Top Female Music Artists of All Time

Female singers have made a huge impact on the music industry, once dominated by men. Throughout the years, more and more women come forward and ply their musical talents to the world. However, there are still only a handful of women who top the chart time and again as the Greatest Female Music Artists of all time. The ones that have influenced and inspired us all and even if we had no talent at all, made us wish we did.

10. Billie Holiday: Born Elenora Fagan in 1915, Billie Holiday had a traumatic upbringing and at a young age was doing whatever she could to earn money, including singing in jazz clubs when she was still a teen. Well known for many songs, Holiday first sang "Strange Fruit" in 1939 about lynching. She was afraid to sing it at first because she feared retaliation. But sing it she did, but people just didn't get it, and that frustrated her. One of her other big hits was "Lover Man" which really made her a big name. Recorded in the early 40's during WW II, "Lover Man" made a huge impact on men and women alike who were away from the ones they loved. Drugs, drinking, and people swindling her impacted her life and her voice in her later years. She ended up broke and died of cirrhosis of the liver in 1959. It wasn't that she was a tremendous talent that made her so famous. It was the fact that she could make you feel what she was singing. She dug down to her very soul and sang and when she did, people stopped to listen.

9. Janis Joplin: Perhaps one of the greatest influences on so many people was Janis Joplin. A native Texan, she was born in 1943. She started her musical career in the late 60's and styled her music after the female blues artists that made her fall in love with music. Troubled, sometimes unstable and fighting a heroin addiction Joplin was still a huge influence on the music world. My personal favorite is "Me and Bobby Mc Gee" that was not actually recorded until after her death in 1970 on the Pearl album. Joplin died of a heroin overdose while in the middle of recording the album. That album was rated #22 in Rolling Stone Magazine's 500 Greatest Albums of all time. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 and received a Grammy for lifetime achievement Award in 2005. In 2004, Joplin was ranked #46 on Rolling Stone magazine's top 100 greatest authors of all time and #28 in the 100 Greatest Singers of all time in 2008. Joplin was so popular among her peers that many great artists have written or recorded songs about her, including The Mamas and the Papas, Kris Kristofferson (who incidentally co-wrote "Me and Bobby McGee and was a former lover of Joplin), the Righteous Brothers, and Leonard Cohen (another former lover.)

8. Reba Mc Entire: Fondly dubbed the "Queen of Country", Reba has had a successful career spanning over 30 years and counting. Just recently, McIntire was named the Female Artist with the Most Top 10 Hits (56). "McEntire holds the record for the most Academy of Country Music Top Female Vocalist Awards (seven), and American Music Awards for Favorite Female Country Artist (twelve), and ties with Martina McBride for most Country Music Association Female Vocalist of the Year Awards (four)." (Wikipedia)With her distinctive Oklahoma drawl and memorable voice, McIntire is hardly comparable to any other singer. She is in a league of her own. Known for her fantastic concerts, multiple wardrobe changes and hits such as "Fancy", "Sweet Dreams" (a Patsy Cline original) and "Is There Life Out There", McIntire is well loved by all of her fans and one of my personal favorites.

7. Sheryl Crow: Sheryl Crow, Missouri born singer/songwriter grew up on music. (I must admit, I have a huge respect for songwriters, since I am one as well.) Influenced by country, rock, folk, and pop, her music runs the gamut on creatively making her own sound. She has recorded duets with a wide array of artists such as Kid Rock, Tony Bennett, Dwight Yoakum, Vince Gill, Steve Earle and Willie Nelson. Crow is known for recording such songs as "All I Want to Do", Everyday is a Winding Road" , "Picture" and my all time fave, her rendition of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah". She is an advocate for breast cancer, being a survivor herself. She has won numerous awards and continues to make her name known worldwide.

6. Taylor Swift: Though not quite a woman, with the face of an angel, the overnight sensation, known as Taylor Swift is making a name for herself. Her debut album in 2006 is still at the top of the charts and she is the epitome of every little girl making her dreams come true. (My daughter being one of them) A seasoned singer/songwriter and not yet 20, Swift writes from her heart and every song she writes is an instant hit. "According to Nielsen Sound Scan, Swift was the biggest selling artist of 2008 in America with combined sales of more than four million albums. She was the first artist in the history of Nielsen Sound Scan to have two different albums in the Top 10 on the year end album chart. Fearless has topped the Billboard 200 in 11 non-consecutive weeks. No album has spent more time at number one since 1999-2000. It also the first album by a female artist in country music history to log eight weeks at #1 on The Billboard 200. In mid-January 2009, Swift became the first country artist to top the 2 million mark in paid downloads with three different songs. As of the week ending February 8, 2009, Swift's single "Love Story" became the country song with most paid downloads in history and the first country song to top the Mainstream Top 40 chart"(Wikipedia) Taylor has also launched a line of guitars called "Taylor Guitars".

5. Ella Fitzgerald: Lovingly named the "First Lady of Song", Ella Fitzgerald was the most adored female jazz singer for over 50 years. Ella won 13 Grammy awards in her career. Let's face it, the woman had some pipes. "Her voice was flexible, wide-ranging, accurate and ageless. She could sing sultry ballads, sweet jazz and imitate every instrument in an orchestra. She worked with all the jazz greats, from Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Nat King Cole, to Frank Sinatra, Dizzy Gillespie and Benny Goodman. (Or rather, some might say all the jazz greats had the pleasure of working with Ella.)" [www.ellafitzgerald.com] though shy around friends, family, or strangers, Ella transformed onstage. That was her true home. Her nursery rhyme remake of "A Tisket A Tasket" is one of her most beloved hits. Ella could also imitate almost any instrument with her voice and when the swing era came in, she adjusted accordingly and started "scatting". Ella was the master of scat and her fans loved it. The Ella Fitzgerald Foundation supports children's literacy even 13 years after her death.

4. Jewel: Jewel Kilcher, professionally known simply as "Jewel", debuted her first album in 1995. The album included songs like "You Were Meant for Me" and "Who Will Save Your Soul", two of my favorites by Jewel. The world renowned singer/songwriter likes to keep things alive by sometimes switching genres, the latest, in 2008, was country. If you haven't heard "I do" (which features her fiancé Ty Murray on the video) or "Stronger Woman", I suggest you check them out. They are proof of her talent in changing things up. Jewel is also a noted philanthropist and author/poet. She is the ideal portrait of the girl next door who just happens to have an amazing voice.

3. Peggy Lee: Born in 1920, singer, actress, and songwriter, Peggy Lee was a massive influence in the Big Band and Swing Eras. Her notably husky, yet sultry sound made her one of a kind. In 1942, her hit song "Why Don't You Do Right?" sold 1,000,000 copies and made Peggy Lee a household name. Peggy Lee is known for one of my favorite songs, "Fever". Loved and adored by everyone, Peggy was performing almost up until her death in 2002, even if it was from a wheel chair. She won 3 Grammy awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award in 1995, and in 1999 was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. She also wrote music for Disney's Lady and the Tramp while singing and acting four different parts in the movie. Frank Sinatra, cited in 1994, said of Lee "Her wonderful talent should be studied by all vocalists; her regal presence is pure elegance and charm." (Wikipedia, www.peggylee.com)

2. June Carter Cash: Possibly one of my most favorite people in the world, June Carter Cash was the kind of person you would want to strive to be like. Not only was she a fabulous singer and songwriter, but also an accomplished actress and comedienne. June was born into a musical family in 1929 and was performing even as a child. Her music career included singing solo, singing with her family, and singing with her husband. Though her sisters had more talent than she, June had her own special talents, making people laugh. I once heard it said that anyone can make someone cry, but only a true artist can make someone laugh. Wife to Johnny Cash, if you wanted a picture of true love, they were it. "Jackson" and "If I were a Carpenter" were two of Johnny and June's biggest hits, but few people know that she is the writer behind Johnny's "Ring of Fire". June passed away in 2003 and in 2006, the movie Walk the Line was released, portraying Johnny's career and his relationship with June. June was a legend and one of the most talented artists, male or female, of all time.

1. Patsy Cline: Born Virginia Patterson Hensly in 1932, Patsy Cline is the all time greatest female music artist of all time. Patsy was tragically lost in the prime of her career from a plane crash in 1963. Her first number one was "I Fall to Pieces" in 1961. When she recorded "Crazy", she didn't like the song the way it was arranged and was having difficulties with it. She came back the following week and recorded with her special touch. When she premiered it on the Grand Ole Opry, she was given 3 standing ovations. Her voice was golden and her demeanor pure. She grew up poor and once she was making money, always gave it to friends when they needed it. She would have given anyone the shirt off her back and was a truly genuine person. 10 years after her death, she was the first female sole artist in the Country Music Hall of Fame. In 1999, Patsy was #11 on VH1's Greatest Women of Rock and Roll and also was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of fame. In 2002, she was voted #1 on CMT's Greatest Women of Country Music. If you ask any female singer who influenced them, Patsy Cline would be at the top of almost every list. Now, that, ladies and gents, is the mark of being a great, not just having talent, but having the ability to influence and motivate others. That is why Patsy Cline is number one on my list of the Top 10 Greatest Women Music Artists of all Time.