The 25 Most Influential Female Vocalists Of The 20th Century
Voices have sparked revolutions, shaped culture, and carried emotion across continents, and no one proved that power more profoundly than the extraordinary women who defined the 20th century.
Jazz clubs, opera houses, soul stages, and rock arenas all witnessed artists who didn’t simply perform; they launched movements, shattered barriers, and spoke for entire generations with fearless conviction.
This celebration highlights the queens, the pioneers, and the era-defining legends who etched their stories into music history one unforgettable note at a time.
Disclaimer: General, entertainment-focused insights drawn from widely documented musical history shape the content in this article, and the selections may reflect subjective interpretation.
Artist details rely on publicly available information at the time of writing, with future research potentially offering new context.
1. Billie Holiday
Jazz wouldn’t be the same without her hauntingly beautiful voice that could make you feel every emotion in three minutes flat.
Born in Philadelphia in 1915, she transformed songs like “Strange Fruit” into powerful statements about injustice and pain.
Her unique phrasing and ability to bend notes made her sound like no one else before or since.
Despite facing incredible hardships throughout her life, she left behind a legacy that continues to inspire singers across all genres today.
2. Ella Fitzgerald
When people talk about vocal perfection, they’re probably thinking of this incredible artist who could do things with her voice that seemed downright superhuman.
Her scat singing was like watching a musical gymnast perform impossible flips and tricks with notes.
With a three-octave range and impeccable timing, she won thirteen Grammy Awards and sold over forty million albums worldwide.
From “A-Tisket, A-Tasket” to her famous songbook series, she proved that technical brilliance and warmth could coexist beautifully.
3. Mariah Carey
Vocal range reaching five octaves, complete with a whistle register sharp enough to crack glass – shifted the entire landscape of pop technique the moment she arrived.
With her 1990 debut, a flood of chart-toppers followed, placing her just behind The Beatles for the most number-one singles by any solo performer.
Holiday playlists changed forever once All I Want for Christmas Is You established itself as the definitive modern classic of the season.
Through intricate melisma that danced across multiple notes in a single breath, she shaped the vocal blueprint for a whole generation of pop and R&B singers.
4. Aretha Franklin
Once this Detroit legend claimed “Respect” in 1967, the track shifted instantly from hit single to cultural rallying cry.
With a voice capable of rattling rafters, lifting spirits, and pulling tears from even the toughest crowds, her emotional force was unmatched.
Roots in gospel, shaped inside her father’s church, gave her an undeniable spiritual fire that carried into every performance.
Through eighteen Grammy wins and a reign as the Queen of Soul, she reshaped the very sound of empowerment in modern music.
5. Édith Piaf
Tiny in stature but towering in presence, this French legend showed the world how a voice can eclipse physical size entirely.
Through “La Vie en Rose,” she wrapped listeners in a rosy glow of romance unlike anything they had experienced before.
Raised amid the hardships of early-20th-century Paris, she sang her way from street corners to becoming the nation’s most cherished cultural symbol.
With every tremble in her vibrato and every surge of emotion, audiences – regardless of language – felt her songs resonate straight to the heart.
6. Maria Callas
Opera had never seen anyone quite like her, part actress, part vocal athlete, and entirely unforgettable.
Born in New York to Greek parents in 1923, she revolutionized how people thought about opera by making it dramatically compelling, not just technically impressive.
Her ability to bring characters to life through her voice made roles like Tosca and Norma feel fresh and emotionally devastating.
Though her career was relatively short, her recordings continue to set the standard for what opera singing should sound like.
7. Nina Simone
Classical discipline fused with fearless activism when this North Carolina-born artist chose to channel her gifts into the fight for equality.
With a voice capable of shifting from soft resolve to volcanic power, she brought electrifying force to songs like songs like her civil rights anthem and ‘Feeling Good.’
Dreams of a classical piano career eventually gave way to something even more impactful once she stepped forward as a vocalist.
By weaving jazz, blues, folk, and classical elements together, she shaped a sound that refused every label except unmistakable brilliance.
8. Mahalia Jackson
From the moment she opened her mouth, gospel music gained a champion whose New Orleans roots gave her vocals an otherworldly radiance.
Despite enormous pressure and lucrative invitations to cross into pop, she held fast to her spiritual mission for a lifetime.
During the 1963 March on Washington, her soaring performance energized the audience just before Dr. King delivered his historic address.
Through unmatched contralto richness and profound emotional depth, she shaped generations of singers, influencing icons of soul as well as today’s gospel talent.
9. Sarah Vaughan
If voices were instruments, hers would be a Stradivarius violin – rich, complex, and impossibly beautiful in its tonal quality.
Starting as a pianist and singer in Newark, New Jersey, she developed a vocal range that spanned three octaves with operatic richness.
Jazz musicians loved working with her because she could improvise like a horn player, bending and shaping melodies in unexpected ways.
Her nicknames “Sassy” and “The Divine One” perfectly captured both her personality and her otherworldly talent on stage.
10. Patsy Cline
Country music crossed over into pop territory thanks to this Virginia native with a voice that could break your heart in half.
Songs like “Crazy” and “I Fall to Pieces” showcased her ability to make you feel like she was singing directly to your personal heartbreak.
Her career tragically ended in a plane crash in 1963 when she was only thirty years old and at the peak of her fame.
Despite recording for less than a decade, she became the first female solo artist inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
11. Dusty Springfield
Across the wave of British acts arriving in the U.S. during the 1960s, few matched the soulful weight this glamorous vocalist added to the pop landscape.
Raised in London under the name Mary O’Brien, she later crafted a new persona with bold eye makeup and a voice that sounded more Memphis than English.
With Son of a Preacher Man, she delivered one of the smoothest and most seductive soul-pop performances ever put on record.
Through her work, British listeners discovered the richness of American soul, while she proved that singers outside the U.S. could perform the style with complete authenticity.
12. Diana Ross
Starting as the lead voice of The Supremes, she helped define the Motown sound that dominated the 1960s charts.
Her light, distinctive voice might not have had the power of other soul singers, but it had something equally special – pure charm and elegance.
When she went solo in 1970, hits like “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” proved she could shine even brighter on her own.
Beyond music, she conquered film with her stunning portrayal of Billie Holiday in “Lady Sings the Blues,” earning an Oscar nomination.
13. Tina Turner
Raw determination, explosive charisma, and unmatched stamina ignite every time this Tennessee-born powerhouse steps under the spotlight.
Following her break from a difficult and controlling partnership, she mounted one of the most extraordinary comebacks the music world had ever witnessed in the 1980s.
Through a gritty, electrifying vocal style and unforgettable performances on hits like What’s Love Got to Do with It, she claimed the crown as the true Queen of Rock and Roll.
Iconic legs, untamed hair, and fierce confidence set a standard that pushed future performers to show up with their full fire every single night.
14. Barbra Streisand
Brooklyn produced a powerhouse who refused to alter her features or her identity just to satisfy Hollywood’s narrow expectations.
Few voices on earth combine flawless technique with such soul-deep emotion, appearing only once in a generation if fortune allows it.
Across stages, screens, and recording studios, she dominated every corner of entertainment with unwavering brilliance and discipline.
With two Oscars, ten Grammys, and a mountain of additional honors, she demonstrated that genuine artistry and self-belief ultimately triumph.
15. Joni Mitchell
Songwriting took a radical turn when a Canadian visionary blended poetic depth with musical innovation in the late 1960s.
Through inventive guitar tunings and intricate melodic lines, tracks like Big Yellow Taxi and A Case of You emerged with a sound unmatched on contemporary radio.
While many folk musicians relied on straightforward chords, she ventured into jazz-infused harmonies that pushed both audiences and fellow artists to listen differently.
By embracing raw honesty in her lyrics, she paved the way for generations of writers to explore their own stories with greater emotional courage.
16. Janis Joplin
Emotion surged from this Texas-born powerhouse with such urgency that every performance felt like a fight to stay alive.
Through a gritty blues tone and a ferocious stage presence, she became the defining female force of San Francisco’s psychedelic rock era.
With tracks like Piece of My Heart and Me and Bobby McGee, she delivered a mix of tenderness and raw power that few rock vocalists of any gender could equal.
Even though her career ended early, she proved beyond doubt that women could command rock music with total authenticity and uncompromising intensity.
17. Dolly Parton
Rhinestones, big hair, and an even bigger heart – that’s the formula that made this Tennessee mountain girl a global icon.
Behind the glamorous image lies one of the greatest songwriters in American music history, having written thousands of songs including “I Will Always Love You.”
Her distinctive soprano voice and down-home charm made country music accessible to audiences who never thought they liked the genre.
Beyond music, her literacy program and theme park have touched millions of lives, proving that true legends lift others up.
18. Celia Cruz
When she shouted “Azúcar!” on stage, audiences knew they were about to experience pure joy in musical form.
Leaving Cuba in 1960, she became the undisputed Queen of Salsa, bringing Latin music to audiences around the entire globe.
Her powerful voice, infectious energy, and spectacular costumes made every performance feel like the world’s best party.
Recording over seventy albums and winning multiple Grammys, she proved that Latin music belonged on the world stage alongside any other genre.
19. Miriam Makeba
South Africa’s first lady of song brought African music to international audiences while fighting apartheid from exile.
Featuring intricate vocal clicks sung in her native Xhosa, her music captivated Western listeners who had never encountered such vibrant textures.
As tunes like Pata Pata filled dance floors, her activism reminded audiences to think about justice, dignity, and freedom.
Even while barred from her homeland for thirty years, her voice continued championing equality and celebrating African culture on a global stage.
20. Etta James
Gritty, gorgeous, and completely unforgettable – that’s what you get from this Los Angeles native who could sing anything from blues to rock to jazz.
“At Last” became the wedding song for millions of couples, but her catalog runs much deeper and rawer than that one romantic ballad.
Her turbulent life, including battles with addiction, gave her voice an authenticity that you simply cannot fake or manufacture in a recording studio.
Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993, she influenced everyone from Janis Joplin to Adele.
21. Karen Carpenter
That warm, velvety voice that made hits like “Close to You” and “We’ve Only Just Begun” sounded effortless actually belonged to an exceptional drummer too.
While her brother handled the arranging, her unmistakable tone supplied the emotional core that gave the duo their signature warmth and depth.
News of her 1983 passing due to complications from anorexia forced the public to confront eating disorders in a way it never had before.
Even with the hardships she faced, her catalogue remains a testament to one of the most flawless and heartfelt voices ever captured in popular music.
22. Whitney Houston
When God was handing out vocal gifts, this Newark native must have been first in line because her voice was absolutely otherworldly.
Her rendition of “I Will Always Love You” became the best-selling single by a female artist in music history, moving over twenty million copies.
Gospel roots gave her that spiritual power, while pop production made her accessible to audiences who never set foot in a church.
Seven consecutive number-one hits proved that technical perfection and commercial success could coexist beautifully in one remarkable artist.
23. Madonna
Controversy, reinvention, and relentless ambition, that’s the recipe this Michigan native used to become the best-selling female recording artist of all time.
Her voice might not be the most technically impressive on this list, but her cultural impact and business savvy are absolutely unmatched.
From “Like a Virgin” to “Vogue” to “Music,” she consistently stayed ahead of trends by creating them herself.
She proved that female artists could control their own careers, and image without apologizing to anyone for their choices.
24. Stevie Nicks
Swirling shawls, towering boots, and a voice infused with ancient mystique created the aura that lifted her into rock royalty.
Within Fleetwood Mac, her spellbinding songwriting on tracks like Rhiannon and Dreams shaped the very identity of 1970s rock.
Beyond the band, a thriving solo career demonstrated that her brilliance could stand entirely on its own while still enriching one of rock’s most iconic lineups.
Through her smoky tone and poetic storytelling, she inspired generations of women eager to weave enchantment and feminine power into a male-dominated genre.
25. Björk
Iceland’s most famous export brought a voice that sounded simultaneously childlike and ancient, electronic and organic, alien and deeply human.
Her experimental approach to music production and fearless artistic vision made albums like “Homogenic” and “Vespertine” sound like transmissions from another dimension.
That swan dress at the 2001 Oscars became instantly iconic, proving her commitment to art over conventional celebrity expectations.
She showed that female artists could be weird, wonderful, and wildly creative without conforming to any genre or commercial formula whatsoever.
