The glam metal singer was also married to Ozzy Osbourne, and she released a duet Close My Eyes Forever with him in 1989. She now resides in California where she works as a session and live performer. She earned a star on the Walk of Fame on Hollywood Boulevard and won a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2005 Grammys. Amy Jade Winehouse was born on September 14, 1983, in London, England, and was famous for her deep, alto vocals and refreshing mix of blue-eyed soul, blues, and jazz. She achieved peak success in the 90s, but she was also a star in the 80s. Over 66K music fans have voted on the 90+ Greatest Female Vocalists of the Past 10 Years. Suzy Bogguss, an American country music singer/songwriter, began her solo singing career in the 1980s. The list below showcases the best female pop singers of the '80s and '90s. It may have been her androgynous appearance, but her voice soon made them forget what she looked like. From legendary icons like Tina Turner and Joan Jett to lesser known but equally talented performers like Juliana Hatfield and Lita Ford, these are the women that helped make rock music what it is today. Who are the greatest female vocalists ever? Her most famous hits include Like a Virgin, 4 Minutes, Vogue, and Like a Prayer.. Dolly Parton, from Pittman Center, Tennessee, is one of the greatest female country singers, an incredible songwriter, and an inspiration behind a well-known amusement park in the country, Dollywood. She has won an astonishing seven Grammy Awards, two Golden Globes, and a host of other awards. Belinda Carlisles 1987 song was a big hit when it came out, and its still one of the most popular 80s songs. Some of her most memorable songs include Stand Back, Edge of Seventeen, and Stop Dragging Your Heart Around (with Tom Petty). So many of them that compiling a list of the best female singers of the 80s was a difficult task, but we succeeded. Donna Summer was a woman of many different musical talents. Liam is also the founding member of Music Grotto and is passionate in disseminating editorial content to its readers. 15 Of The Most Famous Female Singers Of The 1970s - Hello Music Theory Leave a comment below. The 20 Best Female Singers of the 80s - Musician Wave Her voice and confidence were amazing to watch when she first arrived on the scene in 1985. The third season of The X Factor was the big break for Leona Lewis. Born in Scotland, Annie Lennox Is best known for her 80s hit Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This). Fewer people know that she began her musical career as a flute player in the band Dragons Playground. Over 100 Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Best Female Singers Of The 1980s. She won numerous awards, including 18 Grammy Awards, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the National Medal of Arts, and inductions into the National Womens Hall of Fame, Gospel Music Hall of Fame, and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. And she is still active and making music. Let us go down our list of famous 80s female singersin no particular order. At the age of six, MIAs family moved from England to Sri Lanka and ended up displaced by the war that broke out there. Raitt has since received ten Grammys and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. By the early 90s, she had released several winning albums. Ann (Annie) Lennox, hailing from Scotland, is most famous for her association with the Eurythmics and Dave Stewart. As soon as people heard her crooning Smooth Operator, they knew that Sade Adu was someone to listen to. She did love going over the Borderline as often as possible, though. Her songs revolve around different topics, but they are mostly based on topics like politics, religion, and feminism, Tori Amos most recognizable songs include Crucify, Silent All These Years, and Cornflake Girl., In 1987, Debbie Gibson released her debut single Only In My Dreams.. Songs like Slave to the Rhythm, Private Life, and Pull Up to The Bumper made her a must-listen. Let's find some podcasts to follow We'll keep you updated on new episodes. From Madonna and Diana Ross to Joan Jett, get ready for a trip down memory lane. She has also won twelve World Music Awards, seven Billboard Music Awards, six American Music Awards, and fifty Felix Awards. She is the recipient of a Brit Award (Critics Choice, 2009) and a Silver Clef Award (Best Female 2017) and has been nominated for many more. She demonstrated that she was a Material Girl and got us Into The Groove. While she was a marketing genius, she also had vocal chops to back her up. Mann might make yours. Janet Jackson is the youngest child of the Jackson family, and she undeniably made her mark as a singer and songwriter. But she first became famous as a part of the group the Runaways. However, she is best known for the song Proud Mary, which was actually originally recorded by Creedence Clearwater Revival. She is also a breast cancer survivor and an advocate for breast cancer awareness. Newton-John has won four Grammys and a slew of other prestigious awards. Testing the boundaries of both technology and songwriting, the best Kate Bush songs remain timeless works that continue to enthral new generations of fans. Belinda Carlisle is from Los Angeles, California, and is one of the best lead vocalists of the 80s, finding success with the Go-Gos. Known as the Queen of Funk, Chaka Khan is widely regarded as one of the most influential 80s female singers. In this post, were going to take a look at 15 of the greatest and most famous female singers of the 80s. As a teenager, Allen pursued a recording contract but was turned down more than once, so she began promoting herself and her music on the then-popular social media site MySpace. She has been nominated for three Grammys and has received multiple international music awards. Best Female Rock Singers: An Essential Top 30 Countdown | uDiscover Among her most popular hits are Just Dance, Poker Face, Applause, and Bad Romance.. She sadly died in 2012 after drowning due to suspected drug abuse but remains one of the best-selling artists of all time with over 200 million records sold. Related: Read more about the most famous welsh singers here. But she is also widely known for her songs Give Me One Reason and Talkin Bout a Revolution.. All of these women defined the 1980s pop culture music scene through their unparalleled talent and empowering hit songs. Feel free to state your views, opinions, and suggestions in the comments section. Her songs I Wanna Dance With Somebody, The Greatest Love of All, and I Have Nothing are timeless hits. Mariah Carey boasts an incredible five-octave vocal range, easily making her one of the best female singers of all time. It gave her an unforgettable sound that caught the ear of a talent scout and led to her scoring a recording contract in the mid-70s. Deniece Williams has been deemed one of the worlds greatest soul singers. James learned to sing at a young age and joined a girl group in her early teens. Her influence has inspired many R&B artists, and she has also become a mentor for artists in other genres. She helped shape the sound of pop, and broke the barriers with her 80s hits like Material Girl, Papa Dont Preach, and La Isla Bonita.. Emily is a singer-songwriter, guitarist, and ukulelist who has graced the stage at countless venues across the Midwest and Southern U.S. The 80s were amazing times for music. Anna Mae Bullock, or Tina Turner, is from Nutbush, Tennessee. The 80's and 90's turned up some real pop gems, some great pop singers that had a handful of hit singles (or in some cases just the one) and then disappeared from view. 1. 50 Best Albums of All Time (Greatest Albums Ever Made). Often referred to as a Princess of Pop, Kylie Minogue also deserves a spot on our best 80s singers list. While she was only active for the last three years of the decade, her vocal talents alone put her here. At the tender age of 19, her single Wuthering Heights topped the charts in the UK and Australia. Next up we have Motown singer Diana Ross was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. Lipas debut album was a massive success, and the next few years saw her career take off even more. And while the 70s are often thought of as a male-dominated decade in music, there were also many amazing female singers making their mark on the world. The Best Female Singers Of The 1970s - Ranker She achieved greatness in her solo career, winning six Grammy Awards, seventeen Blues Music Awards, and earning spots in the Blues Hall of Fame and the Grammy Hall of Fame. Have fun listening to these wonderful female voices of the 80s! You can create your own lists. 1. Bonnie Tyler is a Welsh singer born Gaynor Hopkins. She was born on November 8th, 1949, in Burbank, California. And her rendition of I Wanna Dance With Somebody is one of the greatest covers of all time. She started out singing and playing guitar and drums in various rock bands. Fitzgerald also received many opportunities to collaborate with other famous musicians like Count Basie, Louis Armstrong, and Duke Ellington. Celine Dion 5. She emerged as a teen star, and eventually became a global superstar and the best-selling Canadian recording artist. This naturally gifted singer has won six Grammy Awards, sixteen Billboard Music Awards, and two Emmy Awards. She started her career in 1973, and her most popular hits are Be Bop Medley, I Feel for You, Higher Love, and Through the Fire.. With her musical DNA evident in everyone from Beyonc to Norwegian DJ Kygo, Turners legacy is as insurmountable as it is influential. While a lot of people mostly remember her from her 1983 hit She Works Hard For The Money, she had several other great 80s songs, like Love is in Control, On the Radio, and Who Do You Think Youre Fooling? The world mourned her death in 2012 from lung cancer. Best female singers of the 80's - The best website $domain Suzy Bogguss. Carlisle has received numerous nominations for prestigious awards such as the Grammy and AMA Awards. 100+ Best Female Rock Singers of the 80s - Complete List Whitney Houston Hailing from Beverly Hill, California, first, we have 80s legend Whitney Houston who was a top-selling R&B female music artist of the 20th century. When you think of Christina Aguilera, you cant help but think of her incredible four-octave vocal range and insane runs! Most people remember Bonnie Tyler best for her chart-topping 80s songs Holding Out for a Hero and Total Eclipse of the Heart. Tyler, who is from Skewen, Wales, got her start singing in church and eventually formed a soul band. She joined the rock band Fleetwood Mac, as lead singer in 1975 and pursued a separate solo music career, releasing eight studio solo albums. Over the last 40 years, she has produced many successful artistic albums that have received critical acclaim. Related: More musicians and singers who died aged 27. Create your first playlist It's easy, we'll help you. Diana Ernestine Ross made a name for herself during the 60s and remains one of the best female artists in the music industry today. She and the other band members got inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2021. Related: Our post on other female singers of the 1960s. Beyonce Knowles-Carter, also known as Queen B, is the most awarded female act ever and ranks among the best-selling music artists of all time. However, she is best known for her 1983 hit, as well as songs like True Colors and Time After Time.. They also remember her from the 70s movie Grease. But she also had hit songs like Magic, Twist of Fate, and Xanadu. This proved that she was vocally talented and far from just being a very pretty face. Current Top 3: Adele, Lady Gaga, Demi Lovato Welcome to Hello Music Theory! In addition, she also earned a spot in the Grammy Hall of Fame and Rhythm & Blues Music Hall of Fame. She is one of the best vocalists of her era, and some of her studio albums became an important part of music history and culture in general. Outside of music, Emily enjoys hiking with her husband and playing with her comical cat, Olive. However, she also released many 80s hits, including She Works Hard For the Money and Love is in Control.. Clarks flair for languages allowed her to record music in French, German, Spanish, and Italian as well as English. She was nominated for a Grammy in 1984, and she has many international awards. Sweet Dreams was a hit album from Lennox and Stewart in 1983, with the song called Sweet Dreams reaching the top of the Hot 100 on the US Billboard. Her debut album The World Starts Tonight was a mix of pop and country music. So many of the greatest hits have been written, recorded, and performed by the best female singers of all time. While she did make sweet music with Dave Stewart as the Eurythmics, she has also made her mark as a solo artist, with memorable songs like A Thousand Beautiful Things and Into The West., Next: Top vocalists that are women of all time (best female singers ever). When she was 15, Ross joined The Primettes, which officially began her music career. Enter your email below to be the first to hear about new releases, upcoming events, and more from Dig! Although the '60s played a pivotal role in launching and shaping the careers of women in rock, it was the '80s that bestowed commercial success and fame for a number of female musicians. Although she was a star in the 60s and the 70s, Aretha Franklin also remained one of the most prominent artists in the 80s. But her distinctive vocals are mostly associated with the Pretenders melodies and songs like Brass in Pocket and Middle of the Road.. Andrews list of musical and film credits is too long to list here, and she is also a childrens book author. MTV played Benatars song Love is a Battlefield, further propelling her success. She won a Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 2003 and Album of the Year Award in 1978 with Fleetwood Mac and has been nominated for eight Grammy Awards as a solo artist. There are thousand of females working as singers in the world, but this list highlights only the. 25 Best 80s Female Singers - Music Grotto - Hub For Everything Music Dions fantastic voice and vocal technique have made her one of the best-selling music artists of all time and earned her five Grammy Awards. 1.7K likes. This London-born artists list of accolades is too long to list, but they include 15 Grammy Awards as well as dozens of awards for singing and songwriting. Next: The best heavy metal songs of all time. When we think of the 1980s, a few things come to mind big hair, brightly colored clothes, and of course, some of the greatest music ever made. She still wears the crown today. In the beginning, she was the lead singer of the pop group Y Kant Tori Read, and she embarked on a solo career in the 90s. Apart from being a talented and hard-working musician, Olivia was also an environmental and animal rights activist. People knew of Belinda Carlisle in the early 80s when she was in the all-girl band, The Go-Gos, who had hit songs like Our Lips Are Sealed and Vacation. She had already displayed great vocal talent back then. Dion became a star in her teenage years in the 80s after winning the Yamaha World Popular Song Festival in 1982 and the Eurovision Song Contest in 1988. Some of her most popular songs are Love On Top, Baby Boy, Crazy in Love, and Irreplaceable, among so many others. That iconic album had memorable hits such as Material Girl, Like a Prayer, La Isla Bonita, Hung Up, and Like a Virgin.. Prepare yourself for cold weather with these fall-themed songs. Throughout her solo career, she released countless R&B, soul, and gospel hits, including (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman, Respect, and I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You).. There are few people who are known by lonely one name but Madonna is one of them. Linda Maria Ronstadt was born on July 15th, 1946, in Tucson, Arizona. There were a lot of great 80s female singers. 10 Best Female Singers of the '80s and '90s 1. Her song, My Heart Will Go On, is also featured on our best 90s songs playlist. Her songs Im Every Woman, I Feel For You, and Aint Nobody are timeless classics that inspired many soul and R&B singers. Kickstarting it with her sultry take on Al Greens Lets Stay Together in 1983, Turner went on to wear the crown as Queen Of RocknRoll, thanks to iconic albums such as Private Dancer and Foreign Affair, and hits such as the anthemic Whats Love Got To Do With It and The Best. She has been involved in activism for animal rights and HIV prevention. Eurythmics, Annie Lennox, Dave Stewart - Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) (Official Video), Stevie Nicks - Stand Back (Official Music Video), Whitney Houston - I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Official 4K Video), Kate Bush - Running Up That Hill - Official Music Video, Madonna - Into The Groove (Official Video), Tina Turner - What's Love Got To Do With It (Official Music Video), Olivia Newton-John - Physical (Official Music Video), Gloria Estefan, Miami Sound Machine - Conga, Bonnie Tyler - Total Eclipse of the Heart (Official Lyric Video), Joan Jett & the Blackhearts - I Love Rock 'N Roll (Official Video), Pat Benatar - Love Is A Battlefield (Official Music Video), Pretenders - Back on the Chain Gang (Official Music Video), Cyndi Lauper - Time After Time (Official HD Video), Belinda Carlisle - Heaven Is A Place On Earth (Official HD Music Video), Aretha Franklin - Freeway Of Love (Official Music Video), Donna Summer - She Works Hard For The Money (1987) TopPop, Cher - If I Could Turn Back Time (Official Video), Debbie Gibson - Only in My Dreams (Official Music Video), Grace Jones - I've Seen That Face Before (Libertango) [Official Video], Chaka Khan - I Feel for You (Official Music Video) [HD Remaster], Scandal - The Warrior (Video) ft. Patty Smyth, 15 Best Female Metal Bands (Or Female Fronted), 41 Best Female Country Singers Of All Time, Top vocalists that are women of all time (best female singers ever), one of music mogul Clive Davis greatest finds, Most iconic 80s hits (top 1980s songs list), Greatest black female singers of all time (our complete list), Greatest female country singers in history (our complete list), Our list of the best artists from the 1980s, Top female singers from the 1960s (our list), The absolute greatest vocalists of all time. Here is a singer who knew what she was doing. Hopefully, now you have the necessary knowledge to create a fantastic playlist featuring the best female singers of all time. Petula Clark, best known for her 1964 hit Downtown, was born in Ewell, Surrey to parents who worked in the medical industry. Liams lifelong love for music makes his role at Music Grotto such a rewarding one. When people think of Chrissie Hynde and Pretenders, they might only think of Back On The Chain Gang, but that is far from the only good song that helped display her vocal range. She wore a biker jacket and a scarf and snarled into the mic with songs like I Love Rock N Roll. Jett helped change the idea of what a woman could look like and how they could grab rock by the throat and give it as much energy as any man. Franklin is widely considered one of the best black female singers of all time due to her vocal flexibility and ability to generate emotional power through songs. She is also the highest certified female artist in the U.S. and ranks among the best-selling recording artists of all time. Yvette Marie Stevens, better known as Chaka Khan, or the Queen of Funk, has sold more than 70 million copies during her illustrious career. The 1980s were known for big hair, new wave, punk, rock, and pop culture explosions. Her classic song, I Will Always Love You, is also featured on our best songs of all time playlist. List of best-selling female music artists - Wikipedia The song was originally written by Prince though, but it certainly helped Sinead OConnor become one of the most prominent female musicians of the 80s. It wasnt easy to make this list, but all of the singers we included were a crucial part of the 80s music scene. The Queen of Soul released Freeway of Love in 1985, for example. Unfortunately, Winehouse suffered from drug and alcohol addiction throughout her career and succumbed to alcohol poisoning at the age of 27. Houston performed solo and with her mom at various clubs throughout her teenage years until she received a record deal. Topping our list of the best 80s female singers, Tina Turner delivered some of the decades biggest hits while also becoming one of the most-revered live performers on the planet. Thanks for stopping by and if you have any questions get in touch! Doubtless one of the greatest female rockers of the decade, Pat Benatars legacy can still be traced in the countless underground rock artists that emerge every year, while her songwriting talents are apparent throughout her entire catalogue. Shirley Bassey was born in Cardiff, Wales, to a Nigerian father and English mother. A few of her most famous songs are Chasing Pavements, Rolling in the Deep, and Set Fire to the Rain. She also earned a spot on our best prom songs playlist with Someone Like You.. Who are some of your favorites? [1] The following is a list of the world's best-selling female music artists of all time. In 1982 she found immense success with Columbia Records, recording one of the all-time best-selling singles, Total Eclipse of the Heart.. Clark showed musical talent from early childhood. Her clear soprano voice and perfect pitch wowed audiences from day one, and her sweet personality endeared her to her fans. Whitney Houston 3. As one of the most successful female singers of all time, Gloria Estefan paved the way for the success of many latin singers. Related: More great female singers of the 70s. Grace Jones is a model, actress, songwriter, and singer from British Jamaica. She rose to fame with Ike and Tina Turner Revue, one of the most iconic music duos of all time. Following the success of her debut solo album, 1978s Chaka which boasted one of the all-time best LGBTQ+ Pride songs in the shape of the disco floor-filler Im Every Woman the woman born Yvette Marie Stevens more than earned her title of Queen Of Funk. The albums second single, Manic Monday, was penned by Prince, and sat at No.2 in the US, beneath its writers own hit Kiss, while Walk Like An Egyptian took the group to the top of the charts for the first time, earworming its way into the minds of listeners the world over. Cher has won a Grammy, an Emmy Award, an Academy Award, three Golden Globe Awards, multiple Kennedy Center Honors Awards, and one Billboard Icon Award. Whether were talking the queens of pop, funk or rocknroll, the best 80s female singers still take the crown for inspiration. She gained prominence in the late 80s, and continued to make dance pop hits throughout the 90s. Hill also became the first female rapper to earn a Diamond certification in the United States. List of famous female singers, listed by their level of prominence with photos when available. Her debut album quickly achieved massive worldwide success, producing hits like What a Girl Wants, Genie in a Bottle, and Come On Over Baby (All I Want Is You).. MIAs music embraces an international sound and is woven with social commentary inspired by her Tamil Sri Lankan heritage and experience as a Londoner of color. She began singing at age four and attended the BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology. All of these women defined the 1980s pop culture music scene through their unparalleled talent and empowering hit songs. Her mesmerizing vocals and charm are timeless and unique, and in a way, her music is a genre of its own. Growing up, Adele attended the BRIT School For The Performing Arts and Technologies, a school that produced several other British megastars like Leona Lewis and Amy Winehouse. Bruce Springsteen One of the biggest 80s rock artists, Bruce Springsteen's landmark Born In The USA album yielded seven US hits. Joan Jett was far from that image. Tina Turner's career spans over 50 years, with her most successful period being the 1980s. Throughout her career, Aguilera has won five Grammys, one Latin Grammy, one Guinness World Record, and two MTV Video Music Awards. The adults in Shirleys life recognized her powerful voice at an early age but were not particularly supportive of the talented little girls potential. Lets jump right in as we take a look at 17 of the most famous British female singers. Laura has over 12 years experience teaching both classical and jazz saxophone and clarinet. She went on to have a career as a child performer, appearing on BBC radio spots during the Second World War, and entertaining the troops, earning herself the label of The British Shirley Temple.. Starting out in the gospel choir at her Baptist church, in Detroit, Franklin began her career as a recording artist in 1960, aged just 18. Let us go down our list of famous 80s female singersin no particular order. It won album of the year for the British crowd. The next best band, a new song you just learned, or any questions you may have. In 2020, she got inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with four Grammys and other notable awards. Tina Turners greatest hits include I Dont Wanna Fight, Whats Love Got To Do With This, and Lets Stay Together.. This musical genius was first discovered by Pink Floyds David Gilmour, who footed her debut album in the late 70s. In this post, we're going to take a look at the lives and careers of 15 of the greatest and most famous female singers of the 1970s. The album also stuck at No. Her 1981 album Nightclubbing was her breakthrough album. The song had the famous line Its Janet Ms. Jackson, if youre nasty. Along with Madonna, she helped bring in a new wave of female musical artists who were entirely comfortable with their own sexuality. Dua Lipa is one of the most popular pop stars of the last five years. Rolling Stone called Joni Mitchell one of the best songwriters ever and we agree. Forgotten 80's + 90's female singers - Digital Spy Forum The 25 Best Female Singers of All Time. They span various musical genres and styles, representing the eclectic culture of the United Kingdom. Even more popular than this was her single, Hit Me With Your Best Shot, selling more than a million copies. Her legacy began on August 9th, 1963, in Newark, New Jersey, where her mother (a gospel singer) taught her how to sing. In 1984, her album Lets Hear it For the Boy featured the hit single with the same name, which rose to number one on the Billboard Hot 100. 2000 Miles is a great Christmas song from 1984, and Brass in Pocket and Middle of the Road were also two worthy hits. The 30 greatest female singers of all time - Karen Carpenter, Whitney Houston and Celine Dion. Annie Lennox Eurythmics, Annie Lennox, Dave Stewart - Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) (Official Video) She rose to international fame with her smashing hit Conga, and she has released many chart-topping hits since then, including Rhythm is Gonna Get You and Hoy.. Smooth Operator, Your Love Is King, and Sweetest Taboo, just to name a few. She released her best-selling album Guilty in 1980, and sold 150 million records worldwide throughout her career. Over the years, she has cemented herself as a musical legend. Her contribution to the rock genre is undeniable, and her approach to music has always been unique. Love Is A Battlefield, from her 1983 album, Live From Earth, remains one of her best-known songs, but edgier earlier works such as Hit Me With Your Best Shot can satisfy any rockers cravings. Aretha Franklin had already gotten a lot of respect for her work in earlier years. I understand that I can opt-out at any time by emailing privacypolicy@wmg.com. Best Female Singers Of All Time: 20 Trailblazing Music Icons - Dig! During her world tour in 1988, she also earned a Guinness World Record for having the largest paying audience for a solo act. Since then, she has sold approximately 100 million records, won 12 Grammy Awards, and was on Rolling Stones top 100 Greatest Artists and 100 Greatest Singers of All Time. Hynde had a great voice and who can forget her harmonica work? So in a way, she does belong on this list.