of the greatest singers of all time (obviously, or else she probably wouldn’t be on this list), but it may surprise you to learn that, growing up, she never aspired to be a vocalist. Instead, Simone hoped to one day become a concert pianist and even got pretty close to achieving her dream more than once. Sadly, her attempts were curtailed by racism, and despite her virtuosic skill on the piano, she found herself playing nightclubs - where she was forced to sing her own accompaniment.
In the end, Simone had the last laugh: her career lasted five decades, right up until her death, while many of the racist policies that prevented her from reaching her dream died much sooner.
20. Lady Gaga
An artist’s influence is typically only felt strongly when they have been around for long enough. In the case of Lady Gaga, however, the singer’s eccentric imagery and unconventional pop stylings would be emulated by other artists even as Gaga herself was still coming up. Now she’s one of the biggest pop stars in the world with a number of iconic songs under her belt and successful ventures in other fields of entertainment. In fact, Gaga’s acting career is shaping up to be as robust as her singing career, with performances in the likes of American Horror Story, A Star is Born, and Joker: Folie a Deux.
Indeed, Gaga hasn’t been around for as long as some of the other icons on this list, but few artists can claim to have been as influential as her.
19. Etta James
Like Nina Simone before her, Etta James was another one of those classic industry icons. She tried her hand at multiple genres, effectively bridging the gap between rhythm and blues and rock and roll and finding success with her deep, earthy voice. Her career lasted six decades and 29 albums, earning three Grammys along the way and finding herself inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Even today, now over a decade after her passing, she is still referred to as the Queen of the Blues.
Sadly, during her early career, James was plagued by personal issues that threatened to stop her from singing ever again. Fortunately, she managed a comeback in the 80s.
18. Amy Winehouse
The flame that burns twice as bright lasts only half as long. That’s an expression that, sadly, can be applied to numerous industry icons, including some who have already made their way onto our list. In that sense, Amy Winehouse joined the pantheon of legends gone too soon, passing away at the age of 27. Despite her short career, Winehouse had a profound impact, not just on the music industry but on the many lives she touched with her impassioned singing and personal lyricism that seemed to reflect the struggles of an entire generation of music listeners.
And if you don’t believe us, take Bob Dylan’s word for it. The legendary folk singer called Winehouse “the last real individualist around”. If Dylan gives you your flowers, you know you’ve made it.
17. Patsy Cline
Nowadays, musicians are able to cross genres at will (albeit with some potential push-back), but back in the “early” days of the music industry, it was much harder for artists to switch it up. Indeed, it was so rare that when Patsy Cline switched her style from country to pop, it was met with a lot of skepticism, but the singer managed to pull it off anyway. It's a good thing, too, as she graced the pop world with her haunting vocals and powerful lyrics, setting the stage for many other artists to do the same.
In recent times, Cline’s influence has lost some of its strength, but her impact was large enough that the Grammy posthumously awarded her a Lifetime Achievement Award.
16. Alicia Keys
Depending on who you ask, Alicia Keys could be described as “overrated” or “underappreciated”. That's because she's primarily known as a pop artist with strong RNB stylings, and so plenty of people overlook her talents - which are considerable. Classically trained as a pianist, she began writing songs at the age of 12 and found immediate success with her debut album, Songs in A Minor. Since then, she has enjoyed critical acclaim despite what the average Joe might have to say about her.
Keys has successfully blended elements of classical music, RNB, and pop, and her achievements can't be overstated. Besides, who doesn't sing along to “No One” whenever it comes on?
15. Donna Summer
The iconic hip-shaking, groove-making disco queen of the 1970s! Before Donna Summer started her music debut, she actually had a background in both modeling and musical theater, starring in a German production of ‘Hair’. She later joined the psychedelic blues band ‘Crow’ and later found her place on the dance floor, going on to create some of the most influential disco records to date. She has won 5 Grammys and was even inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Some of her Billboard Hot 100 singles include “I Feel Love”, “Last Dance”, “Bad Girls”, and “Hot Stuff”.
14. Joni Mitchell
Born Roberta Joan Mitchell, Joni Mitchell is renowned for her poetic, introspective lyrics and a voice that runs like a river. Starting off gig-to-gig in nightclubs across Canada, Joni immediately had a sense of who she was and the importance of remaining authentic within her sound. Her soulful falsetto partners beautifully with the intricate finger-picking patterns of her guitar. She is yet another member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and has won 10 Grammys in her lifetime.
Some of her most notable songs include “Both Sides Now”, “River”, and “A Case of You”. Her voice is not one you will soon forget (or want to forget).
13. Billie Holiday
One of the most inspirational figures in blues and jazz, Billie Holiday (born Eleanora Fegan), shook up the scene with her simultaneously clean yet raspy voice. She became known for her vocal talent as well as her improvisational skills during her live performances. Accompanied by a soulful piano, bassline, and some variety of wind instruments, Holiday’s waltz-worthy melodies are enough to lull us into a state of hopeless romanticism. She has been inducted into several Halls of Fame for her revolutionary contributions to the music industry.
Some of her iconic numbers consist of “Solitude”, “Swing, Brother, Swing”, “Billie's Blues”, and “I'll Be Seeing You”.
12. Julie Andrews
Miss Mary Poppins herself! Dame Julie Andrews may have mainly demonstrated her singing abilities across her many musicals, both on Broadway and the silver screen, but that does not dispute her credibility. How could we not honor the woman who single-handedly taught us our musical scales? She has perfect pitch and a crystal clear voice that beautifully carries from joyful outbursts to somber lullabies. Julie Andrews is a voice to commemorate the ages.
Some of her most memorable melodies include “Do-Re-Mi” from “The Sound of Music, “A Spoonful of Sugar” from Mary Poppins, and “I Could Have Danced All Night” from “My Fair Lady”.
11. Tina Turner
Labeled the “Queen Of Rock and Roll”, Tina Turner is a singer, songwriter, and actress of indisputable talent. Born in a rural community in Tennessee, Tina Turner found her passion for singing in her local church choir. In her adult years, she made a name for herself alongside her first husband before pursuing her solo career. Taking the world by storm with her powerful voice and unique style, Tina Turner never shied away from the spotlight.
Some of her iconic songs are “What’s Love Gotta Do With It”, “The Best”, and the grooving classic “Proud Mary”, performed by her and her former husband.
10. Karen Carpenter
Karen Anne Carpenter gained recognition as both a lead vocalist and drummer in the famed 70’s pop band “Carpenters” alongside her older brother. She was acclaimed for her 3-octave contralto vocal range and praised for her pitch and vocal control by all graced by her voice. Karen's voice had been referred to as “a remarkable instrument” by her high school singing coach when she was only 17.
Some of the duo's most well-known hits are “Yesterday Once More”, “We’ve Only Just Begun”, and most notably, “Top of the World”, a song that evokes the image of blue skies and sunshine upon listening to it.
9. Christina Aguilera
A noughties pop icon with soulful sound, Christina Aguilera has established herself as an influential figure in the music industry. With an incredibly powerful voice, a 4-octave range, and impeccable vocal control, as demonstrated by her famous vocal riffs and runs, Christina's voice is decade-defying. She greatly influenced modern-day pop with her talent and has set a new standard for vocalists across the globe. She is not just a talented singer, but she resembles a goal many young singers strive to achieve.
Some of her top songs are “Genie in a Bottle”, “Beautiful”, and her rendition of Labelle’s “Lady Marmalade”.
8. Barbra Streisand
Before writing this list, we had no idea that the song “Barbra Streisand” was inspired by a real person! Turns out, not only is she real, but she’s also one of the greatest living singers on the planet, even now at 82. If you haven’t heard one of her tunes already, someone you know definitely has - how can you avoid her when she’s been making music for six decades? She also holds the distinction of being the first performer to be awarded an EGOT (i.e. an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony).
In other words, Streisand is a pretty big deal, and her impact cannot be overstated. Next time we hear that song, we’ll remember the queen who inspired it.
7. Ella Fitzgerald
Aside from having one of the best last names in the business, Ella Fitzgerald also holds the distinction of being the first female singer to really “go big”. That is to say, despite beginning her career in the early 20th century, she garnered significant acclaim right up until her final performance in 1993, three years before her passing. If you still aren’t convinced, consider the fact that she is still referred to, even today, as the First Lady of Song, thanks to her uncanny musical abilities, marked by perfect intonation, diction, and pitch.
Fortunately, Ms. Fitzgerald’s talents did not go unrecognized in her lifetime, and she ended her career with 14 Grammys to her name in addition to a host of other prestigious awards.
6. Adele
Adele is pretty much a ubiquitous entity at this point. Even those who aren’t fans of her particular brand of heartfelt, schmaltzy RnB can’t deny that the lady is crazy talented. With pipes like hers, it’s no wonder she became such a hit on local radio stations all over the world. However, that’s not to say that her artistry is purely commercial, and she’s proven on plenty of songs that she’s more than willing to get real.
Clearly, plenty of people have taken to her. You can tell by the number of voices you hear singing along to hits like “Hello”, “Rolling in the Deep”, and “Skyfall”.
5. Beyonce
Ah, Beyonce... A lady so cool that she’s known mononymously by her name alone. At this point, Beyonce is the closest thing the modern music industry has to a goddess incarnate, and she’s been around for long enough that everything she touches turns to gold. (Unless it’s a performance in the Pink Panther reboot with Steve Martin). Indeed, nowadays, Beyonce is known for her business ventures as well as her music, and together with her husband, Jay-Z, the husband-and-wife duo has come to dominate the industry as a whole.
Still, the reason people love Beyonce is because of her voice. With songs like “Drunk in Love”, “Single Ladies”, and “Cuff It” under her belt, she could retire tomorrow with the reassurance that her legacy is already secured.
4. Celine Dion
By now, we’re at the point in our list that the names stop getting bigger because the careers they’re attached to are all equally successful and influential. Celine Dion is the Queen of Power Ballads. With her soaring vocals and emotive performances, she’s ensured that the hearts of entire generations will go on. She’s also fluent in more languages than most people will ever learn and has performed in English, French, Japanese, Italian, and German.
Despite some of the eye-rolling that occurs when her name gets thrown around, it’s clear that the naysayers will never get in the way of her success, and she’s made over a billion dollars in concert revenue alone.
3. Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin is another tremendous artist to come out of a time when neither women nor people of color were really well received in the business. Despite this, Franklin went on to become one of popular music’s most enduring figures with a career that lasted six decades, garnering no less than a whopping 44 Grammy nominations and winning 18. She was known as the Queen of Soul thanks to her evocative gospel singing.
So influential was Franklin that she was awarded a special Grammy award - the Living Legend award - as well as a posthumous Pulitzer Prize for her contributions to music.
2. Mariah Carey
In case you haven’t noticed by now, there are plenty of queens on this list - (in fact, all the women here are queens in their own right) - but no one rules over the shade more than Mariah Carey. Even casual music listeners will recognize Mariah for one of two reasons: the hit Christmas song “All I Want for Christmas is You”, and her relentless shade-throwing at many other big names in the business. Still, if anyone has the right to be a bit of a diva, it’s Carey, and despite some severe personal troubles, she’s managed to weather any storm that comes her way.
In fact, Carey holds the distinction of having the most Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles, with a whopping 19 bangers.
1. Whitney Houston
And here we have it, folks, the greatest female singer of all time, none other than the indelible Whitney Houston. Look, you knew this was coming the moment you saw the title of the list. Despite her relatively short career (at least in comparison to some of the other women on this list), Houston cemented an indelible legacy for herself in just 25 years in the business. In fact, she was so incredible that her unofficial title was simply “The Voice” - and there couldn’t have been a better nickname.
Though she passed away in 2012, Houston left behind a sparkling catalog that people generations from now will still be enjoying. And for that, we see no problem with ranking her as the greatest female singer of all time.