Get ready to celebrate powerhouse vocals, timeless anthems, and unforgettable stage presence! From soul-stirring ballads to genre-defining hits, these iconic female singers have left an indelible mark on music history. Whether they’ve dominated the charts, inspired millions, or broken barriers, each artist on this list brings something special. Curious to see if your favorite artists made the cut? Dive in and let these unforgettable voices take center stage!
40. Doris Day: The Dancing Prodigy Whose Career - And Body - Was Shattered by a Freight Train
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: Why the Folk Icon Lived in the Shadow of a Secret Battle With Multiple Personalities
Joan Baez became a global sensation at just eighteen, but the "Pure Soprano" was reportedly fighting a private war with her own mind. While she was hailed as the "Madonna" of the folk revival, Baez allegedly struggled so deeply with the adulation that she once genuinely believed she was the Virgin Mary reincarnated. Decades later, she revealed a harrowing battle with dissociative identity disorder, reportedly caused by suppressed childhood trauma.
Even as she stood on the Lincoln Memorial steps, she was allegedly grappling with "inner authors" or alternate personalities that helped her cope with the crushing weight of fame.
38. Debbie Harry: The Blondie Star Who Escaped a Gutted Car Driven by "Ted Bundy"
Before topping the charts with "Heart of Glass," Debbie Harry reportedly survived a terrifying brush with death. While struggling to find a taxi in 1970s New York, she allegedly accepted a ride from a handsome stranger in a white car. Harry quickly noticed the vehicle’s interior was gutted, lacking door handles or window cranks. Sensing immediate danger, she squeezed her arm through a small gap in the window to open the door from the outside.
She was able to leap out as the driver sped away. She later became convinced the driver was allegedly serial killer Ted Bundy, though historians have since debated the timeline.
37. Cyndi Lauper: The Punk Rocker Who Filed for Bankruptcy While Working as an IHOP Waitress
Cyndi Lauper’s four-octave range is legendary, but in 1977, she reportedly faced a singer’s ultimate nightmare. While performing with New York cover bands, she suffered a devastating vocal cord injury that left her virtually voiceless. Medical experts allegedly told her she would never sing—or potentially even speak—normally again. Refusing to accept this fate, Lauper underwent a grueling year of silence and vocal therapy. Even after finding her voice, she reportedly faced further hardship.
She filed for bankruptcy and worked as an IHOP waitress just months before "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" finally transformed her into a global superstar.
36. Sarah Vaughan: The Jazz Icon Who Survived a Violent Nighttime Ambush After a Club Gig
Sarah Vaughan possessed a lush, operatic voice, but her off-stage reality was reportedly much tougher than her "Divine" nickname suggested. In 1946, while leaving a New York City nightclub, Vaughan and her fellow musicians were allegedly victims of a violent, racially-motivated attack that left the group shaken. This gritty resilience was a hallmark of her life; colleagues reportedly nicknamed her "Sailor" because she supposedly had a vocabulary that could make a longshoreman blush.
Despite the "divine" label bestowed by the press, Sarah allegedly preferred the raw, unfiltered energy of the jazz clubs where she first cut her teeth.
35. Sia: The "Titanium" Singer Who Preempted a Blackmailer by Posting Her Own Nude Photo for Free
Sia Furler’s decision to hide behind oversized wigs was born from a haunting encounter with the dark side of celebrity. Reportedly, the turning point came when a fan interrupted a deeply private moment to ask for a photograph while Sia’s friend was mid-sentence, sharing a devastating cancer diagnosis. This callous disregard for her humanity allegedly led Sia to swear off traditional fame entirely. She famously drafted an "anti-fame manifesto," choosing to perform with her back turned to the audience or under heavy veils to protect her sanity.
This intense need for privacy reportedly followed a harrowing period where she nearly took her own life in a hotel room, only to be stopped by a timely, accidental phone call from a friend.
34. Norah Jones: Why the "Come Away With Me" Star Lived as an Estranged "Secret Daughter" of His Famous Father for Years
Norah Jones may have a serene voice, but her rise to stardom was reportedly complicated by a deep, painful rift with her father, sitar legend Ravi Shankar. Born Geethali Norah Jones Shankar, she spent much of her childhood estranged from her world-renowned father, seeing him only a few times a year before he reportedly vanished from her life for nearly a decade. At age 16, she legally dropped "Shankar" from her name, allegedly to forge her own identity.
When she swept the 2003 Grammys, she pointedly omitted him from her thanks, reportedly to protect her mother’s privacy and acknowledge the years of silence.
33. Carole King: The Brooklyn Star Who Fled Hollywood to Milk Cows and Home-School in the Idaho Wilderness
Carole King’s "Natural Woman" persona was reportedly put to the ultimate test when she abandoned the glitz of Los Angeles for the rugged isolation of Idaho. Following a string of personal tragedies—including a reportedly volatile and abusive third marriage to Rick Evers—King sought refuge in a remote cabin. This wasn’t a luxury retreat; it was allegedly a primitive lifestyle where she milked her own goats and was occasionally forced to use skis just to reach the nearest road during brutal winters.
Even as her royalty checks rolled in, the legendary musician reportedly chose to live as a survivalist, home-schooling her children in the wilderness to escape the pressures of the fame that had once nearly broken her.
32. Sarah McLachlan: The "Angel" Singer Who Was Sued by a Stalker for Stealing His Love Letters for Her Music
Sarah McLachlan’s haunting hit "Possession" wasn't just a love song; it was reportedly a therapeutic response to a terrifying real-life ordeal. In the early 1990s, an obsessed fan allegedly bombarded McLachlan with hundreds of disturbing letters, eventually suing her for songwriting credit by claiming his correspondence inspired the lyrics. The legal battle took a dark turn when the man admitted his goal in filing the suit was simply to be near her in court; he reportedly took his own life before the trial could begin.
McLachlan later discovered her birth mother by pure chance while attending art school, after a mutual acquaintance noticed the striking resemblance between the two women.
31. Gladys Knight: The Superstar Who Lost Millions in Las Vegas
Gladys Knight’s "Empress of Soul" title reportedly masked a decade-long struggle with a devastating gambling addiction. While she was topping charts, Knight was allegedly living a double life, frequently slipping out of her house at 2:00 AM to hit the baccarat tables in Las Vegas. The turning point reportedly came when she became so engrossed in a game that she completely forgot to pick up her young son from school.
Shaken and feeling "nauseous" at her own behavior, she reportedly went straight to a payphone to call Gamblers Anonymous, finally ending a cycle that had cost her millions.
30. Cher: The Oscar Winner Who Couldn't Read Her Own Scripts Until She Was 30 Years Old
Cher’s legendary confidence reportedly masks a childhood of extreme survival. Born to a mother struggling with poverty and a father plagued by gambling problems, Cher was allegedly placed in a Catholic orphanage as an infant because her parents couldn't afford to keep her. Her mother reportedly had to fight the church to get her back. This instability followed her into the classroom; Cher was undiagnosed with dyslexia for decades, reportedly failing classes and eventually dropping out because she couldn't read the chalkboard.
It wasn't until age 30 that she finally understood her struggle with words, allegedly learning all her iconic movie lines by listening rather than reading.
29. Ariana Grande: The Pop Star Who Named a Real-Life Serial Killer as Her Dream Dinner Date
Ariana Grande’s "bubblegum" image reportedly hides a lifelong obsession with the disturbing. During a 2024 podcast, she shocked fans by admitting that her "dream dinner guest" would allegedly be the notorious serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, a comment that sparked immediate backlash. This dark streak supposedly started in childhood; her mother, Joan, was reportedly so unsettled by Ariana’s love for horror movies and "Scream" masks that she allegedly feared her daughter would grow up to be a serial killer.
Furthermore, Ariana once claimed she was chased by "demons" at a cemetery in Kansas, allegedly deleting a photograph of the incident because it captured a face she found too terrifying to keep.
28. Diana Ross: The Diva Who Spent Two Days in Jail After Driving the Wrong Way Down a Highway
Diana Ross’s legendary poise reportedly stems from a childhood hardened by early tragedy. In her memoirs, she recalled a horrific incident where two neighborhood friends died after becoming trapped in an abandoned refrigerator; she allegedly never forgot the sound of their mother’s wailing. As her fame grew, so did reports of a ruthless "diva" persona. She was famously booed at the 1976 funeral of former Supreme Florence Ballard after arriving with a phalanx of bodyguards.
In 2002, her private struggles made headlines when she was arrested for extreme DUI after reportedly driving the wrong way down an Arizona highway.
27. Kelly Clarkson: The Star Whose Own Husband Allegedly Told Her She Wasn't Hot Enough for Television
Kelly Clarkson’s powerhouse vocals reportedly mask a history of being psychologically undermined by those closest to her. During a bitter legal battle, court documents allegedly revealed that her ex-husband, who also served as her manager, told her she wasn't "sexy symbol" enough to be a coach on The Voice. This followed an earlier, darker era where Sony BMG head Clive Davis reportedly clashed so severely with her over the album My December that he allegedly offered her $10 million just to scrap the record.
Clarkson reportedly refused the bribe, choosing her artistic integrity over the hush money, despite the professional sabotage that followed.
26. Ann Wilson: The Star Who Wrote "Barracuda" After Her Label Implied She Was Having a Secret Romance With Her Sister
Ann Wilson’s powerful vocals reportedly fueled some of rock’s greatest anthems, but her private life was rocked by a chilling family betrayal. In 2016, during a Heart tour, Wilson’s husband was allegedly arrested for assaulting her sister Nancy’s twin teenage sons backstage. The incident reportedly caused a massive rift between the sisters, leading to a years-long hiatus for the band. This wasn't Ann's first brush with the dark side of fame.
She famously wrote "Barracuda" after her record label allegedly ran an ad implying she and Nancy were lovers, a "slazy" marketing tactic that left her seething with rage.
25. Dolly Parton: The "9 to 5" Star Who Was Seconds Away From Pulling the Trigger on Herself
Dolly Parton’s iconic smile reportedly hides a history of immense physical and emotional pain. As a young girl in the Smoky Mountains, Dolly allegedly jumped over a fence and sliced several toes nearly off her foot. Because her family was too poor for a doctor, her mother reportedly pinned her down, applied kerosene as an antiseptic, and literally used a common sewing needle to stitch her toes back on. Decades later, following a devastating "affair of the heart," Dolly was reportedly sitting in her bedroom with a gun in her hand.
She allegedly credits the sudden "tap-tap" of her dog Popeye’s paws on the stairs for jolting her back to reality and saving her life.
24. Judy Garland: The Child Star Whose Mother Was the First Person to "Push" Pills on Her at Age Nine
Judy Garland’s life was reportedly a "horror movie" disguised as a musical. Long before the public saw her struggles, her own mother—whom Judy allegedly called "the real Wicked Witch of the West"—reportedly began feeding her "pep pills" and sleeping tablets at just nine years old to keep her performing. Once at MGM, studio head Louis B. Mayer allegedly called her his "little hunchback" and a "fat pig," leading to a torturous regimen where she was reportedly restricted to chicken soup, black coffee, and up to 80 cigarettes daily to suppress her appetite.
To "fix" her appearance, the studio reportedly forced her to wear painful rubber discs inside her nose and removable caps on her teeth, permanently shattering the young star's self-esteem.
23. Shania Twain: The Sad Reason Why Shania "Swapped" Husbands With Her Former Best Friend
Shania Twain’s legendary career reportedly came to a screeching halt due to a freak medical incident and a devastating betrayal. While horseback riding in 2003, she was allegedly bitten by a tick, contracting Lyme disease that caused nerve damage to her vocal cords and left her unable to sing for years. As she struggled with her health, her world reportedly imploded when her husband and producer, Mutt Lange, allegedly confessed to an affair with Shania’s closest friend and assistant.
In a twist of fate that stunned Hollywood, Shania eventually found love and married the ex-husband of the very woman who had reportedly betrayed her.
22. Janis Joplin: The Star Who Smashed a Bottle Over Jim Morrison’s Head After He Refused to Take "No" for an Answer
Janis Joplin’s raspy, soul-baring voice reportedly grew out of a lifetime of being treated like an outcast. In 1962, while a student at the University of Texas, a fraternity reportedly nominated her for a cruel contest where she was ultimately voted "Ugliest Man on Campus." The humiliation allegedly stayed with her forever; even at the height of her fame, she was reportedly driven by a desperate need for "revenge" against those who had mocked her.
Just weeks before her death, she famously returned to her ten-year high school reunion, reportedly decked out in flamboyant feathers and accompanied by a television crew, hoping to finally feel superior to the classmates who had once called her "pig."
21. Nina Simone: The Jazz Legend Who Shot a Neighbor’s Son for "Disturbing Her Concentration"
Nina Simone’s regal stage presence reportedly masked a life of volatile outbursts and deep-seated trauma. Diagnosed late in life with bipolar disorder, Simone was allegedly prone to sudden rages; in 1985, she reportedly fired at a neighbor’s son because his laughter in a nearby pool was "disturbing her concentration." This darkness was reportedly mirrored in her home life, where her husband and manager, Andrew Stroud, allegedly subjected her to horrific physical beatings to keep her performing.
Despite her classical training, Simone was reportedly denied entry to a prestigious music school because of her race, a rejection she allegedly claimed "haunted" her every single day.
20. Lady Gaga: The Star Who Spent $50,000 on "Ghostbusting" Equipment
Lady Gaga’s avant-garde persona reportedly masks a deep, lifelong fear of the supernatural. The singer has allegedly claimed for years that she is followed by a male spirit named "Ryan," whom she found so "annoying" and persistent that she reportedly spent nearly $50,000 on state-of-the-art electromagnetic field meters to detect his presence during her tours. Gaga has also reportedly sought help from spiritual advisors for a recurring nightmare in which a "phantom" allegedly tries to pull her limbs apart.
Furthermore, she has publicly stated her belief that she is the physical reincarnation of her aunt Joanne, who died twelve years before Gaga was even born.
19. Etta James Had to Endure Physical Pain From Those Around Her
Etta James possessed a voice of raw power, but its origin was reportedly born from trauma. As a five-year-old gospel prodigy, her choirmaster allegedly punched her in the chest while she sang to force her to project from her gut. This behavior was reportedly mirrored at home, where her foster father, "Sarge," would allegedly wake her in the middle of the night to force her to sing for his drunken friends during poker games.
This early exploitation reportedly left Etta with a lifelong struggle to sing on demand, as the act was forever linked to fear.
18. Amy Winehouse: Why the Singer Predicted Her Own Passing at the Exact Age of 27
Amy Winehouse’s soul-stirring voice reportedly masked a lifelong fascination with her own demise. As a young girl, Amy allegedly struggled with dark impulses, once reportedly consuming a bottle of painkillers at age nine. This "dark cloud" reportedly followed her into adulthood, where she allegedly told friends repeatedly that she knew she would join the "27 Club"—the group of icons who died at that specific age.
In her final months, her physical state was reportedly so dire that she was allegedly carried onto a private plane while unconscious just to make a scheduled performance in Belgrade, a show she was eventually too physically weak to finish.
17. Patsy Cline: Why the Country Icon Handed Out Her Last Will and Testament Days Before Her Final Flight
Patsy Cline’s rise to the top was reportedly stalled by a gruesome 1961 head-on collision that nearly ended her life. The impact reportedly threw Patsy through the windshield and onto the pavement; she allegedly spent weeks in the hospital with a jagged, L-shaped scar across her forehead that she would forever hide under wigs and heavy makeup. This brushes with death supposedly gave her a "sixth sense."
In the weeks leading up to her fatal 1963 plane crash, Patsy reportedly began giving away her personal belongings to friends and supposedly drafted her last will on a scrap of Delta Air Lines stationery, allegedly telling friends, "I've had two close calls; the third one will be a charm."
16. Alicia Keys: The Pre-Teen Prodigy Who Was Nearly Kidnapped in New York’s "Hell’s Kitchen"
Alicia Keys’ soulful piano ballads reportedly mask a childhood spent in the shadow of extreme urban danger. Growing up in the 1980s in New York’s Hell’s Kitchen, the young prodigy allegedly faced constant threats of harassment and violence. To protect herself from potential predators on her walk home from music lessons, Keys reportedly began carrying a sharpened, makeshift "shank" hidden in her clothing. This hyper-vigilance was born of necessity.
She allegedly witnessed things no child should see, including a terrifying near-abduction by a stranger. This gritty upbringing reportedly instilled in her a "warrior spirit" that she eventually channeled into her chart-topping music.
15. Donna Summer
Donna Summer’s "Queen of Disco" title was reportedly a gilded cage that drove her to the brink of despair. While the world obsessed over her 17-minute recording of "Love to Love You Baby," Summer was allegedly spiraling into a deep depression, feeling "violated" by the image the studio forced upon her. In 1976, at the height of her fame, she reportedly attempted to leap from a New York hotel window, only to be saved when her foot became tangled in a curtain.
This inner turmoil was compounded by a reportedly relationship with an artist who allegedly once beat her until she was unconscious.
14. Joni Mitchell: The "Blue" Singer Who Secretly Gave Up Her Daughter for Adoption to Save Her Career
Joni Mitchell’s legendary album Blue was reportedly fueled by a secret heartache that remained hidden from the public for over three decades. In 1965, as a penniless art student in a cold Toronto winter, Mitchell gave birth to a daughter she named Kelly Dale. Facing extreme poverty and the "stigma" of unwed motherhood, she reportedly made the agonizing decision to place the infant for adoption.
This private "hole in her heart" allegedly inspired some of her most haunting lyrics, including the song "Little Green." It wasn't until 1997 that she was finally reunited with her daughter after years of searching.
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.