The 340+ Best Female Vocalists Ever, Ranked
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- Born in Glenageary, County Dublin, Ireland, Sinéad O'Connor was an internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter known for her distinctive voice and powerful lyrics. She began her musical journey at a young age and later broke into the mainstream music scene with her debut album, The Lion and the Cobra, in 1987. This album marked the beginning of a career that spans decades and includes multiple genres such as pop, rock, folk, and world music. O'Connor's second album, I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got, established her as a global star. The single "Nothing Compares 2 U," a cover of Prince's song, topped charts around the world. While she was recognized for her musical talent, O'Connor also stayed in the public eye for her outspoken nature. Throughout her career, she used her platform to express strong views on subjects like religion, women's rights, and child abuse, which often sparked controversy. Despite her contentious public image, O'Connor's musical talent has never been in doubt. Her work received several accolades, including a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Performance for "I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got." She also consistently released new music and showed remarkable versatility by exploring various genres. Sinéad O'Connor's career serves as a testament to her unwavering dedication to her craft and her fearless expression of individuality.
- 122Joss Stone, born Joscelyn Eve Stoker, stepped into the world on April 11, 1987, in Dover, Kent, England. Raised in a small town of Devon by her parents, Richard and Wendy Stoker, Stone's early life was far from the glitz and glamour she would later come to know. Her fascination with music began at a young age, inspired by artists like Aretha Franklin and Dusty Springfield, which set the stage for her soaring career in soul and R&B. Stone's breakthrough came at the tender age of 14 when she auditioned for the BBC Television show Star for a Night. It was this performance that caught the attention of S-Curve Records's CEO, Steve Greenberg, who quickly signed her. In 2003, then only 16, Stone released her debut album, The Soul Sessions, covering classic soul tracks. The album was an unexpected hit, reaching the top five on the UK Albums Chart and the top forty of the US Billboard 200. This success established her as one of the youngest artists to top the charts with a debut album. Stone's career has been marked by both critical acclaim and commercial success. She bagged the Brit Award for British Female Solo Artist in 2005 and was nominated for three Grammy Awards in 2004. Her subsequent albums, including Mind Body & Soul, Introducing Joss Stone, and Colour Me Free!, have all received significant recognition. Beyond her musical pursuits, Stone has also ventured into acting, making appearances in popular TV shows and films.
- 123Judith Marjorie Collins (born May 1, 1939) is an American singer and songwriter known for her eclectic tastes in the material she records (which has included folk music, show tunes, pop music, rock and roll and standards) and for her social activism. Collins' debut album A Maid of Constant Sorrow was released in 1961, but it was the lead single from her 1967 album Wildflowers, "Both Sides, Now" — written by Joni Mitchell — that gave Collins international prominence. The single hit the Top 10 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart and won Collins her first Grammy Award for Best Folk Performance. She enjoyed further success with her recordings of "Someday Soon", "Chelsea Morning", "Amazing Grace", and "Cook with Honey". Collins experienced the biggest success of her career with her recording of Stephen Sondheim's "Send in the Clowns" from her best-selling 1975 album Judith. The single charted on the Billboard Pop Singles chart in 1975 and then again in 1977, spending 27 non-consecutive weeks on the chart and earning Collins a Grammy Award nomination for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female, as well as a Grammy Award for Sondheim for Song of the Year.
- Rock music, Alternative Pop Music, Classical Music,Dolores Mary Eileen O'Riordan (; 6 September 1971 – 15 January 2018) was an Irish musician, singer and songwriter. She was the lead vocalist for rock band The Cranberries from 1990 until they disbanded in 2003, later reuniting with her band in 2009, which she led until her death in 2018. Her death caused the Cranberries to disband for the second time. O'Riordan's first solo album, Are You Listening?, was released in May 2007 and was followed up by No Baggage in 2009. O'Riordan was known for her lilting mezzo-soprano voice, her emphasised use of keening, and her strong Limerick accent. She appeared as a judge on RTÉ's The Voice of Ireland during the 2013–14 season. In April 2014, O'Riordan joined and began recording new material with the trio D.A.R.K.
- Rosemary Clooney (May 23, 1928 – June 29, 2002) was an American singer and actress. She came to prominence in the early 1950s with the song "Come On-a My House", which was followed by other pop numbers such as "Botch-a-Me", "Mambo Italiano", "Tenderly", "Half as Much", "Hey There" and "This Ole House". She also had success as a jazz vocalist. Clooney's career languished in the 1960s, partly due to problems related to depression and drug addiction, but revived in 1977, when her White Christmas co-star Bing Crosby asked her to appear with him at a show marking his 50th anniversary in show business. She continued recording until her death in 2002.
- Avril Ramona Lavigne, born on September 27, 1984 in Belleville, Ontario, Canada, is a globally recognized Canadian-French singer-songwriter and actress. Raised in a deeply religious family, her journey towards stardom began in church choirs and local performances. Her raw talent was noticed by her first manager, Cliff Fabri, while she was performing at a bookstore in Kingston, Ontario. This led to a two-album recording contract with Arista Records, worth more than $2 million. Lavigne's debut album, Let Go, released in 2002, catapulted her into the limelight. The album, marked by its punk-pop sound, reached number two on the U.S Billboard 200 and was certified six-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. The lead single, "Complicated," was a global hit, setting the tone for Lavigne's signature style - a blend of punk, rock, and pop that appealed to a broad audience. In addition to her music career, Lavigne ventured into acting, making appearances in films such as Over the Hedge and Fast Food Nation. Throughout her career, Avril Lavigne has been acclaimed not only for her distinctive vocal prowess but also for her songwriting skills. She has received several awards, including eight Grammy nominations. Moreover, her philanthropic endeavors are noteworthy. In 2010, she established the Avril Lavigne Foundation, which supports people with serious illnesses and disabilities. Despite battling Lyme disease, Lavigne continues to inspire millions with her resiliency and undeniable talent, proving herself to be a steadfast figure in the ever-changing world of music.
- 127Nancy Sue Wilson (February 20, 1937 – December 13, 2018) was an American singer whose career spanned over five decades, from the mid–1950s until her retirement in the early–2010s. She was notable for her single "(You Don't Know) How Glad I Am" and her version of the standard "Guess Who I Saw Today". Wilson recorded more than 70 albums and won three Grammy Awards for her work. During her performing career Wilson was labeled a singer of blues, jazz, R&B, pop, and soul, a "consummate actress", and "the complete entertainer". The title she preferred, however, was "song stylist". She received many nicknames including "Sweet Nancy", "The Baby", "Fancy Miss Nancy" and "The Girl With the Honey-Coated Voice".
- Natalie Anne Merchant (born October 26, 1963) is an American alternative rock singer-songwriter. She joined the folk rock band 10,000 Maniacs in 1981, and was lead singer and primary lyricist for the group. She remained with the group for their first seven albums and left it to begin her solo career in 1993. She has since released seven studio albums.
- 129Diana Jean Krall (born November 16, 1964) is a Canadian jazz pianist and singer, known for her contralto vocals. She has sold more than 6 million albums in the US and over 15 million albums worldwide. On December 11, 2009, Billboard magazine named her the second Jazz Artist of the Decade (2000–09), establishing her as one of the best-selling artists of her time. Krall is the only jazz singer to have had eight albums debuting at the top of the Billboard Jazz Albums. To date, she has won three Grammy Awards and eight Juno Awards. She has also earned nine gold, three platinum, and seven multi-platinum albums.
- Laura Ann Branigan (July 3, 1952 – August 26, 2004) was an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Her signature song, the platinum-certified 1982 single "Gloria", stayed on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 for 36 weeks, then a record for a female artist, peaking at No. 2. It also reached number one in Australia and Canada. In 1984, she reached number one in Canada and Germany with the U.S. No. 4 hit "Self Control". She also had success in the United Kingdom with both "Gloria" and "Self Control" making the Top 10 in the UK Singles Chart. Seeing her greatest level of success in the 1980s, Branigan's other singles included the Top 10 hit "Solitaire" (1983), the U.S. AC chart number one "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You" (1983), the Australian No. 2 hit "Ti Amo" (1984), and "The Power of Love" (1987). Her most successful album was 1984's platinum-selling Self Control. She also contributed songs to motion picture and television soundtracks, including the Grammy and Academy Award-winning Flashdance soundtrack (1983), and the Ghostbusters soundtrack (1984). In 1985, she won the Tokyo Music Festival with the song "The Lucky One". Her chart success began to wane as the decade closed and after her last two albums Laura Branigan (1990) and Over My Heart (1993) garnered little attention, she generally retired from public life for the rest of the 1990s. She began returning to performing in the early 2000s, most notably appearing as Janis Joplin in the off-Broadway musical Love, Janis. As she was recording new music and preparing a comeback to the music industry, she died at her home in 2004 from a previously undiagnosed cerebral aneurysm.Branigan and her music saw renewed popularity and public interest in 2019 in the US after "Gloria" was adopted by the NHL's St. Louis Blues as their unofficial victory song while they completed a historic mid-season turnaround to win their first Stanley Cup in franchise history, leading to the song entering ice hockey lore as an "unlikely championship anthem". Branigan's legacy manager and representative Kathy Golik embraced the trend and traveled to St. Louis to publicly represent Branigan among the Blues fanbase during the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs, later stating her belief that Branigan and "Gloria" "will forever be intertwined" with the Blues and the city of St. Louis.
- Agnetha Fältskog, the Swedish pop sensation and music composer, catapulted to international fame as a member of the 1970s band ABBA. Born in Jönköping, Sweden, in 1950, her talent was evident from a young age. Blossoming into a star at just 17, she had already penned her first song, "I Was So In Love", which became an instant hit. This early success marked the beginning of her illustrious career that extended beyond her native land's borders. Fältskog's association with ABBA, one of the most successful bands in the history of pop music, started when she and fellow musician Björn Ulvaeus fell in love and decided to collaborate professionally. The couple, along with Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad, formed the iconic band in 1972, which redefined music trends across the globe for the next decade. Hits like "Dancing Queen," "Mamma Mia," and "Waterloo" showcased Fältskog's vocal prowess and songwriting skills, earning her widespread recognition and admiration. Despite ABBA's disbandment in 1982, Fältskog continued to make waves in the music industry as a solo artist. Her post-ABBA albums, including Wrap Your Arms Around Me and Eyes of a Woman, received critical acclaim and commercial success. Despite facing personal trials, including a highly publicized divorce from Ulvaeus and a traumatic accident, she demonstrated resilience and artistic depth, marking her indelible impact on the global music scene. Agnetha Fältskog's illustrious career exemplifies the remarkable journey of a small-town girl who became a world-renowned pop icon.
- 132Eartha Kitt, an iconic figure in the world of entertainment, was born on January 17, 1927, in North, South Carolina. With a career spanning more than six decades, her talents encompassed singing, acting, and dancing, solidifying her status as a revered triple-threat performer. A daughter of a sharecropper and of Cherokee and African-American descent, Kitt overcame an impoverished childhood marked by abandonment and racial prejudice to emerge as a luminary on the global stage. Kitt's breakthrough came in 1950 when she joined the renowned Katherine Dunham Dance Company and toured extensively across Europe. Her distinctive singing style, marked by a sultry voice and sharp articulation, captured international attention, leading to her being cast in the Broadway revue New Faces of 1952. This paved the way for her flourishing music career, which included hits such as "Santa Baby" and "I Want to Be Evil." However, Kitt was not just a singer; she also made significant strides in film and television. Her portrayal of Catwoman in the 1960s Batman series remains one of her most enduring roles, showcasing her versatility and ability to imbue characters with captivating charm. Despite her fame, Kitt was not immune to controversy. In 1968, she made headlines for her vocal criticism of the Vietnam War during a White House luncheon, which led to professional blacklisting within the US and an investigation by the CIA. Nevertheless, she persevered, finding success overseas before making a triumphant return to the American stage. Eartha Kitt passed away on December 25, 2008, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire artists today. Her life story serves as a testament to resilience, showcasing that success is possible even in the face of adversity.
- 133Joan Baez, born on January 9, 1941, in Staten Island, New York, has long been recognized as a legendary figure in American folk music. A singer, songwriter, and social activist, Baez's musical career is marked by her passionate dedication to political and social justice, which often intertwines with her songs' themes. Raised in a Quaker household, her early exposure to pacifism and social activism greatly influenced her musical path and public persona. Baez's career took off during the 1960s folk revival scene. She first gained attention at the 1959 Newport Folk Festival, leading to her debut album, Joan Baez, in 1960. Her angelic voice and pure soprano tone quickly captivated audiences, making her one of the leading folk artists of the era. While her initial focus was on traditional folk songs, she soon began to use her music as a tool for social change. This resulted in her performing and writing songs about numerous societal issues such as civil rights, war, and environmental concerns. Throughout her career, Baez has released over 30 albums, primarily in English and Spanish, showcasing her bilingual abilities. Notable works include Diamonds & Rust, a 1975 album featuring an acclaimed title track widely believed to be about her relationship with Bob Dylan. Baez's commitment to activism extended beyond her music; she co-founded Humanitas International Human Rights Committee in the late 1970s and has been arrested multiple times during peaceful protests. In recognition of her enormous contribution to music and activism, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017. Joan Baez, a symbol of unwavering dedication to both music and justice, continues to inspire generations with her life's work.
- 134Aaliyah Dana Haughton, known mononymously as Aaliyah, was a trailblazer in the world of music and film. Born on January 16, 1979, in Brooklyn, New York, she displayed an affinity for the performing arts from an early age. By the time she turned ten, she had already performed on the television show Star Search and sang in concert alongside Gladys Knight. Aaliyah's career took off in earnest when she signed with Jive Records and her uncle Barry Hankerson's Blackground Records at the age of 12. Her debut album, Age Ain't Nothing But a Number, released when she was just 15, was a commercial success and established her as a rising star in R&B. The album spawned two hit singles and was certified double Platinum by the RIAA. Her subsequent albums, One in a Million and Aaliyah, further cemented her status in the industry, with each garnering critical acclaim and commercial success. However, Aaliyah's blossoming career was not limited to music. She made her acting debut in the 2000 film Romeo Must Die, where her performance received positive reviews. This led to more film roles, including the lead in Queen of the Damned. Tragically, Aaliyah's life and career were cut short when she died in a plane crash in the Bahamas on August 25, 2001. Despite her untimely death, Aaliyah's innovative blend of R&B, pop, and hip-hop has influenced countless artists and her legacy continues to resonate with fans around the world.
- Strong in her conviction and musical delivery, Trisha Yearwood empowered millions of women through her music. She began her career as a backup singer in Nashville and landed a recording contract with the help of longtime friend Garth Brooks. Yearwood released her self-titled debut album in 1991 and won raves for the hit single "She's in Love with the Boy." The country singer further rose to prominence with Hearts in Armor (1991) and Thinkin' About You (1995), albums that launched her as a crossover pop artist. She won a Grammy Award for her rendition of the Diane Warren-penned ballad "How Do I Live" for the 1997 action-drama "Con Air," which became one of the biggest selling movie theme songs in history. Yearwood also won kudos for her other projects, which included a recurring acting role on the drama series "JAG" (NBC, 1995-96; CBS, 1997-2005) and releasing a series of cookbooks. After a longstanding friendship with Brooks, she eventually married him in 2005 and became one-half of country music's power couple. From handfuls of accolades to platinum-selling albums, Yearwood stayed true to her roots and carved out a career that influenced many artists that followed in her footsteps.
- 137Soft rock, popDido, born as Florian Cloud de Bounevialle Armstrong on December 25, 1971, in London, England, is a renowned pop singer and songwriter who rose to global prominence in the late 1990s. Her introduction to music was deeply influenced by her brother, Rollo Armstrong, a member of the successful British band Faithless. Dido studied law at the University of London but left after two years to concentrate on her music career. Her strong passion for music led to her recording demos which subsequently caught the attention of her brother's manager, ultimately paving the way for her professional singing career. Dido's debut album, No Angel, released in 1999, became a worldwide sensation with its unique blend of electronic music layered with her soft vocals. The album was recognized as the top-selling album in the UK in 2001, catapulting Dido into the international spotlight. However, it was her single "Thank You" from the same album that truly marked her breakthrough. This song gained increased popularity after it was sampled in rapper Eminem's hit track "Stan." This juxtaposition of genres showcased Dido's versatility as an artist, and "Thank You" went on to become one of her most iconic songs. While Dido's music career continued to thrive with subsequent albums like Life for Rent and Safe Trip Home, she remained a private and low-key figure, avoiding the typical trappings of fame. Her dedication to her craft is evident in her numerous accolades, including several BRIT Awards and a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Original Song. Despite her success, Dido has continuously proven that she is more than just a chart-topping artist. Her love for music and her ability to connect with audiences through her soulful lyrics and melodies have established her as one of the most respected figures in the music industry.
- 138Taylor Swift, an American singer-songwriter, has emerged as one of the most recognized figures in contemporary pop culture. She was born on December 13, 1989 in Reading, Pennsylvania. With her musical journey starting at a young age, she moved to Nashville at the age of fourteen to pursue a career in country music and quickly gained attention for her talent. Swift's debut album Taylor Swift was released under Big Machine Records in 2006 when she was just sixteen years old. The album stirred up the music industry with its hit single "Our Song", making Swift the youngest person ever to write and perform a number-one song on Hot Country Songs chart. Her subsequent albums such as Fearless, Speak Now, and Red further cemented her status as a powerful voice within both country and pop genres. Particularly notable is her transition from country to mainstream pop with the release of 1989 which won three Grammy Awards including Album of the Year. Beyond music, Taylor Swift has also made significant contributions through philanthropic work focusing on disaster relief funds, education initiatives and support for arts education. In addition to this work off-stage, she is known for fostering close relationships with fans through social media platforms and surprise Secret Sessions prior to album releases. All these elements combined have shaped Taylor Swift into not just an artist but also an influential figure whose impact extends beyond music alone.
- 139Björk Guðmundsdóttir, more commonly known by her mononym Björk, is an Icelandic singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Born in Reykjavík in 1965, she embarked on a musical journey at a very early age. By the age of 11, her first album was released after her rendition of a classic folk song was aired on radio, catching the attention of a record label. However, it was with the alternative rock band The Sugarcubes in the late 1980s that she gained international recognition. After the group's disbandment, Björk stepped into the limelight as a solo artist in the 1990s with her debut album aptly named Debut. Her unique blend of electronic, pop, experimental, classical, trip hop, IDM, and avant-garde music has since then made her one of the most influential and groundbreaking artists of her generation. Her second album, Post, further cemented her position in the music industry, showcasing her ability to traverse genres and create innovative sounds. She also ventured into acting during this time, starring in Lars von Trier's Dancer in the Dark and earning the Best Actress Award at the Cannes Film Festival in 2000. Throughout her career, Björk has received immense critical acclaim for her idiosyncratic music and artistic audacity, resulting in numerous awards including five BRIT Awards, four MTV Video Music Awards, one MOJO Award, three UK Music Video Awards, and over a dozen nominations at the Grammy Awards. Beyond her music, Björk has been an advocate for environmental causes in her native Iceland. Despite her fame, she has managed to maintain an enigmatic aura, making her not just an artist, but a true icon of our times.
- 140Tori Amos, born as Myra Ellen Amos on August 22, 1963, in Newton, North Carolina, is a celebrated singer-songwriter and pianist who has been a prominent figure in the music industry for decades. Her father, a Methodist minister, and mother, of Eastern Cherokee descent, greatly influenced her early life, fostering a love for music and storytelling. Amos was a child prodigy, playing piano at two years old, composing by five, and earning a scholarship to the Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins University at just five years old. However, she left the institute at 11 due to her interest in rock and pop music, which was not supported by the school's classical training. Amos started her professional career in the 1980s with the band Y Kant Tori Read, which was unsuccessful but eventually led to her breakthrough as a solo artist. Her debut solo album, Little Earthquakes, released in 1992, was hailed as an instant classic, combining confessional lyrics with a distinctive piano style. The album touched on topics such as religion, sexuality, and personal trauma, reflecting Amos's unique perspective and fearless approach to songwriting. Over her career, she released more than a dozen albums, each displaying her ability to blend different musical genres and maintain her distinct voice as an artist. Beyond her music, Amos is known for her activism, particularly regarding issues related to women's rights, sexual assault, and the environment. She co-founded RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network), a toll-free help line linking callers nationwide with anti-sexual assault resources. Her active involvement in various social causes has made her an influential figure both in and outside the music industry. Despite the challenges and changes in her career, Tori Amos's unwavering commitment to her art and her activism continues to inspire and resonate with audiences worldwide.
- 141Wynonna Ellen Judd (; born Christina Claire Ciminella; May 30, 1964) is a multi award-winning American country music and Adult contemporary pop singer. Her solo albums and singles are all credited to the single name Wynonna. She first rose to fame in the 1980s alongside her mother Naomi in the country music duo The Judds. They released seven albums on Curb Records in addition to 26 singles, of which 14 were number-one hits. The Judds disbanded in 1991 and Wynonna began a solo career, also on Curb. In her solo career, she has released eight studio albums, a live album, a holiday album, and two compilation albums, in addition to more than 20 singles. Her first three singles were "She Is His Only Need", "I Saw the Light," and "No One Else on Earth". All three reached number one on the U.S. country singles charts consecutively, as did "Only Love" (1993) and "To Be Loved by You" (1996). Three of her albums are certified platinum or higher by the RIAA. Her most recent recording was Wynonna & the Big Noise, released on February 12, 2016, and she released the single "Cool Ya'" that same month. Wynonna is most recognized for her musical work, although she has also pursued other interests starting in the 2000s, including writing, acting, and philanthropy.
- Olivia Isabel Rodrigo (born February 20, 2003) is an American singer-songwriter and actress. She rose to prominence with her lead roles on the Disney television programmes Bizaardvark and High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. After signing with Interscope and Geffen Records, she released her debut single "Drivers License" in 2021, which broke various streaming records and finished as one of the best-selling songs of the year along with its successors "Deja Vu" and "Good 4 U". Rodrigo's debut studio album, Sour (2021), topped charts globally and received widespread critical acclaim. She is nominated in seven categories at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist, Album of the Year for Sour, and Record of the Year and Song of the Year for "Drivers License."
- 143Eva Marie Cassidy (February 2, 1963 – November 2, 1996) was an American singer and guitarist known for her interpretations of jazz and blues. In 1992, she released her first album, The Other Side, a set of duets with go-go musician Chuck Brown, followed by the 1996 live solo album titled Live at Blues Alley. Although she had been honored by the Washington Area Music Association, she was virtually unknown outside her native Washington, D.C.. She died of melanoma in 1996 at the age of 33. Two years after her death, Cassidy's music was brought to the attention of British audiences, when her versions of "Fields of Gold" and "Over the Rainbow" were played by Mike Harding and Terry Wogan on BBC Radio 2. Following the overwhelming response, a camcorder recording of "Over the Rainbow", taken at Blues Alley in Washington by her friend Bryan McCulley, was shown on BBC Two's Top of the Pops 2. Shortly afterwards, the compilation album Songbird climbed to the top of the UK Albums Chart, almost three years after its initial release. The chart success in the United Kingdom and Ireland led to increased recognition worldwide. Her posthumously released recordings, including three number-one albums and one number-one single in the UK, have sold more than ten million copies. Her music has also charted within the top 10 in Australia, Germany, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland.
- 144
Martha Reeves
Martha Rose Reeves (born July 18, 1941) is an American R&B and pop singer and former politician, and is the lead singer of the Motown girl group Martha Reeves and the Vandellas. They scored over a dozen hit singles, including "Come and Get These Memories", "Nowhere to Run", "Heat Wave", "Jimmy Mack", and their signature "Dancing In The Street". From 2005 until 2009, Reeves served as an elected council woman for the city of Detroit, Michigan. - 145En Vogue is an American R&B/pop vocal group whose original lineup consisted of singers Terry Ellis, Dawn Robinson, Cindy Herron, and Maxine Jones. Formed in Oakland, California in 1989, En Vogue reached number two on the US Hot 100 with the single "Hold On", taken from their 1990 debut album Born To Sing. The group's 1992 follow-up album Funky Divas reached the top 10 in both the US and UK, and included their second US number two hit "My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)" as well as the US top 10 hits "Giving Him Something He Can Feel" and "Free Your Mind". In 1996, "Don't Let Go (Love)" became the group's third, and most successful single, to reach number two in the US, and became their sixth number one on the US R&B chart. Robinson left the group in 1997 shortly before the release of their third album EV3, which reached the US and UK top 10. Jones left the group in 2001, Amanda Cole joined shortly thereafter. However, in 2003, Cole left the group, and Rhona Bennett joined the group during the recording of their album Soul Flower. In 2005, the original members briefly united before disassembling again. In 2009, the original members once again reunited for their "En Vogue: 20th Anniversary". Shortly after the tour, Robinson and Jones again departed from En Vogue, with Bennett rejoining the group as a trio. En Vogue has sold more than 20 million records worldwide to date, and are often considered one of the best female vocal groups of all time. The group has won seven MTV Video Music Awards, three Soul Train Awards, two American Music Awards, and received seven Grammy nominations. In December 1999, Billboard magazine ranked the band as the 19th most successful recording artist of the 1990s. They ranked as the second most successful female group of the 1990s. In March 2015, Billboard magazine named the group the ninth most-successful girl group of all-time. Two of the group's singles ranks in Billboard's most successful girl group songs of all-time list, "Don't Let Go (Love)" (#12) and "Hold On" (#23).
- 146Fiona Apple is an American singer-songwriter known for her evocative lyrics and unique musical style. Born in New York City in 1977, Apple's artistic talents were evident from a young age. She was raised in a creative environment, with both parents working as entertainers. Despite enduring a turbulent childhood, including the divorce of her parents and being a victim of sexual assault, Apple channeled her trauma into music, using it as a therapeutic outlet. Her resilience and determination have been a driving force behind her career, shaping her into the influential artist she is today. Apple released her debut album, Tidal, in 1996 when she was just 18 years old. The album was an instant success, underlined by its lead single, "Criminal," which won a Grammy Award. With her haunting voice and poignant lyrics, Apple quickly established herself as a force to be reckoned with in the music industry. Over the years, she has released several critically acclaimed albums, including "When the Pawn..." and "The Idler Wheel...," each one showcasing her growth as an artist and her ability to effortlessly blend various musical genres. One of the defining aspects of Fiona Apple's career is her dedication to authenticity. She is known for her refusal to conform to industry norms, often taking long breaks between albums to ensure that her work remains true to her vision. This commitment to authenticity extends to her personal life as well; Apple is an outspoken advocate for animal rights and mental health awareness. Her boldness, both on and off stage, is a testament to her enduring influence and the impact of her music. Despite the trials she has faced, Fiona Apple continues to inspire countless fans around the world through her raw, emotive songs.
- 147Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson, popularly known as Katy Perry, is an influential figure in the global music industry. Born on October 25, 1984 in Santa Barbara, California to Pentecostal pastors Mary Christine and Maurice Keith Hudson, her upbringing was deeply rooted in faith and gospel music. Despite initial struggles with a first unsuccessful album under her birth name Katy Hudson, she never gave up on her passion for music. Perry's breakthrough came when she signed with Capitol Records Company in 2007. Her second studio album One of the Boys marked a significant shift from gospel to pop rock genre and included hits like I Kissed a Girl and Hot n Cold. The release catapulted Perry into international stardom and established her as one of the leading artists of contemporary pop culture. She further cemented this status with subsequent albums such as Teenage Dream, which became only the second album after Michael Jackson's "Bad" to feature five number-one songs on Billboard Hot 100. Apart from being an iconic singer-songwriter, Perry has also made notable contributions through philanthropy and activism work. She has been involved with numerous charities including UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadorship since December 2013 focusing on improving living conditions for children worldwide. In addition to this commendable humanitarian work, Perry is known for using her platform to advocate for LGBT rights and mental health awareness among other causes close to her heart.
- June Carter Cash (born Valerie June Carter; June 23, 1929 – May 15, 2003) was a five-time Grammy award winning American singer, songwriter, actress, dancer, comedian, and author who was a member of the Carter Family and the second wife of singer Johnny Cash. Prior to her marriage to Cash, she was professionally known as June Carter and occasionally was still credited as such after her marriage (as well as on songwriting credits predating it). She played guitar, banjo, harmonica, and autoharp, and acted in several films and television shows. Carter Cash won five Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Christian Music Hall of Fame in 2009. She was ranked number 31 in CMT's 40 Greatest Women in Country Music in 2003.
- Mavis Staples (born July 10, 1939) is an American rhythm and blues and gospel singer, actress, and civil rights activist. She has recorded and performed with her family's band The Staple Singers and also as a solo artist. Staples was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Blues Hall of Fame in 2017.
- Kylie Minogue, an Australian-born singer, songwriter, and actress, has established herself as a global pop icon with a career spanning over four decades. Born in Melbourne in 1968, Minogue quickly found fame on the small screen, landing a role in the popular soap opera Neighbours at the age of 17. Her character, Charlene, became a beloved figure in Australia and the UK, which paved the way for her initial breakthrough in music. Minogue's journey into the music industry began when she signed a contract with Mushroom Records in 1987. Her debut single, Locomotion, became the highest-selling single of the decade in Australia and launched her musical career internationally. In 1988, she released her self-titled debut album which included hits like I Should Be So Lucky, and Got to Be Certain. Over the years, Minogue has reinvented her sound and image, transitioning from bubblegum pop to dance-pop and electropop, while maintaining consistent chart success. She has received numerous awards, including a Grammy for Best Dance Recording for the song Come Into My World. Besides music, Minogue has also made significant contributions to film and television. She appeared in movies such as Moulin Rouge! and Holy Motors, showcasing her versatility as an actress. Moreover, she is known for her philanthropic work, particularly in breast cancer awareness following her own diagnosis in 2005. Kylie Minogue's enduring popularity and influence in pop culture, combined with her resilience in personal life, have cemented her status as a true entertainment powerhouse.
- Rita Coolidge (born May 1, 1945) is an American recording artist. During the 1970s and 1980s, her songs were on Billboard magazine's pop, country, adult contemporary, and jazz charts, and she won two Grammy Awards with fellow musician and then-husband Kris Kristofferson. Her recordings include "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher", "We're All Alone", and the theme song for the 1983 James Bond film Octopussy: "All Time High".
- 152Kim Carnes (born July 20, 1945) is an American singer-songwriter. Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, she began her career as a songwriter in the 1960s, writing for other artists while performing in local clubs and working as a session background singer with the famed Waters sisters (featured in the documentary, 20 Feet from Stardom). After she signed her first publishing deal with Jimmy Bowen, she released her debut album Rest on Me in 1972. Carnes' self-titled second album primarily contained self-penned songs, including her first charting single "You're a Part of Me", which reached No. 35 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart in 1975. In the following year, Carnes released Sailin', which featured "Love Comes from Unexpected Places". The song won the American Song Festival and the award for Best Composition at the Tokyo Song Festival in 1976. In her breakthrough year, 1980, Carnes was commissioned by Kenny Rogers to co-write the songs for his concept album Gideon (1980), and their duet from that album, "Don't Fall in Love with a Dreamer," hit No. 4 on Billboard Hot 100, and earned the duo a Grammy Award nomination. Later that year, her cover of Smokey Robinson's "More Love," from the album Romance Dance (1980), hit No. 10. The following year, Carnes released Mistaken Identity, which featured the worldwide hit, "Bette Davis Eyes." This became the best-selling single of the year in the United States, spending nine weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, going Gold, and won the Grammy Awards for Record of the Year and Song of the Year. Mistaken Identity went to No. 1 on the Billboard 200, was certified Platinum, and was nominated for the Grammy Award for Album of the Year. Carnes also saw success with the singles "Draw of the Cards (No. 28)," "Does It Make You Remember (No. 36)," "Crazy in the Night (Barking at Airplanes) (No. 15)," "Make No Mistake, He's Mine (No. 51)," with Barbra Streisand, "What About Me? (No. 15)," with Kenny Rogers and James Ingram, "I'll Be Here Where the Heart Is," from the Flashdance soundtrack, and the Grammy Award nominated singles "Voyeur (No. 29)" and "Invisible Hands (No. 40)." Her other successes as a songwriter include co-writing the No. 1 duet "The Heart Won't Lie" with Donna Weiss (who had co-written "Bette Davis Eyes" with Jackie DeShannon), which was recorded by Vince Gill and Reba McEntire. Her distinctive raspy vocal style has drawn comparisons to Rod Stewart. Her most recent studio album is Chasin' Wild Trains (2004). As of 2017, Carnes was residing in Nashville, Tennessee, where she continues to write music.
- The Shirelles were an American girl group notable for their rhythm and blues, doo-wop and soul music and gaining popularity in the early 1960s. They consisted of schoolmates Shirley Owens (later Shirley Alston Reeves), Doris Coley (later Doris Kenner-Jackson), Addie "Micki" Harris (later Addie Harris McFadden), and Beverly Lee.
- Liza Minnelli, born on March 12, 1946, in Hollywood, California, is a legendary American actress and singer, renowned for her powerful presence both on stage and screen. The daughter of Judy Garland and film director Vincente Minnelli, Liza was destined for greatness from an early age. Her journey to stardom began in the late 1960s, when she won a Tony Award for her performance in Flora the Red Menace, making her the youngest woman to win this prestigious award at the time. In the 1970s, Minnelli's career skyrocketed after her unforgettable role as Sally Bowles in the film adaptation of Cabaret. This performance garnered her an Academy Award for Best Actress, solidifying her status as a Hollywood powerhouse. Beyond her work in film, Minnelli has been a tour de force in the music industry. Her albums, including Liza with a Z and Results, showcase her dynamic vocal range and unique interpretive abilities, earning her several Grammy nominations and a Grammy Legend Award in 1990. Despite personal trials and health challenges, Minnelli's resilience and dedication to her craft have never wavered. Over the years, she has continued to captivate audiences with her performances in films like Arthur, Rent, and Sex and the City 2, as well as her numerous concert tours worldwide. Her remarkable talent and enduring spirit have made her one of the few entertainers to have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony, known collectively as an EGOT. Liza Minnelli's illustrious career, spanning over five decades, is a testament to her relentless passion, versatility, and timeless appeal.
- Vanessa Williams is known for her multifaceted career in music, film, and television. Born in New York in 1963, Williams was thrust into the limelight when she became the first African-American woman to win the Miss America title in 1984. However, this triumph was marred with controversy as a scandal later led to her relinquishing the title. Despite this setback, Williams remained resilient and undeterred, setting off on a journey that would see her rise to greater heights. Williams transitioned into the world of music, where she found significant success. Her debut album, The Right Stuff, released in 1988, garnered critical acclaim and commercial success, earning multiple Grammy nominations. This set the stage for her illustrious music career, which saw a string of hit singles like "Save the Best for Last" and "Colors of the Wind." The latter, a soundtrack from the Disney movie Pocahontas, earned her an Academy Award for Best Original Song. In addition to her music career, Williams is highly celebrated for her acting prowess. She has graced both the small and big screen with noteworthy performances. Some of her most acclaimed roles include Wilhelmina Slater in the television series Ugly Betty, for which she earned three Primetime Emmy nominations, and Rose Alvarez in the Broadway revival of Bye Bye Birdie. Through her varied contributions to the entertainment industry, Vanessa Williams has proven time and again that she is more than just a beauty queen, she is a force to be reckoned with.
- 156Patti Smith, an iconic figure in the realms of music and literature, was born on December 30, 1946, in Chicago, Illinois. She spent her formative years in New Jersey where her love for art, poetry, and music began to flourish. Her first major breakthrough came in the 1970s when she moved to New York City, immersing herself in the city's thriving punk rock scene. She is recognized as a pioneering force in this genre, with her debut album Horses (1975) standing as a testament to her profound influence. Combining rock music with spoken word poetry, Smith crafted a distinctive sound that continues to inspire countless artists. Smith's musical career is characterized by her unabashed expression of political and social commentary. Her lyrics often contain references to influential figures in history and literature, showcasing her intellectual depth and cultural awareness. Notable albums such as Easter (1978) and Wave (1979) demonstrated her ability to weave complex narratives into her songs. However, Smith's talents were not confined to music alone. She has also made significant contributions to the literary world, particularly with her memoir, Just Kids (2010), which won the National Book Award for Nonfiction. The book offers a poignant exploration of her relationship with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, providing readers with a vivid glimpse into the bohemian New York City of the late 1960s and 1970s. Despite experiencing several hiatuses from her music career, Smith remained a relevant and dynamic figure in the arts. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007, a fitting recognition of her impact and longevity. Furthermore, her activism and commitment to social causes have been consistent threads throughout her career, making her a revered figure not only for her artistic output but for her integrity and dedication to social justice.
- 157Lara Sophie Katy Crokaert (born 9 January 1970), better known as Lara Fabian, is a Canadian-Belgian singer, songwriter, musician, actress and producer. She has sold over 20 million records worldwide as of September 2017 and is one of the best-selling Belgian artists of all time.She was born in Etterbeek, Brussels to a Belgian father and a Sicilian mother. Since 1996 she holds a Canadian citizenship alongside the original Belgian. As of 2015 she lived in Walloon Brabant province in Belgium just outside Brussels. She has since moved back to Montreal.
- 158Mary Wilson (March 6, 1944 – February 8, 2021) was an American vocalist, best known as a founding member and longest member of the Supremes. Wilson remained with the group following the departures of other original members, Florence Ballard in 1967 and Diana Ross in 1970. Following Wilson's own departure in 1977, the group disbanded. Wilson has since released three solo albums, five singles and two best-selling autobiographies, Dreamgirl: My Life As a Supreme, a record setter for sales in its genre, and Supreme Faith: Someday We'll Be Together; both books later were released as an updated combination. Continuing a successful career as a concert performer, Wilson also became a musicians' rights activist as well as a musical theater performer and organizer of various museum displays of the Supremes' famed costumes. Wilson was inducted along with Ross and Ballard (as members of the Supremes) into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.
- Marilyn McCoo (born September 30, 1943) is an American singer, actress, and television presenter, who is best known for being the lead female vocalist in the group The 5th Dimension, as well as hosting the 1980s music countdown series Solid Gold. Since 1969, she has been married to singer Billy Davis Jr., the founder and co-member of the 5th Dimension. McCoo has a four-octave vocal range.
- Miranda Leigh Lambert (born November 10, 1983) is an American country music singer and songwriter. In 2003, she finished in third place of the television program Nashville Star, a singing competition which aired on the USA Network. Outside her solo career, she is a member of the Pistol Annies formed in 2011 alongside Ashley Monroe and Angaleena Presley. Lambert has been honored by the Grammy Awards, the Academy of Country Music Awards and the Country Music Association Awards. Lambert's debut album Kerosene (2005) was certified Platinum in the United States and produced the singles "Me and Charlie Talking," "Bring Me Down," "Kerosene" and "New Strings." All four singles reached the top 40 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs. Her second album, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, was released in early 2007. Three of its singles ("Famous in a Small Town," "Gunpowder & Lead" and "More Like Her") peaked within the top 20 on the country songs chart, with "Gunpowder & Lead" becoming her first top 10 entry in July 2008. Her third album, Revolution, was released in September 2009. Two of its songs – "The House That Built Me" and "Heart Like Mine" – topped the Hot Country Songs chart.2011's Four the Record, included the singles "Baggage Claim," "Over You," "Fastest Girl in Town," "Mama's Broken Heart" and "All Kinds of Kinds." Lambert released her fifth album, Platinum, in 2014. The record won the Grammy Award for Best Country Album, and the album's lead single "Automatic" reached top 5 on the Country charts. Her sixth studio album, The Weight of These Wings, was released on November 18, 2016, and subsequently certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
- Billie Eilish Pirate Baird O'Connell (born December 18, 2001) is an American singer and songwriter. She first gained public attention in 2015 with her debut single "Ocean Eyes", written and produced by her brother Finneas O'Connell, with whom she collaborates on music and live shows. In 2017, she released her debut extended play (EP), Don't Smile at Me. Commercially successful, it reached the top 15 of record charts in numerous countries, including the US, UK, Canada, and Australia.
- Elena Jane Goulding (born 30 December 1986) is an English singer and songwriter. Her career began when she met record producers Starsmith and Frankmusik, and she was later spotted by Jamie Lillywhite, who later became her manager and A&R. After signing to Polydor Records in July 2009, Goulding released her debut extended play, An Introduction to Ellie Goulding later that year.In 2010, she became the second artist to top the BBC's annual Sound of... poll and win the Critics' Choice Award at the Brit Awards in the same year. She released her debut studio album, Lights, in 2010; it debuted at No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart and has sold over 850,000 copies in the United Kingdom. In November 2010, the album was reissued as Bright Lights, which spawned two singles: a cover of Elton John's "Your Song" which was selected for the first John Lewis Christmas advert, reached No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart, and "Lights", which became Goulding's highest-charting single on the US Billboard Hot 100 to date, peaking at No. 2. Goulding's second studio album, Halcyon, was released in October 2012. "Anything Could Happen" preceded the album as the lead single. The album debuted at No. 2 on the UK Albums Chart, and after 65 weeks, it reached No. 1. Halcyon debuted at No. 9 on the US Billboard 200. Halcyon Days, a repackaged edition of Halcyon, was released in August 2013, generating singles, such as "Burn", which became her first No. 1 single in the UK. At the 2014 Brit Awards, she received the award for British Female Solo Artist. Goulding released her third studio album, titled Delirium, on 6 November 2015, with "On My Mind" as the album's lead single. In December 2015, she received her first Grammy Award nomination for Best Pop Solo Performance for her single "Love Me like You Do".
- 163Tanya Denise Tucker (born October 10, 1958) is an American country music artist who had her first hit, "Delta Dawn", in 1972 at the age of 13. Over the succeeding decades, Tucker became one of the few child performers to mature into adulthood without losing her audience, and during the course of her career, she notched a streak of top-10 and top-40 hits. She has had several successful albums, several Country Music Association award nominations, and hit songs such as 1973's "What's Your Mama's Name?" and "Blood Red and Goin' Down", 1975's "Lizzie and the Rainman", and 1988's "Strong Enough to Bend".
- Tammi Terrell (born Thomasina Winifred Montgomery; April 29, 1945 – March 16, 1970) was an American recording artist, best known as a star singer for Motown Records during the 1960s, most notably for a series of duets with singer Marvin Gaye. Terrell's career began as a teenager, first recording for Scepter/Wand Records, before spending nearly two years as a member of James Brown's Revue, recording for Brown's Try Me label. After a period attending college, Terrell recorded briefly for Checker Records, before signing with Motown in 1965. With Gaye, Terrell scored seven Top 40 singles on the Billboard Hot 100, including "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" and "You're All I Need to Get By". Terrell's career was interrupted when she collapsed into Gaye's arms as the two performed at a concert at Hampden–Sydney College on October 14, 1967, with Terrell later being diagnosed with a brain tumor. She had eight unsuccessful surgeries before succumbing to the illness on March 16, 1970 at the age of 24.
- 165Anastacia Lyn Newkirk, known professionally as Anastacia, has left an indelible mark on the international music scene with her powerful and soulful voice. Born on September 17, 1968, in Chicago, Illinois, she developed a passion for music at a young age, which was nurtured by her parents, both of whom were entertainers. She first gained popularity in the early 2000s with her debut album Not That Kind, which garnered commercial success worldwide. Her second album, Freak of Nature, followed suit, solidifying her status as a global pop sensation. Anastacia's journey to fame was not without challenges. She faced a significant health hurdle when she was diagnosed with Crohn's disease at a young age. Later in life, she fought two bouts of breast cancer but never let these struggles overshadow her career. Instead, she used her experiences to fuel her music and inspire others, becoming a symbol of resilience and strength for many. Her signature song, I'm Outta Love, is widely recognized as an anthem of empowerment, reflecting her personal journey of overcoming adversity. Throughout her career, Anastacia has sold over 30 million albums globally and has been recognized with numerous awards, including the prestigious World Music Award for World's Best Selling New Female Pop Artist in 2001. Despite her health battles, she has consistently released new music and toured internationally, showcasing her unwavering commitment to her craft. Beyond music, Anastacia has also made significant contributions to various charitable organizations, using her platform to raise awareness and funds for causes close to her heart. Her enduring influence on pop culture, coupled with her tenacity and philanthropic efforts, underscore Anastacia's remarkable legacy in the entertainment industry.
- Hayley Williams, born in Meridian, Mississippi in 1988, is an American singer and songwriter acclaimed for her eclectic style and vibrant energy. Best known as the lead vocalist of the rock band Paramore, Williams's journey into the world of music began at a young age. Facing significant family struggles, she sought solace in songwriting and singing, which eventually led to her discovery by music industry veterans in her early teens. Williams, along with bandmates Josh and Zac Farro, formed Paramore in Franklin, Tennessee in 2004. Under the umbrella of Fueled by Ramen, the group quickly gained international recognition with their debut album All We Know Is Falling. Their subsequent albums, including Riot! and Brand New Eyes, achieved multi-platinum status and featured hits like "Misery Business" and "The Only Exception." With her fiery red hair and powerful vocals, Williams became an icon in the pop-punk world, inspiring countless young artists with her raw onstage performances and candid lyricism. Besides Paramore, Williams has also made her mark as a solo artist and entrepreneur. She released her first solo project, Petals for Armor, in 2020 to critical acclaim, showcasing her versatility beyond the punk genre. In addition to her musical pursuits, she co-founded Good Dye Young, a vibrant line of hair dye products, reflecting her own signature style. Hayley Williams, with her dynamic persona and unyielding spirit, continues to be a pivotal figure in the global music landscape.
- Nancy Sandra Sinatra (born June 8, 1940) is an American singer and actress. She is the elder daughter of Frank Sinatra and Nancy (née Barbato) Sinatra, and is widely known for her 1966 signature hit "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'". Other defining recordings include "Sugar Town", the 1967 number one "Somethin' Stupid" (a duet with her father), the title song from the James Bond film You Only Live Twice, several collaborations with Lee Hazlewood such as "Jackson", "Summer Wine" and her cover of Cher's "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)". Nancy Sinatra began her career as a singer and actress in November 1957 with an appearance on her father's ABC-TV variety series, but initially achieved success only in Europe and Japan. In early 1966 she had a transatlantic number-one hit with "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'". She appeared on TV in high boots, and with colorfully dressed go-go dancers, creating a popular and enduring image of the Swinging Sixties. The song was written by Lee Hazlewood, who wrote and produced most of her hits and sang with her on several duets, including "Some Velvet Morning". In 1966 and 1967, Sinatra charted with 13 titles, all of which featured Billy Strange as arranger and conductor. Sinatra also had a brief acting career in the mid-1960s, including a co-starring role with Elvis Presley in the movie Speedway, and with Peter Fonda in The Wild Angels. In Marriage on the Rocks, Frank and Nancy Sinatra played a fictional father and daughter.
- 168Mary Esther Wells (May 13, 1943 – July 26, 1992) was an American singer who helped to define the emerging sound of Motown in the early 1960s. Along with the Supremes, the Miracles, the Temptations, and the Four Tops, Wells was said to have been part of the charge in black music onto radio stations and record shelves of mainstream America, "bridging the color lines in music at the time."With a string of hit singles composed mainly by Smokey Robinson, including "The One Who Really Loves You"", "Two Lovers" (1962), the Grammy-nominated "You Beat Me to the Punch" (1962) and her signature hit, "My Guy" (1964), she became recognized as "The Queen of Motown" until her departure from the company in 1964, at the height of her popularity. She was one of Motown's first singing superstars.
- Nelly Furtado, a Canadian singer-songwriter, was born on December 2, 1978 in Victoria, British Columbia to Portuguese parents. At a young age, Furtado's passion for music became evident. Her mother encouraged this interest by encouraging her to sing in Portuguese at the church choir. She learned to play several instruments during her teenage years, including the trombone, ukulele, and guitar. She took every opportunity to perform, from talent shows to marching band, honing her skills as a performer. Furtado's big break came in 2000 when she released her debut album Whoa, Nelly! which showcased her unique blend of pop, folk, and world music. The hit single "I'm Like a Bird" won her the Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, catapulting her into the spotlight. Over the course of her career, she has ventured into different genres of music, from pop ballads and hip-hop tracks to Spanish-language songs, showcasing her versatility as an artist. Despite her global fame and success, Furtado has always stayed connected to her roots. She is known for using her platform to promote cultural diversity and for championing the causes she believes in. She has been involved in numerous philanthropic activities, such as working with Free The Children, an international charity and educational partner that works to empower youth to achieve their fullest potential. Nelly Furtado's journey from a small-town girl with big dreams to a multi-platinum, Grammy-winning star is a testament to her talent, resilience, and hard work.
- 170Lesley Sue Goldstein (May 2, 1946 – February 16, 2015), known professionally as Lesley Gore, was an American singer, songwriter, actress, and activist. At the age of 16 (in 1963) she recorded the pop hit "It's My Party" (a US number one), and followed it up with other hits including "Judy's Turn to Cry", "She's a Fool", "You Don't Own Me", "Maybe I Know" and "California Nights". Gore also worked as an actress and composed songs with her brother, Michael Gore, for the 1980 film Fame, for which she was nominated for an Academy Award. She hosted an LGBT-oriented public television show, In the Life, on American TV in the 2000s, and was active until 2014.
- 171Judy Kay "Juice" Newton (born February 18, 1952) is an American pop and country singer, songwriter, and musician. To date, Newton has received five Grammy Award nominations in the Pop and Country Best Female Vocalist categories - winning once in 1983 - as well as an ACM Award for Top New Female Artist and two Billboard Female Album Artist of the Year awards (won consecutively). Newton's other awards include a People's Choice Award for "Best Female Vocalist" and the Australian Music Media's "Number One International Country Artist." Newton has several Gold and Platinum records to her credit, including Juice, Quiet Lies and her first Greatest Hits album. During the 1980s, she charted 14 Top-10 hits across the Billboard Country, AC, and Billboard Hot 100 charts, with many of the recordings achieving crossover success and six of the songs hitting the No. 1 position.
- 172Traditional pop music, Country. Best-selling artiste of the 50s. Sold over 100 million records.
Clara Ann Fowler (November 8, 1927 – January 1, 2013), known by her stage name Patti Page, was an American singer of pop and country music and occasional actress. She was the top-charting female vocalist and best-selling female artist of the 1950s, selling over 100 million records during a six-decade long career. She was often introduced as "the Singin' Rage, Miss Patti Page". New York WNEW disc-jockey William B. Williams introduced her as "A Page in my life called Patti". Page signed with Mercury Records in 1947, and became their first successful female artist, starting with 1948's "Confess". In 1950, she had her first million-selling single "With My Eyes Wide Open, I'm Dreaming", and would eventually have 14 additional million-selling singles between 1950 and 1965. Page's signature song, Tennessee Waltz, was one of the biggest-selling singles of the 20th century, and is recognized today as one of the official songs of the state of Tennessee. It spent 13 weeks atop the Billboard magazine's Best-Sellers List in 1950/51. Page had three additional No. 1 hit singles between 1950 and 1953, "All My Love (Bolero)", "I Went to Your Wedding", and "(How Much Is That) Doggie in the Window". Unlike most other pop singers, Page blended country music styles into many of her songs. As a result of this crossover appeal, many of Page's singles appeared on the Billboard Country Chart. In the 1970s, she shifted her style more toward country music and began having even more success on the country charts, ending up as one of the few vocalists to have charted in five separate decades. With the rise of Rock and Roll in the 1950s, mainstream popular music record sales began to decline. Page was among the few pop singers who were able to maintain popularity, continuing to have hits well into the 1960s, with "Old Cape Cod", "Allegheny Moon", "A Poor Man's Roses (Or a Rich Man's Gold)", and "Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte". In 1997, Patti Page was inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame. She was posthumously honored with the Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award in 2013. - Tarja Soile Susanna Turunen-Cabuli (born 17 August 1977), known professionally as Tarja Turunen or simply Tarja, is a Finnish heavy metal singer-songwriter. She is a lyric soprano and has a vocal range of three octaves.Turunen studied singing at Sibelius Academy and Hochschule für Musik Karlsruhe. She is a professional classical lied singer, and the former lead vocalist of the Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish, which she founded with Tuomas Holopainen and Emppu Vuorinen in 1996. Their combination of hard and fast guitar riffs with Turunen's dramatic, "operatic" lead vocals quickly achieved critical and commercial popularity. Their symphonic metal style, soon dubbed "opera metal", inspired many other metal bands and performers. Turunen was dismissed from the band on 21 October 2005 (just after the performance of the band's End of an Era concert) for personal reasons. She started her solo career in 2006 with the release of a Christmas album called Henkäys ikuisuudesta. In 2007, Turunen released My Winter Storm, an album featuring various styles including symphonic metal, and started the Storm World Tour. Turunen released her third album, What Lies Beneath, in 2010. She performed several concerts in Europe, playing in metal festivals including the Graspop Metal Meeting and the Wacken Open Air, before starting the What Lies Beneath World Tour, which lasted until April 2012. Her first live DVD Act I was filmed during this tour on 30 and 31 March 2012 in Rosario, Argentina. Act I was released in August 2012. Turunen started the Colours in the Dark World Tour in October 2013 to promote her new album Colours in the Dark. Her second live DVD was filmed during the events of Beauty and the Beat and was released in May. In September 2015, Tarja Turunen released her first classical studio album, Ave Maria – En Plein Air. Her latest album was released in August 2016 The Shadow Self with a prequel EP The Brightest Void released on June 3.
- Mary Chapin Carpenter (born February 21, 1958) is an American singer-songwriter. Carpenter spent several years singing in Washington, D.C. clubs before signing in the late 1980s with Columbia Records, who marketed her as a country singer. Carpenter's first album, 1987's Hometown Girl, did not produce any singles, although 1989's State of the Heart and 1990's Shooting Straight in the Dark each produced four Top 20 hits on the Billboard country singles charts. Carpenter's most successful album to date remains 1992's Come On Come On, which yielded seven charting country singles and was certified quadruple platinum in the US for sales exceeding four million copies. She followed it with Stones in the Road (1994) and A Place in the World (1996), which both featured hit singles. In the 2000s, Carpenter's albums departed both thematically and musically from her early work, becoming less radio-friendly and more focused on societal and political issues. In 2007, she released The Calling. She followed that with The Age of Miracles (2010), Ashes and Roses (2012) and the orchestral album, Songs From the Movie (2014). Carpenter has won five Grammy Awards and is the only artist to have won four consecutive Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance, which she received from 1992 to 1995. She has sold more than 12 million records worldwide. On October 7, 2012, Carpenter was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Carpenter has performed on television shows such as Late Night with David Letterman and Austin City Limits and on radio shows such as The Diane Rehm Show. She also tours frequently, returning to Washington almost every summer to perform at Wolf Trap. She is a direct descendant of Deacon Samuel Chapin, United States Chief Justice John Marshall and a fifth cousin of the late singer and humanitarian Harry Chapin (along with his brothers Tom and Steve).
- 175Concealing a leg crippled by childhood polio but refusing to let Hollywood correct her distinctive Southern accent, Tennessee-born Dinah Shore symbolized small-town American sweetness during World War II, as a U.S.O. songbird for lonely servicemen stationed overseas. A discovery of Eddie Cantor, Shore made her film debut alongside the radio star in Warner Brothers' wartime morale-booster "Thank Your Lucky Stars" (1943), but it was as a recording artist that she achieved true fame. A chart-topper for RCA Victor, Columbia, and Capitol Records, Shore transitioned easily from radio to live television. Between 1951 and 1992, she was rarely off the air, hosting a variety of talk shows that emphasized her front porch folksiness while making it seem as if she were every Hollywood A-lister's next-door neighbor. Quietly divorcing two husbands, including actor George Montgomery, Shore settled for single life in her fifties - a solitude broken by an extended involvement with younger man and then-reigning box office star Burt Reynolds. Though she had never so much as knocked a golf ball into a Dixie cup, Shore loaned her name and prestige to an annual tournament sponsored by the Ladies Professional Golf Association, the long-running Dinah Shore-Colgate Invitational. Poised, approachable, and serene even through the diagnosis of ovarian cancer that claimed her life in 1994, Dinah Shore remained for her legion of fans a touchstone to a more genteel America and a symbol of downhome values uncorrupted by upward mobility.
- 176TLC is an American girl group whose original line-up consisted of Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes and Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas. Formed in Atlanta, Georgia in 1990, the group was very successful during the 1990s. They scored nine top-ten hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including four number-one singles "Creep", "Waterfalls", "No Scrubs", and "Unpretty". The group also recorded four multi-platinum albums, including CrazySexyCool (1994) which received a diamond certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). TLC also became the first R&B group in history to receive Million certification from the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for FanMail (1999).Having sold over 65 million records worldwide, TLC is the best-selling American girl group. VH1 ranked TLC as the greatest female group, placing them at number 12 on the list of 100 Greatest Women in Music. Billboard magazine ranked TLC as one of the greatest musical trios, as well as the seventh most successful act of the 1990s. The group's accolades include four career Grammy Awards, five MTV Video Music Awards and five Soul Train Music Awards. Twenty years after their debut, TLC was honored with Outstanding Contribution to Music at the 17th MOBO Awards and Legend Award at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards Japan. All three members of TLC are considered irreplaceable by the other members, and each of them has contributed equally to the group. Following Lopes' death in 2002, instead of replacing her, the remaining members chose to continue as a duo. On June 30, 2017, they released their fifth eponymous self-titled album TLC.
- Susanna Lee Hoffs (born January 17, 1959) is an American vocalist, guitarist, actress and songwriter. She is best known as a co-founder of The Bangles.
- 178Bessie Smith (April 15, 1894 – September 26, 1937) was an American blues singer. Nicknamed the Empress of the Blues, she was the most popular female blues singer of the 1920s and 1930s. She is often regarded as one of the greatest singers of her era and was a major influence on fellow blues singers, as well as jazz vocalists.
- Alannah Myles (née Byles; born on Christmas, 1958) is a Canadian singer, songwriter and actress who has won both a Grammy and a Juno Award for her recording of the song ”Black Velvet”. The song was a top-ten hit in her native Canada and a number one hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in 1990.
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See: The Best Albums Of Madonna
Madonna Louise Ciccone, known universally as Madonna, revolutionized the global pop culture landscape through her music, fashion, and boldness. Born on August 16, 1958, in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1978 to pursue a career in modern dance. However, destiny had other plans, and Madonna soon found herself drawn towards the vibrant music scene of the city. Her debut album, Madonna, released in 1983, marked the beginning of an illustrious career that would span several decades. Her journey has not been without controversy, but Madonna's ability to reinvent herself time and again kept her at the pinnacle of the entertainment industry. She is best known for her iconic hits such as "Like a Virgin," "Material Girl," "Papa Don't Preach," and "Vogue," among many others. These songs not only topped charts worldwide but also redefined pop music, influencing generations of artists. Beyond music, Madonna made significant contributions to various social causes. She founded the charity Raising Malawi in 2006, designed to combat extreme poverty and hardship endured by Malawi's one million orphans, primarily due to HIV/AIDS. A hallmark of Madonna's career is her unflinching commitment to pushing boundaries and challenging societal norms, which, along with her immense talent, solidifies her place as a pop culture icon. - Debbie Reynolds, born Mary Frances Reynolds on April 1, 1932, etched her name into the pantheon of Hollywood stars through a career that spanned seven decades. Born in El Paso, Texas, she rose from humble beginnings to become an iconic figure in the entertainment industry. Reynolds was a multifaceted talent, excelling as an actress, singer, businesswoman, film historian, and humanitarian. Reynolds' journey to stardom began after she won the Miss Burbank beauty contest at the age of 16. This led to a contract with Warner Bros and later, with MGM, where her career truly took off. A breakthrough performance in the musical Singin' in the Rain (1952) alongside Gene Kelly established her as a leading lady in Hollywood. Her performances in The Unsinkable Molly Brown (1964), which earned her an Academy Award nomination, and The Singing Nun (1966) further demonstrated her acting prowess. Despite facing numerous trials in her personal life, including a well-publicized divorce from Eddie Fisher, Reynolds remained devoted to her craft and her fans. She was also known for her extensive collection of movie memorabilia, preserving a vital part of Hollywood's history. Recognizing her contributions to the industry, Reynolds received multiple honors, such as the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award and the Academy's Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award. A woman of resilience and tenacity, Debbie Reynolds passed away on December 28, 2016, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire aspiring entertainers worldwide.
- Joan Anita Barbara Armatrading, MBE (, born 9 December 1950) is a British singer-songwriter and guitarist.A three-time Grammy Award nominee, Armatrading has also been nominated twice for BRIT Awards as Best Female Artist. She received an Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Contemporary Song Collection in 1996. In a recording career spanning 46 years, Armatrading has released 19 studio albums, as well as several live albums and compilations.
- 183Born on June 3, 1950, in Detroit, Michigan, Suzi Quatro worked her way up in the entertainment industry to become a renowned rock singer and bassist. With an early interest in music, she was roped into the music scene by her father Art Quatro, who was a semi-professional musician himself. Later, she joined "The Pleasure Seekers," an all-female band initiated by her sister Patti, before launching her solo career in the 1970s. Quatro's breakthrough came when renowned British record producer Mickie Most discovered her. In 1971, she moved to England after signing a contract with Most's RAK Records. Her first single, "Rolling Stone," may not have been a hit in the UK or US, but it topped the charts in Portugal, paving the way for an international career. The following years saw Quatro release a string of hits, including "Can the Can" and "Devil Gate Drive," both of which reached number one in the UK. By 1980, she had sold over 50 million records worldwide. In addition to her music career, Suzi Quatro also ventured into acting. She appeared in popular TV shows such as Happy Days, where she played the character Leather Tuscadero. Her charisma and talent led to multiple other roles in theater and television, showcasing her remarkable versatility. A trailblazer in many ways, Quatro smashed gender stereotypes in rock n' roll and paved the way for future female musicians. She continues to be a significant influence in the music industry, demonstrating a fierce persistence that aligns with her rock n' roll spirit.
- 184Lady A (formerly known as Lady Antebellum) is an American country music group formed in Nashville, Tennessee in 2006. The group is composed of Hillary Scott (lead and background vocals), Charles Kelley (lead and background vocals, guitar), and Dave Haywood (background vocals, guitar, piano, mandolin). Scott is the daughter of country music singer Linda Davis, and Kelley is the brother of pop singer Josh Kelley.
- 185Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O'Connor (born November 7, 1996), known professionally as Lorde, is a New Zealand singer, songwriter, and record producer. Taking inspiration from aristocracy for her stage name, she is known for employing unconventional musical styles and thoughtful songwriting. Born in the Auckland suburb of Takapuna and raised in neighboring Devonport, Lorde expressed interest in performing at local venues in her early teens. She signed with Universal Music Group in 2009 and collaborated with producer Joel Little in 2011 to start recording material.
- Veronica Greenfield (August 10, 1943 – January 12, 2022), known as Ronnie Spector, was an American singer who co-founded and fronted the girl group the Ronettes. She is sometimes referred to as the original "bad girl of rock and roll." Ronnie formed the singing group with her elder sister, Estelle Bennett, and their cousin, Nedra Talley in the late 1950s. They were signed to Phil Spector's Philles label and he produced the majority of their recording output. The Ronettes had a string of hits in the 1960s, including "Be My Baby" (1963), "Baby, I Love You" (1963), "(The Best Part of) Breakin' Up" (1964) and "Walking in the Rain" (1964). After Ronnie married Phil in 1968, Ronnie temporarily retired from performing. Following the couple's separation in 1972, Ronnie reformed the Ronettes and began performing again. In 1980, she released her debut solo album Siren. Her career revived when featured on Eddie Money's song "Take Me Home Tonight" in 1986, later releasing many albums and a book.
- 187Fergie, born Stacy Ann Ferguson on March 27, 1975, in Hacienda Heights, California, is an American singer, songwriter, and actress known for her powerful voice and compelling performances. She was first thrust into the limelight as a child star on the television program Kids Incorporated. Years later, she achieved international fame as the female vocalist for the hip-hop group The Black Eyed Peas. The Black Eyed Peas catapulted Fergie to worldwide stardom. She joined the group in 2002, adding a fresh, dynamic element to their sound. Their subsequent albums, including Elephunk and Monkey Business, were commercial successes, spawning several hit singles such as "Where Is The Love?" and "My Humps." Fergie's distinctive vocals played a crucial role in shaping the band's unique blend of hip-hop, pop, and dance music. In addition to her work with The Black Eyed Peas, Fergie has also carved out a successful solo career. Her debut album, The Dutchess, released in 2006, showcased her versatility as an artist with chart-topping hits like "London Bridge," "Glamorous," and "Big Girls Don't Cry." The album's mix of hip-hop, reggae, pop, and soul demonstrated her ability to traverse various musical genres with ease. Despite her success in the music industry, Fergie has maintained a presence in acting, featuring in movies such as Poseidon and Nine. Fergie's journey from child star to international music icon is a testament to her talent, versatility, and enduring appeal.
- Judith Durham (Judith Mavis Cock, born 3 July 1943) is an Australian singer, songwriter and musician who became the lead singer of the Australian popular folk music group The Seekers in 1963. The group subsequently became the first Australian pop music group to achieve major chart and sales success in the United Kingdom and the United States, and have sold over 50 million records worldwide. Durham left the group in mid-1968 to pursue her solo career. In 1993, Durham began to make sporadic recordings and performances with The Seekers, though she remains primarily a solo performer. On 1 July 2015, she was named Victorian of the Year for her services to music and a range of charities.
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Grace Jones
- Lynn Rene Anderson (September 26, 1947 – July 30, 2015) was an American country music singer known for a string of hits from the late 1960s to the 1980s, most notably her worldwide hit "Rose Garden" (1970). Anderson's crossover appeal and regular exposure on national television helped her become one of country music's first female superstars in the early 1970s; taking the genre to venues around the world that previously had not been receptive. In 1970, she became the first female country star to appear on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. Anderson was among the most highly awarded female country recording artists of her era. Her version of "Rose Garden" stands as one of the most successful crossover recordings of all-time. Anderson charted 12 No. 1, 18 Top 10, and more than 50 Top 40 hit singles. In addition to being named "Top Female Vocalist" by the Academy of Country Music (ACM) twice and "Female Vocalist of the Year" by the Country Music Association (CMA), she also won a Grammy Award (earning seven nominations), People's Choice Award and an American Music Award (AMA). Record World, one of three major industry trade magazines at the time (Billboard and Cashbox the other two), named Lynn Anderson 'Artist of the Decade' for 1970-80. Additionally, Anderson was the first female country artist to win the American Music Award (1974), as well as the first to headline and sellout Madison Square Garden that same year. All genres combined, she was the #13 music artist of the 1970s according to Joel Whitburn and the highest ranking country artist not yet in the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. According to Kyle Young, CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, "Anderson's television background and her ability to bring show-business dynamism to recordings and concert performances helped her achieve crossover success. With talent and tenacity, the country music star brought increased visibility to the genre." She continued to record and remained a popular concert draw until her death, regularly headlining major casino showrooms, performing arts centers, and theaters.
- Willie Mae Thornton (December 11, 1926 – July 25, 1984), better known as Big Mama Thornton, was an American rhythm-and-blues singer and songwriter. She was the first to record Leiber and Stoller's "Hound Dog", in 1952, which became her biggest hit, staying seven weeks at number one on the Billboard R&B chart in 1953 and selling almost two million copies. Thornton's other recordings included the original version of "Ball and Chain", which she wrote.
- Britney Jean Spears, born December 2, 1981, in McComb, Mississippi, is a prominent figure in the realm of pop music and culture. Her journey in the entertainment industry began at an early age when she appeared on the television show Star Search and performed in Disney Channel's Television series, The Mickey Mouse Club. However, it was the release of her debut album Baby One More Time in 1999 that catapulted Spears to global stardom. The album topped the Billboard 200 chart and has since been certified diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), making her one of the youngest recording artists to achieve this feat. Spears's career continued to flourish with hit albums like Oops!... I Did It Again, Britney, and In the Zone, each showcasing her evolving style and maturing artistry. She has won numerous awards including a Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording for her hit single "Toxic". Beyond her music, Spears ventured into acting with the lead role in the movie Crossroads and served as a judge on the reality TV show The X Factor. Her influence extends to fashion and perfume lines, solidifying her status as a versatile entertainer. Despite her professional success, Spears's personal life has frequently been under public scrutiny. The highly publicized legal struggles over her conservatorship, implemented in 2008 following concerns over her mental health, have led to widespread discussions about mental health and legal rights. This period of her life sparked the #FreeBritney movement, a fan-led campaign advocating for her legal autonomy. Britney Spears's resilience amidst these challenges underscores her strength and determination, further enriching her famous persona. Throughout her career, Spears has remained an iconic figure in popular culture, embodying both the glamour and the pressures of fame.
- The Shangri-Las were an American pop girl group of the 1960s. Between 1964 and 1966 they charted with teen melodramas, and remain especially known for their hits "Leader of the Pack", "Remember (Walking in the Sand)", and "Give Him a Great Big Kiss".
- Lisa Jane Stansfield (born 11 April 1966) is an English singer, songwriter and actress. Her career began in 1980 when she won the singing competition Search for a Star. After appearances in various television shows and releasing her first singles, Stansfield, Ian Devaney and Andy Morris formed Blue Zone in 1984. The band released several singles and one album, but after the success of "People Hold On" in 1989, on which Stansfield was featured, they focused on her solo career. Stansfield's first solo album, Affection (1989), and its worldwide chart-topping lead single, "All Around the World", were major breakthroughs in her career. She was nominated for two Grammy Awards and Affection is currently her best-selling album. In the following years, Stansfield released Real Love (1991), So Natural (1993) and Lisa Stansfield (1997). In 1999, she appeared in her first film, Swing, and also recorded the soundtrack for it. Her next albums included Face Up (2001), Biography: The Greatest Hits (2003) and The Moment (2004). After that, Stansfield took a break from music and focused on her film career. In 2008, she starred in The Edge of Love and in 2014 she appeared in Northern Soul. Stansfield released her seventh album, Seven, on 31 January 2014. Its lead single, "Can't Dance," was digitally released on 16 October 2013. She promoted the new album with the European Seven Tour in 2013 and 2014. Her most recent album, Deeper, was released on 6 April 2018. In June 2018, following a string of sold out tour dates in Europe, Stansfield announced her North American Tour, which begins in October 2018. Stansfield has won numerous awards, including Brit Awards, Ivor Novello Awards, Billboard Music Award, World Music Award, ASCAP Award, Women's World Award, Silver Clef Awards and DMC Awards. She has sold over twenty million albums worldwide, including five million of Affection. In December 2016, Billboard magazine ranked her as the 46th most successful dance artist of all-time.
- Jordin Sparks was born on December 22, 1989 in Phoenix, Arizona. Her journey to fame took off at a young age when she claimed victory on the sixth season of American Idol in 2007, an achievement that solidified her name in the industry. This win not only made her the youngest contestant to take home the title but also opened up a plethora of opportunities for her burgeoning career. Following her success on American Idol, Sparks wasted no time capitalizing on her newfound fame. She released her self-titled debut album in late 2007, which was met with positive reviews and commercial success. It spawned hit singles such as "Tattoo" and "No Air," the latter featuring Chris Brown. The album's success led to a nomination for Best Pop Vocal Album at the Grammy Awards, further proving Sparks' talent and potential. Beyond her illustrious music career, she has showcased her acting prowess by starring in several films and TV shows. Remarkably, Sparks co-starred in the film adaptation of the musical Sparkle alongside Whitney Houston, a testament to her versatility. Furthermore, she has used her platform for philanthropic endeavors, championing causes like sickle cell awareness, teen pregnancy prevention, and more.
- Born in London on December 29, 1946, Marianne Faithfull has made significant contributions to the worlds of music, film and theater. A woman of many talents, Faithfull's career has been characterized by her versatile skills and continuous reinvention. Marianne's journey in the entertainment industry began in the 1960s when she transitioned from being a successful model to a singer. She gained fame with her debut single "As Tears Go By," becoming one of the lead female artists during the British Invasion in the United States. In the subsequent years, she worked with notable musicians like Mick Jagger and Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones, creating numerous hits. However, her career saw a brief downturn due to struggles with substance abuse and homelessness. Undeterred, Faithfull made a remarkable comeback in the late 1970s with the critically acclaimed album Broken English, demonstrating her resilience and immense talent. Apart from her musical endeavors, Faithfull also shone in the world of acting. She starred in films such as Girl on a Motorcycle and Irina Palm, receiving praise for her intense performances. Her theatrical credits include an adaptation of Bertolt Brecht's The Threepenny Opera. Additionally, she penned two memoirs that offer a candid look into her fascinating life and career.
- 197Taylor Dayne (born Leslie Wunderman; March 7, 1962), is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She rose to fame in 1987 after her debut single "Tell It to My Heart" reached the top 10 across fourteen international music charts. Dayne achieved six additional U.S. top 10 singles, including "Love Will Lead You Back", "Prove Your Love", and "I'll Always Love You". Dayne has sold over 75 million records worldwide, making her one of the world's best-selling music artists. Additionally, she has earned three Grammy Award nominations, an American Music Award, and multiple New York Music Awards. She has also received New York Hall of Fame honors and was ranked at number 18 on Rolling Stone's list of the best female dance artists of all-time. In December 2016, Billboard magazine ranked her as the 28th most successful dance artist of all-time.
- Born in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Kristin Chenoweth has forged an extraordinary path in the world of entertainment. Known for her distinctive voice and remarkable acting prowess, her career spans the realms of stage, television, film, and music. A Southern Baptist choir member turned Broadway sensation, Chenoweth's body of work is as multifaceted as it is impressive. She began her career with a Bachelor's degree in Musical Theater and a Master's degree in Opera Performance from Oklahoma City University. Following this, she won a scholarship to study at the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia, establishing her foundation in the performing arts. She earned her first Tony Award in 1999 for her performance as Sally Brown in You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. However, perhaps her most iconic role lies in the blockbuster musical Wicked, where she portrayed Glinda the Good Witch, earning her another Tony nomination. Beyond Broadway, her star continued to shine brightly. She managed to captivate audiences through various other roles including a notable stint on the hit television series, The West Wing, and her Emmy-winning role in Pushing Daisies. In addition to her acting credentials, Chenoweth has also made significant strides in the recording industry. With albums ranging from country to Christian music, and even a Christmas collection, her discography showcases her versatility as an artist. For her contributions to the arts, Chenoweth was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Her advocacy work, particularly for LGBTQ+ rights and animal welfare, further underlines her compassionate spirit. With her talent, charisma, and heart, Kristin Chenoweth has become a beloved figure in the entertainment industry.
- 199Mary Allin Travers (November 9, 1936 – September 16, 2009) was an American singer-songwriter and member of the folk music group Peter, Paul and Mary, along with Peter Yarrow and Paul Stookey. Peter, Paul and Mary was one of the most successful folk music groups of the 1960s. Unlike most folk musicians of the early 1960s who were a part of the burgeoning music scene in New York City's Greenwich Village, Travers grew up there. A contralto, Travers released five solo albums in addition to her work with Peter, Paul and Mary.
- A gifted, low-key singer-songwriter, Kacey Musgraves provided a breath of fresh air to the country music industry. Born Aug. 21, 1988 in Sulphur Springs, TX, Kacey Lee Musgraves self-released three albums before she was 20 years old: 2002's Movin' On, 2003's Wanted: One Good Cowboy and 2007's Kacey Musgraves. She finally broke through to the mainstream when she competed on "Nashville Star" (USA Network, 2003-07; NBC, 2008). Although she only took seventh place, Musgraves made a big impression on fans and critics, who showered her singing and songwriting abilities with praise. She placed her song "Undermine" in an episode of "Nashville" (ABC, 2012- ) for Juliette Barnes (Hayden Panettiere) to sing and co-wrote "Mama's Broken Heart" for Miranda Lambert, who turned the clever and catchy tune into a massive country hit. Gaining valuable exposure opening for superstars Lady Antebellum, Musgraves earned her own major label debut with 2013's Same Trailer Different Park, whose debut single, "Merry Go 'Round," reached went country Top 20. As her media profile grew, Musgraves gained further professional momentum when she earned four nominations at the Academy of Country Music Awards, including Music Video of the Year for "Merry Go 'Round" as well as Top Female Vocalist and Top New Female Artist. Musgrave's follow-up album Pageant Material was a solid critical success but lacked the crossover hits of her major-label debut. After the holiday album A Very Kacey Christmas (206) and feeling ignored by mainstream country radio, Musgraves went into a more rock-oriented direction with her next album, Golden Hour (2018), which continued her trend of critical raves and little traction on radio.
- Charlotte Church, the Welsh singer-songwriter, actress, and television presenter, has been a fixture in the entertainment industry since her childhood. Born in Llandaff, Cardiff, on February 21, 1986, Church's unique combination of classical and popular music propelled her to international fame at a young age. Her first album, Voice of an Angel, was released when she was just 12 years old and featured a captivating mix of hymns, folk songs, and classical pieces that showcased her extraordinary soprano voice. The album was a resounding success, selling millions of copies worldwide and cementing Church as a prodigious talent. As Church matured, her career took a dramatic turn when she transitioned from classical music to pop. In 2005, she released Tissues and Issues, which encompassed a range of pop and R&B tracks. This evolution marked a new chapter in her personal and professional life, underscoring her versatility as an artist. Although some critics were skeptical about this change, Church effectively silenced doubters with her powerful vocals and poignant lyrics, proving that she could hold her own in the pop realm. Church's talents are not confined to music alone. She has also made a name for herself as a television presenter and actress. From 2006 to 2008, she hosted The Charlotte Church Show, a variety show that garnered praise for its blend of comedy, interviews, and music. Additionally, Church has had acting stints in several films and TV series, further demonstrating her multi-faceted abilities.
- Natalie Imbruglia, born on February 4, 1975, in Sydney, Australia, is a versatile personality who's made her mark as a singer-songwriter, actress, and model. Known for her captivating performances and profound artistic prowess, she initially gained recognition during the mid-1990s following her portrayal of Beth Brennan in the Australian soap opera Neighbours. Her acting career set her trajectory in the entertainment industry, but it was music that truly put her name in lights. Imbruglia's transition from acting to music was met with widespread acclaim, thanks to her debut single "Torn," released in 1997. The song took the world by storm, topping charts in various countries and becoming one of the best-selling singles in history. It gave her instant international fame and set the stage for her debut album Left of the Middle which was equally successful. This album solidified her place in pop music and earned her several awards, including an MTV Award for Best New Artist. Throughout her music career, Imbruglia has released five albums, each showcasing her unique blend of pop and rock influences and her ability to craft emotionally resonant lyrics. Beyond music and acting, Imbruglia also ventured into modeling and served as the face of renowned brands such as L'Oreal and Gap. In addition, she expressed her commitment to philanthropy by supporting numerous charitable organizations, including Virgin Unite, an entrepreneurial foundation of Virgin Group.
- Rickie Lee Jones (born November 8, 1954) is an American vocalist, musician, songwriter, producer, actress and narrator. Over the course of a career that spans five decades, Jones has recorded in various musical styles including rock, R&B, blues, pop, soul, and jazz. Jones is a two-time Grammy Award winner. Additionally, she was listed at number 30 on VH1's 100 Greatest Women in Rock & Roll in 1999. Her album Pirates was number 49 on NPR's list of the 150 Greatest Albums Made by Women.
- Kelly Rowland, born on February 11, 1981 in Atlanta, Georgia, is a multi-talented American artist known for her remarkable contributions to the music industry. She gained worldwide recognition as a founding member of Destiny's Child, one of the best-selling girl groups of all time. Alongside Beyoncé Knowles and Michelle Williams, Rowland helped redefine the landscape of pop music in the late 1990s and early 2000s, with an impressive array of hits such as "Say My Name," "Survivor," and "Bootylicious." Her strong vocals and charismatic stage presence played a significant role in the group's success. Rowland's solo career, launched post-Destiny's Child, has also been marked by noteworthy achievements. Her debut album, Simply Deep (2002), reached gold status in the United States and spawned the international hit single "Dilemma," a collaboration with rapper Nelly that won the Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration in 2003. Subsequent albums like Ms. Kelly (2007) and Here I Am (2011) further showcased her versatility as an artist, embracing diverse genres from R&B and pop to dance and electronica. Beyond her musical endeavors, Rowland has also made significant strides in film and television. She has appeared in popular TV series like Empire and American Soul, and films like Freddy vs. Jason and Think Like a Man. She has served as a judge on talent shows such as The X Factor and The Voice Australia, sharing her expertise and mentoring aspiring artists. In addition, Rowland has used her platform to engage in philanthropy, supporting causes such as HIV/AIDS awareness and hurricane relief efforts.
- South African actress Miriam Makeba showed her talent on the Hollywood big screen, appearing in a long line of successful films. She appeared in a number of television specials, including "Graceland: The African Concert" (Showtime, 1986-87) and "Freedomfest: Nelson Mandela's 70th Birthday Celebration" (Fox, 1987-88). She also landed roles in movies like the documentary "Come Back, Africa" (1959) with Zaccharia and the documentary "Bongo Man" (1981) with Jimmy Cliff. Makeba also contributed music to the Janis Joplin documentary "Monterey Pop" (1969). Her passion for acting continued to her roles in projects like "Have You Seen Drum Recently?" (1988), "Voices of Sarafina!" (1989) and the Leleti Khumalo dramatic adaptation "Sarafina!" (1992). Makeba also created music for "A Karim Na Sala" (1991). Nearing the end of her career, she tackled roles in the Muhammad Ali documentary "When We Were Kings" (1996), the Abdullah Ibrahim documentary "Amandla! A Revolution In Four-Part Harmony" (2003) and "Soul Power" (2009) with Muhammad Ali. Makeba was most recently credited in the sports drama "United Passions" (2015) with Tim Roth. Makeba also contributed music to the Anthony Hopkins dramatic period piece "Bobby" (2006) and "The Deal" (2008) with William H. Macy. Makeba passed away in November 2008 at the age of 76.
- 206The daughter of a vaudeville song-and-dance team, Julie London had show business in her blood. But rather than adopting the eager-to-please energy of vaudeville, London became known for a chilly inaccessibility that made her stunning blonde-bombshell looks even more enticing. The most enduring image of her long career occurs early in the classic rock and roll comedy "The Girl Can't Help It," when star Tom Ewell hallucinates London (playing his ex-girlfriend) coolly stalking him around his living room singing her signature hit single "Cry Me A River" with disdainful hauteur. London began her film career in the early 1940s, co-starring in pleasant but forgettable B-movies like "The Red House" and "Tap Roots." During this period, she was married to a struggling young actor named Jack Webb; following their 1954 divorce, London married jazz musician Bobby Troup, best known for writing the standard "Route 66." In 1955, London began her singing career with her aforementioned smash hit, following it with several years' worth of similarly cool jazz-pop hits delivered in her trademark husky whisper of a voice and packaged in some eye-popping LP sleeves. London wound down her film career in the early 1960s as her music career took precedence, but in 1972, Webb hired both London and Troup to play starring roles in the hit TV series "Emergency! ," which he produced. London retired from acting when "Emergency! " went off the air in 1978, having ceased her singing career several years previously. Julie London died October 18, 2000.
- 207Suzanne Nadine Vega (born July 11, 1959) is an American singer-songwriter, musician and record producer, best known for her folk-inspired music.Vega's music career spans more than 30 years. She came to prominence in the mid 1980s, releasing four singles that entered the Top 40 charts in the UK during the 1980s and 1990s, including "Marlene on the Wall", "Left of Center", "Luka" and "No Cheap Thrill". "Tom's Diner," which was originally released as an a cappella recording on Vega's second album, Solitude Standing, was remixed in 1990 as a dance track by English electronic duo DNA with Vega as featured artist, and it became a Top 10 hit in over five countries. The song was used as a test during the creation of the MP3 format.Vega has released nine studio albums to date, the latest of which is Lover, Beloved: Songs from an Evening with Carson McCullers, released in 2016.
- 208Andrea Jane Corr MBE (born 17 May 1974) is an Irish musician, songwriter and actress. Corr debuted in 1990 as the lead singer of the Celtic folk rock and pop rock group The Corrs along with her three elder siblings Caroline, Sharon and Jim. Aside from singing lead vocals, Corr plays the tin whistle, the ukulele and the piano.With the others, Corr has released six studio albums, two compilation albums, one remix album and two live albums. Andrea has also pursued a solo career, releasing her debut album, Ten Feet High, in 2007. The album moved away from the sound of the Corrs and features a dance-pop sound. Her next album, released on 30 May 2011, was entirely made up of covers of songs that were important to her when younger. Andrea is involved in charitable activities. She has played charity concerts to raise money for the Pavarotti & Friends Liberian Children's Village, Freeman Hospital in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, the victims of the Omagh bombing in Northern Ireland and The Prince's Trust in 2004. She is an ambassador for the Nelson Mandela's "46664" campaign, raising awareness towards AIDS in Africa. During the Edinburgh Live 8 on 2 July 2005 The Corrs performed "When the Stars Go Blue" alongside Bono to promote the Make Poverty History campaign. Along with her siblings, she was appointed an honorary M.B.E. in 2005 by Queen Elizabeth II for her contribution to music and charity.
- 209Pauline Matthews (born 6 March 1947), better known by her stage name Kiki Dee, is an English singer born in Little Horton, Bradford, West Riding of Yorkshire. Known for her blue-eyed soul vocals, she was the first female singer from the UK to sign with Motown's Tamla Records.Dee is best known for her 1974 hit "I've Got the Music in Me" and "Don't Go Breaking My Heart", her 1976 duet with Elton John, which went to Number 1 both in the UK Singles Chart and the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. In 1993 she performed another duet with Elton John for his Duets album, a cover version of Cole Porter's "True Love", which reached No. 2 in the UK. During her career, she has released 40 singles, three EPs and 12 albums.
- Lauren Ashley Daigle (born September 9, 1991) is an American contemporary Christian music singer and songwriter. After being signed to the label Centricity Music, she released her debut album, How Can It Be, in 2015. It reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart, has been certified Platinum by the RIAA and produced three No. 1 singles on the Billboard Christian Airplay chart ("First", "Trust in You," and "O'Lord").
- 211Lulu Kennedy-Cairns, OBE (born Marie McDonald McLaughlin Lawrie; 3 November 1948) is a Scottish singer-songwriter, actress, TV personality and businesswoman and a professional dancer in the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing. She is internationally known, but especially by UK audiences in the 1960s. Later in her career she had hits internationally with "To Sir with Love" from the 1967 film of the same name and with the title song to the 1974 James Bond film The Man with the Golden Gun. In European countries, she is also widely known for her Eurovision Song Contest 1969 winning entry "Boom Bang-a-Bang", and in the UK for her 1964 hit "Shout", which was performed at the closing ceremony of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
- Natasha Anne Bedingfield (born 26 November 1981) is an English singer and songwriter. Bedingfield released her debut album, Unwritten, in 2004, which contained primarily up-tempo pop songs and was influenced by R&B music. It enjoyed international success with more than 2.3 million copies sold worldwide. Bedingfield received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for the title track "Unwritten", and at the 2005 and 2006 Brit Awards she was nominated for Best British Female Artist. Unwritten also produced her only UK number one, "These Words". Her second album, N.B. (2007), yielded the UK top 10 singles "I Wanna Have Your Babies" and "Soulmate". N.B. was not released in North America, but six tracks from it were included with seven new ones and released in 2008 as her third studio album, Pocketful of Sunshine, with the singles "Love Like This" and "Pocketful of Sunshine" earning success on the charts. In December 2010, Bedingfield released her third album in North America, named Strip Me with the song of the same name charting on the US Billboard Hot 100 at 91. Bedingfield has sold over 10 million albums and 10 million singles worldwide, totaling over 20 million records worldwide. In 2012, VH1 ranked Bedingfield number 66 on the list of 100 Greatest Women in Music.
- 213Priscilla Marie Winans Love, known professionally as CeCe Winans, (born October 8, 1964) is an American gospel singer, who has sold over 12 million records worldwide and won 12 Grammy Awards. She is the best-selling female gospel artist of all time, as of 2015.
- Loretta Lynn Morgan (born June 27, 1959) is an American country music singer. She is the daughter of country singer George Morgan, widow of Keith Whitley, and ex-wife of Jon Randall and Sammy Kershaw. Morgan has been active as a singer since the age of 13, and charted her first single in 1979, but achieved her greatest chart successes between 1988 and 1999, recording first for RCA Records Nashville and then for the defunct BNA Records. Her first two RCA albums (Leave the Light On and Something in Red), along with her first BNA album Watch Me, are all certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), while the 1995 compilation Reflections: Greatest Hits is her best-selling album with a double-platinum certification; War Paint, Greater Need, and Shakin' Things Up, also on BNA, are certified gold. Morgan has made over forty chart entries on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, including three number-one singles: "Five Minutes", "What Part of No", and "I Didn't Know My Own Strength", along with eleven additional top-ten hits. Morgan has recorded in collaboration with her father, as well as Whitley, Randall, Kershaw, the New World Philharmonic, and Pam Tillis. She is also a member of the Grand Ole Opry.
- 215Erykah Badu was born Erica Abi Wright on February 26, 1971, in Dallas, Texas. Raised by her mother, a stage actress, she absorbed the theatrical arts and carried an affinity for storytelling from a young age. Her musical journey began in earnest when she enrolled at the Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, where she honed her vocal prowess. Influenced by an eclectic mix of artists, from Billie Holiday to Parliament Funkadelic, Badu's musical style is as unique as it is captivating. She burst onto the scene in 1997 with her debut album Baduizm, which quickly became a cultural phenomenon. The album, featuring singles like "On & On," helped redefine contemporary R&B and won multiple awards, including two Grammys. The genuine and deeply personal nature of her lyrics resonated with audiences, and she soon became a prominent figure in the industry, earning the title 'Queen of Neo-Soul.' Badu's career is not limited to music; she is also an accomplished actress and social activist. Her film portfolio includes roles in critically acclaimed movies like The Cider House Rules and House of D. As an advocate, she has used her platform to champion various social issues, including supporting improved education in inner-city communities. Whether through her soulful music, heartfelt performances, or passionate activism, Erykah Badu continues to be an influential force in the entertainment world.
- Jennifer Lopez, often known by her moniker J.Lo, is an American singer, actress and dancer who has made a significant impact in the entertainment industry. Born on July 24, 1969, in The Bronx, New York City to Puerto Rican parents Guadalupe Rodríguez and David López, Jennifer started her career as a dancer on the television show In Living Color before venturing into acting. Lopez gained recognition for her portrayal of Selena Quintanilla-Pérez in the biographical film Selena which earned her widespread acclaim. This success paved the way for more prominent roles such as those in Maid In Manhattan, Out Of Sight and The Wedding Planner. Concurrently with her acting career, she pursued music, releasing several chart-topping albums including On The 6, J.Lo, and This Is Me...Then, which featured hit singles like “If You Had My Love”, “Love Don't Cost A Thing” and “Jenny From The Block”. Apart from entertainment, Jennifer Lopez's influence extends to business ventures such as fragrances lines Glow by JLo & Still Jennifer Lopez; clothing lines Sweetface & JustSweet; and production company Nuyorican Productions. Her philanthropic efforts have also been noted with involvement in charities like Children's Hospital Los Angeles and Amnesty International. Throughout her career spanning decades, Jennifer's multi-faceted talents combined with relentless work ethic have established herself as one of Hollywood's leading ladies.
- Vanessa Lee Carlton (born August 16, 1980) is an American musician, singer and songwriter. Upon completion of her education at the School of American Ballet, Carlton chose to pursue singing instead, performing in New York City bars and clubs while attending college. Three months after recording a demo with producer Peter Zizzo, she signed with A&M Records. She began recording her album, which was initially unsuccessful until Ron Fair took over. She is currently endorsed by Orange Amps. Her debut single, "A Thousand Miles", reached the top five on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2002. Her debut album, Be Not Nobody, followed and received a platinum certification in the United States. Her subsequent albums, Harmonium (2004) and Heroes & Thieves (2007), failed to match the commercial success of the first. She produced a fourth album, Rabbits on the Run (2011), independently before seeking a record label to release it. Carlton released a holiday EP titled Hear the Bells in November 2012, and released her fifth studio album, Liberman, on October 23, 2015.
- 218Macy Gray, born Natalie Renee McIntyre on September 6, 1967, in Canton, Ohio, is an internationally acclaimed singer, songwriter, and actress known for her distinct raspy voice. She pursued a Bachelor's degree in scriptwriting from the University of Southern California, which served as a testament to her artistic prowess outside of music. However, it was her passion for singing that ultimately took center stage as she began performing jazz standards in local Los Angeles clubs, attracting considerable attention. Gray's breakthrough came in 1999 with her debut album On How Life Is, which catapulted her to global stardom. The album featured the hit single "I Try", earning her a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance in 2001. Gray's unique blend of soul, R&B, funk, and pop has resulted in the release of multiple successful albums, including The Id and Big. Throughout her career, she has collaborated with high-profile artists such as Carlos Santana, Justin Timberlake, and Erykah Badu, further solidifying her place in the music industry. In addition to her singing career, Gray has demonstrated formidable acting skills with roles in numerous film and television projects. She has appeared in critically acclaimed films like Training Day and Spider-Man, as well as popular television series like Ally McBeal and American Horror Story. Gray's multifaceted talent, perseverance, and unique voice have undeniably made her an enduring figure in the global entertainment landscape.
- Missy Elliott, born as Melissa Arnette Elliott on July 1, 1971, in Portsmouth, Virginia, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. She initially gained fame in the mid-1990s when she formed the all-female R&B group, Sista, with friends La'Shawn Shellman, Chonita Coleman, and Radiah Scott. However, it was her solo career that would catapult her to stardom. In 1997, Missy released her debut album, Supa Dupa Fly, which went platinum and made her a household name. Elliott's innovative blending of various music genres, including R&B, hip-hop, and soul, paired with her unique style of rapping, singing, and songwriting, has solidified her place in music history. Throughout her career, she has worked with some of the biggest names in the industry, such as Aaliyah, Ciara, and Beyoncé, creating hits that have topped charts worldwide. Her discography includes seven studio albums and numerous chart-topping singles like "Get Ur Freak On," "Work It," and "Lose Control." Missy has won numerous awards for her work, including five Grammy Awards, and she was the first female hip-hop artist inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2019. Beyond her music, Missy Elliott is known for her philanthropy and activism. She has used her platform to raise awareness about various social issues, including poverty, education, and health. Missy's journey from being a child performer to becoming one of the most influential female artists in hip-hop serves as an inspiration to many.
- Queen Latifah, born Dana Elaine Owens on March 18, 1970, in Newark, New Jersey, is a multi-faceted force in the world of entertainment. She embarked on her journey to stardom as a beatboxer for a hip-hop group named Ladies Fresh in the 1980s. Recognized for her undeniable talent and powerful voice, she was quickly signed by Tommy Boy Records, releasing her debut album All Hail the Queen in 1989. The album was critically acclaimed, solidifying her place in the male-dominated world of hip-hop. Latifah's talent wasn't confined to the music sphere alone. She ventured into acting in the 1990s, demonstrating her range and versatility. She starred in a plethora of roles across television and film, including the FOX sitcom Living Single and the movie Set It Off. Her performance in the musical film Chicago earned her an Academy Award nomination, making her the first female hip-hop artist to receive such an honor. Latifah's influence extends beyond music and acting. An entrepreneur at heart, she co-founded Flavor Unit Entertainment, a production company that has produced numerous films and television series. Moreover, her advocacy for equality and self-confidence, particularly for black women, has made her a significant cultural icon. Despite facing personal challenges, including the loss of her brother in a motorcycle accident, Latifah continues to inspire millions around the world with her resilience and unwavering spirit. Her life and career serve as a testament to her mantra: "U.N.I.T.Y", underscoring her belief in unity, respect, and love.
- Brandy Rayana Norwood, professionally known as Brandy, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, actress, and businesswoman. Born in Mississippi in 1979 and raised in Carson, California, she was introduced to the entertainment industry at an early age by her parents, both of whom were musicians. Her talent was evident from the start, and she signed with Atlantic Records at the tender age of 14. This paved the way for her self-titled debut album in 1994 which went on to sell over six million copies worldwide, establishing her as a formidable force in the music industry. Brandy's career has been marked by her versatility and continuous evolution. She transitioned into acting, making her television debut in the short-lived ABC sitcom Thea. However, it was her role as the titular character in the UPN sitcom Moesha that garnered her widespread acclaim. The show was a hit and firmly established her presence in Hollywood. Simultaneously, she continued to make waves in music, releasing multiple successful albums. The Grammy-winning duet The Boy Is Mine with fellow R&B singer Monica is one of the highlights of her musical career, topping the Billboard Hot 100 for 13 weeks. Beyond her accomplishments in music and acting, Brandy has also made significant strides in business. She has launched a line of dolls modeled after her, released a fragrance called Brandy, and co-founded the record label Knockout Entertainment. Additionally, she has been actively involved in various philanthropic activities, using her platform to support several causes close to her heart. Despite facing numerous personal and professional challenges, Brandy has demonstrated resilience and tenacity, continuously reinventing herself throughout her expansive career. Her contributions to the music industry have not only earned her numerous accolades but also paved the way for future generations of artists.
- 222Patti Ann LuPone (born April 21, 1949) is an American singer and actress, known for her Tony Award-winning performance as Eva Perón in the 1979 stage musical Evita and for her Olivier Award-winning performance as Fantine in the original London cast of Les Misérables. She is also known for herTony Award winning performance as Mama Rose in the 2008 revival of Gypsy.
- Born on June 24, 1986, Solange Piaget Knowles, also known as Solange, is a distinguished figure in the world of music and fashion. Raised in Houston, Texas, she hails from an artistically gifted family, with her sister Beyoncé being one of the most renowned global pop icons. A prodigious talent from an early age, Solange plunged into her music career at a tender age of 16 when she released her debut album Solo Star, establishing herself as an independent musical force. Solange's creative journey, however, didn't halt at music. She has proven herself to be a versatile artist, fearlessly venturing into acting, modeling, and even starting her record label, Saint Records. Her music, a blend of R&B, funk, and soul with a hint of electronic and psychedelic elements, reflects her innovative spirit. Her third studio album, A Seat at the Table (2016), was a commercial and critical success, earning her first Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance. Apart from her artistic endeavors, Solange has taken bold strides in the realm of social activism, using her platform to advocate for cultural representation and diversity. Her efforts in fighting racial inequality and promoting black culture have been widely recognized, further augmenting her influence in both entertainment and social spheres. Undeniably, Solange's multifaceted career and her commitment to societal issues make her biography a rich tapestry of creativity, courage, and conviction.
- Bernadette Peters, a name synonymous with the Broadway stage, is an American actress and singer known for her impressive range of performances spanning five decades. Born Bernadette Lazzara on February 28, 1948, in Queens, New York, she displayed a talent for performing at an early age. She started her career as a child actress, appearing on television shows and stage productions, and by the age of nine, she had already received her Actors Equity Card, a coveted token of professional recognition. Peters's breakthrough performance came in 1968 when she starred in the musical Dames at Sea. Her portrayal of Ruby garnered her widespread acclaim and served as a springboard for her illustrious career. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Peters cemented her place as a Broadway mainstay, earning Tony Award nominations for her roles in On the Town, Sunday in the Park with George, and The Goodbye Girl. Her stellar performances in Song and Dance and Annie Get Your Gun won her two Tony Awards, establishing her as one of Broadway's most revered actresses. Apart from her Broadway success, Peters has also made significant strides in film and television. Her role in the 1981 film, Pennies from Heaven, earned her a Golden Globe award, showcasing her versatility as an actress. She has appeared in various TV series including The Muppet Show, Smash, and Mozart in the Jungle, further expanding her acting repertoire. With a career characterized by remarkable longevity and versatility, Bernadette Peters continues to captivate audiences worldwide with her charismatic performances and unique voice.
- 225Paula Cole (born April 5, 1968) is an American singer-songwriter. Her single "Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?" reached the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 in 1997, and the following year she won a Grammy Award for Best New Artist. Her song "I Don't Want to Wait" was used as the theme song of the television show Dawson's Creek.
- 226Rosanne Cash (born May 24, 1955) is an American singer-songwriter and author. She is the eldest daughter of country musician Johnny Cash and Vivian Liberto Cash Distin, Johnny Cash's first wife. Although Cash is often classified as a country artist, her music draws on many genres, including folk, pop, rock, blues, and most notably Americana. In the 1980s, she had a string of chart-topping singles, which crossed musical genres and landed on both the country and pop charts, the most commercially successful being her 1981 breakthrough hit "Seven Year Ache", which topped the U.S. country singles charts and reached the Top 30 on the U.S. pop singles charts. In 1990, Cash released Interiors, a spare, introspective album which signaled a break from her pop country past.The following year, in 1991, Cash ended her marriage and moved from Nashville to New York City, where she has continued to write, record, and perform. Since 1991 she has released six albums, written three books, and edited a collection of short stories. Her fiction and essays have been published in The New York Times, Rolling Stone, The Oxford American, New York Magazine, and other periodicals and collections. Cash won a Grammy Award in 1985 for "I Don't Know Why You Don't Want Me" and has received 12 other Grammy nominations. She has had 11 No. 1 country hit singles, 21 Top 40 country singles, and two gold records. Cash was the 2014 recipient of Smithsonian magazine's American Ingenuity Award in the Performing Arts category. On February 8, 2015, Cash won three Grammy awards for Best Americana Album for The River & the Thread, Best American Roots Song with John Leventhal and Best American Roots Performance for A Feather's Not A Bird.Cash was honored further on October 11, 2015, when she was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.Cash was portrayed, as a child, by Hailey Anne Nelson in Walk the Line, the 2005 Academy-award-winning film about her father's life.
- 227If Aretha Franklin held the title Queen of Soul, then singer-turned-actress Jill Scott deserved to be called Queen of Neo Soul. The singer's vocal style effortlessly combined jazz, R&B, hip-hop, and spoken word, resulting in hits such as the breezy ballad "A Long Walk" (2003) and the Grammy Award-winning duet "Daydreamin'" (2007). Scott also enjoyed a successful acting career, often playing tough-skinned women with a heart of gold. She appeared in Tyler Perry's films such as "Why Did I Get Married?" (2007) before landing a starring role on "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" (HBO, 2008-09), about a female investigator who solves mysterious crimes in Botswana. Her touching performance on the series earned Scott rave reviews and established her career as a naturally gifted and multilayered artist. Jill Scott was born on April 4, 1972 in Philadelphia, PA. Her mother, Joyce Scott, and her grandmother - who was nicknamed "Blue Babe" - raised the future star and influenced her love of music. Scott grew up listening to the vocal stylings of Aretha Franklin, Sarah Vaughan, and Michael Jackson, but it was her grandmother's daily routine of singing while taking a bath that inspired the youngster to become a vocalist. She graduated from the Philadelphia High School for Girls before attending Temple University in Philadelphia. After studying to become a high school English teacher, Scott realized she wanted to pursue a different career path altogether, and dropped out of the teaching profession. She spent some time working in various retail and service jobs before deciding a music career fit her perfectly. Scott first made her mark as a performer by appearing in spoken word and poetry readings. Amir "QuestLove" Thompson of jazz/funk/hip-hop collective, The Roots, discovered the budding artist and invited her to work in the studio. The duo co-wrote the track "You Got Me" (2000), which earned The Roots and singer Erykah Badu a Grammy award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. Scott joined The Roots onstage at several tour stops, filling in for Badu's part in the song, and giving her own soulful hook that critics often compared to legendary singer Minnie Ripperton. Other artists in the hip-hop community took notice of Scott's talents and collaborated with her, including vocalist Eric Benet, rapper Common, and rapper-turned-actor Will Smith. After a stint touring Canada with the Broadway production of the musical "Rent" (1996), Scott signed with Hidden Beach Recordings label, where she released her debut album, Who Is Jill Scott? Words and Sounds Vol. 1 in 2000, fueled by the smooth and jazzy lead track "A Long Walk." The single earned Scott a 2003 Grammy nomination for Best Female Vocal Performance. She won her first Grammy two years later for Best Urban/Alternative R&B Performance for the track "Cross My Mind." With a hit album and a handful of awards - including a 2001 Lady of Soul honor as Entertainer of the Year - on her mantle, Scott went right to work on her second album. Beautifully Human: Words and Sounds Vol. 2 (2004) was the perfect sequel to her debut, filled with Scott's brand of soulful, down-home sound. Her musical success, however, never deterred the artist from other creative ventures. Scott's compilation volume of poems titled The Moments, The Minutes, The Hours was released in April 2005 and received much critical praise.Scott won her second Grammy Award for her collaboration with contemporary jazz greats George Benson and Al Jarreau on the track "God Bless The Child" (2007). Her versatility to combine musical genres - from R&B to jazz to hip-hop - was loved by music fans worldwide. Scott scored another hit with "Daydreamin'," a single from rapper Lupe Fiasco that featured Scott's angelic vocals in the chorus. The song appeared on her 2007 album Collaborations, and earned the artist another Grammy in 2008 for Best Urban/Alternative Performance. If that was not enough, Scott treated her fans with her next studio album The Real Thing: Words and Sounds Vol. 3. Released in 2007, the singer's third album featured the hit singles "Hate on Me" and "My Love." Using her star power to help those who were less fortunate, Scott established the Blues Babe Foundation to help minority students residing in Philadelphia, PA; Camden, NJ; and the Delaware Valley pay for university expenses. In 2003, the Foundation donated over $60,000 to the Creative Arts School in Camden. Aside from her educational advocacy, Scott was also quite vocal against the rap community's depiction of women. In July 2006, while appearing onstage at the Essence Music Festival, she criticized hip-hop songs and videos, asking the audience to "Demand more." Scott began acting after a filmmaker friend encouraged her to give it a try. She made her primetime TV debut in 2004 with a recurring role on "Girlfriends" (UPN, 2000-06; The CW, 2006-08). That same year, Scott acted opposite real-life couple Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick in the Showtime original movie "Cavedweller" before making a leap to the big screen in 2007 with two feature film projects, portraying the legendary vocalist Big Mama Thorton in the harrowing Southern drama "Hounddog," and playing Sheila Jackson, a woman asked to deplane because of her weight in Tyler Perry's "Why Did I Get Married?" (2007). Due to an ever-growing résumé, it was only a matter of time before Scott found a perfect starring vehicle for her versatile talent. She was cast as literary heroine Precious Ramotswe on "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency," a miniseries that followed a charming African detective based on Alexander McCall Smith's series of novels (1998-2010). Filmed in Botswana, the series addressed issues from AIDS, domestic violence, to traditional women's roles in Africa. In 2010, Scott reprised her role of Sheila Jackson for the Perry-directed sequel, "Why Did I Get Married Too?" After the release of Scott's fourth album The Light of the Sun, she co-starred in an African-American remake of "Steel Magnolias" (Lifetime 2012) and romantic comedy "Baggage Claim" (2013). She portrayed James Brown's second wife, Dee Dee Jenkins, in the biopic "Get On Up" (2014) and co-starred opposite Regina Hall in romantic comedy-drama "With This Ring" (Lifetime 2015) before relasing her fifth album, Woman (2015).
- Jennifer Rush (born Heidi Stern, September 28, 1960) is an American singer and songwriter. Rush achieved success during the mid-1980s around the world, with the release of a number of singles and albums including the million-selling single "The Power of Love," which she co-wrote and released in 1984.
- Colbie Marie Caillat ( (listen); born May 28, 1985) is an American singer-songwriter. Caillat rose to fame through social networking website Myspace. At that time, she was the number one unsigned artist of her genre. After signing with Universal Republic Records, she released her debut album, Coco, in July 2007. The album included the hit singles "Bubbly" and "Realize", and has sold 2,060,000 copies in the US, and is certified 2x Platinum. In 2008 she recorded a duet with Jason Mraz, "Lucky", which won a Grammy Award. In August 2009 she released Breakthrough, her second album, which became her first album to debut at number one on the Billboard 200. It has been certified gold by the RIAA. Breakthrough was nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album at the 2010 Grammy Awards. She was also part of the group that won Album of the Year at the 2010 Grammy Awards for her background vocals and writing on Taylor Swift's Fearless album. In July 2011 she released her third studio album, All of You. In October 2012 she released her first Christmas album, Christmas in the Sand. Since 2018, she has been a member of the country music group Gone West. Caillat has sold over six million albums worldwide and over 10 million singles. In 2009 she was named Billboard magazine's 94th-best-selling music artist of the 2000s.
- Maureen McGovern worked on a variety of projects during her entertainment career. McGovern began her entertainment career with her music featured in films like "The Poseidon Adventure" (1972), "The Towering Inferno" (1974) and the George Segal comedy "The Last Married Couple in America" (1979). Her music also appeared in "The Earthling" (1981). Though known first for her music, McGovern also acted in "Evening at Pops" (PBS, 1969-2002) and the comedy "Airplane!" (1980) with Robert Hays. She also contributed to a variety of television specials, including "Irving Berlin's America" (1985-86), "Sentimental Swing: The Music of Tommy Dorsey" (PBS, 1986-87) and "All-Star Gala at Ford's Theatre" (ABC, 1987-88). Additionally, she could be seen on a variety of television specials like "MDA Jerry Lewis Telethon" (1992-93), "The Christmas Songs With Mel Torme, Maureen McGovern, and Doc Severinsen" (PBS, 1992-93) and "National Memorial Day Concert 1994" (PBS, 1993-94). She also appeared in "The Great Love Songs" (PBS, 1994-95). Most recently, McGovern appeared on "Richard Rodgers: The Sweetest Sounds" (PBS, 2001-02).
- Patricia Lee Ramey (born January 4, 1957), known professionally as Patty Loveless, is an American country music singer. Since her emergence on the country music scene in late 1986 with her first (self-titled) album, Loveless has been one of the most popular female singers of neotraditional country. She has also recorded albums in the country pop and bluegrass genres. Loveless was born in Pikeville, Kentucky, and raised in Elkhorn City, Kentucky, and Louisville, Kentucky. She rose to stardom thanks to her blend of honky tonk and country-rock and a plaintive, emotional ballad style. Throughout her career, Loveless has sold 15 million albums worldwide. Loveless has charted more than 40 cuts on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, including five in the No. 1 position: "Timber, I'm Falling in Love", "Chains", "Blame It on Your Heart", "You Can Feel Bad", and "Lonely Too Long". She has recorded 14 studio albums (not counting compilations); in the United States, four of these albums have been certified platinum, and two have been certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). She has been a member of the Grand Ole Opry since 1988. Loveless was married to Terry Lovelace, from whom she derived her professional name, from 1976 to 1986. She has been married to record producer Emory Gordy Jr. since 1989.
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Kiri Te Kanawa
Dame Kiri Jeanette Claire Te Kanawa (; born Claire Mary Teresa Rawstron, 6 March 1944) is a New Zealand soprano. She has a full lyric soprano voice, which has been described as "mellow yet vibrant, warm, ample and unforced".Te Kanawa has received accolades in many countries, singing a wide array of works in many languages dating from the 17th to the 20th centuries. She is particularly associated with the works of Mozart, Strauss, Verdi, Handel and Puccini, and has found considerable success in portraying princesses, nobility, and other similar characters on stage.Though she rarely sang opera later in her career, Te Kanawa frequently performed in concert and recital, gave masterclasses, and supported young opera singers in launching their careers. Her final performance was in Ballarat, Australia, in October 2016, but she did not reveal her retirement until September 2017. 
233Fantasia Monique Barrino-Taylor (born June 30, 1984), known professionally by her mononym Fantasia, is an American R&B, singer, songwriter, actress and author. She rose to fame as the winner of the third season of the reality television series American Idol in 2004. Following her victory, she released her debut single, "I Believe," which debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Subsequently, she released her debut album, Free Yourself, which went on to be certified Platinum by the RIAA and earned Barrino three Grammy nominations in 2006. In 2006, she released her second album, Fantasia, which featured the single "When I See U" which topped the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for eight weeks. This album was certified Gold by the RIAA and received three Grammy nominations in 2008. She then played the part of Celie in the Broadway musical The Color Purple, for which she won a 2007 Theatre World Award. Her third studio album, Back to Me, was released worldwide on August 24, 2010 and features the single "Bittersweet," which peaked in the top ten on the R&B chart. The single won her a Grammy for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. As of February 2012, Barrino has sold 2,842,000 albums and 1,425,000 tracks in the United States. In 2012, VH1 ranked her number 32 out of the 100 Greatest Women in Music. On April 18, 2013, Barrino returned to American Idol singing "Lose to Win." The performance dubbed "dynamic, passionate and powerful" won her fervent expressions of approval from the show's current judges and a wild ovation from the live audience. Moreover, she has received rave reviews in the media for the performance. In November 2013, Barrino returned to Broadway in the musical After Midnight. On October 16, 2014, she was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame. Barrino has been nicknamed "Baby Patti LaBelle" by her idol Patti LaBelle.- Beverly Sills (May 25, 1929 – July 2, 2007) was an American operatic soprano whose peak career was between the 1950s and 1970s. Although she sang a repertoire from Handel and Mozart to Puccini, Massenet and Verdi, she was known for her performances in coloratura soprano roles in live opera and recordings. Sills was largely associated with the operas of Donizetti, of which she performed and recorded many roles. Her signature roles include the title role in Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor, the title role in Massenet's Manon, Marie in Donizetti's La fille du régiment, the three heroines in Offenbach's Les contes d'Hoffmann, Rosina in Rossini's The Barber of Seville, Violetta in Verdi's La traviata, and most notably Elisabetta in Roberto Devereux. The New York Times noted, "In her prime her technique was exemplary. She could dispatch coloratura roulades and embellishments, capped by radiant high Ds and E-flats, with seemingly effortless agility. She sang with scrupulous musicianship, rhythmic incisiveness and a vivid sense of text." NPR commented, her voice was "Capable of spinning a seemingly endless legato line, or bursting with crystalline perfection into waves of dazzling fiorature and thrilling high notes." After retiring from singing in 1980, she became the general manager of the New York City Opera. In 1994, she became the chairwoman of Lincoln Center and then, in 2002, of the Metropolitan Opera, stepping down in 2005. Sills lent her celebrity to further her charity work for the prevention and treatment of birth defects.
- 235JoJo, born Joanna Noëlle Levesque on December 20, 1990, is a multi-talented American artist known for her vocal prowess and versatility in the entertainment industry. Raised in Foxborough, Massachusetts, JoJo demonstrated an early passion for music and performance, which led to her signing with Blackground Records at the tender age of twelve. She quickly gained recognition with her debut single "Leave (Get Out)" in 2004, which not only topped the Billboard Pop Songs chart but also earned her the distinction of being the youngest solo artist to have a number-one single in the United States. JoJo's career trajectory was not without its challenges. Following the success of her first two albums, JoJo in 2004 and The High Road in 2006, she found herself embroiled in a protracted legal battle with her record label that prevented her from releasing new music for nearly a decade. Despite this setback, she used this period to hone her songwriting skills and explore her artistic identity. In 2014, she won her freedom from the record label and immediately signed with Atlantic Records, marking a new chapter in her career. In the subsequent years, JoJo went on to release multiple successful albums including Mad Love in 2016 and Good to Know in 2020, both of which received critical acclaim for their mature themes and JoJo's vocal performances. Apart from her singing career, JoJo has also showcased her acting chops in several TV shows and films such as Aquamarine and RV. Her journey underlines her determination, resilience, and sheer talent, making her a compelling figure in contemporary pop culture.
- Christina Judith Perri (born August 19, 1986) is an American singer and songwriter from Bucks County, Pennsylvania. After her debut single "Jar of Hearts" was featured on the television series So You Think You Can Dance in 2010, Perri signed with Atlantic Records and released her debut extended play, The Ocean Way Sessions. Her debut studio album, Lovestrong (2011), followed soon after and has since been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).Perri also gained recognition for writing and recording "A Thousand Years", the love theme for the film The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 (2012), which appears on the accompanying soundtrack. The song went on to sell over 4 million copies in the United States, being certified 4× platinum. She later released her second extended play, A Very Merry Perri Christmas (2012), followed by her second studio album, Head or Heart (2014).
- Jessye Mae Norman (born September 15, 1945) is an American opera singer and recitalist. A dramatic soprano, Norman is associated in particular with the Wagnerian repertoire, and with the roles of Sieglinde, Ariadne, Alceste, and Leonore. Norman has been inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame and is a Spingarn Medalist. Apart from receiving several honorary doctorates and other awards, she has also received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, the National Medal of Arts, and is a member of the British Royal Academy of Music.
- 238Ann-Margret Olsson, known professionally as Ann-Margret, is a Swedish-born actress, singer, and dancer. She has left an indelible mark on the entertainment industry. Born in Stockholm on April 28, 1941, she moved to the United States when she was six years old. Her love for performing arts was apparent at a young age, leading her to attend Northwestern University in Illinois where she studied Speech and Drama. Her rise to stardom began in the early 1960s when she caught the attention of George Burns. This led to her breakout role in the film Bye Bye Birdie in 1963. Her notable roles followed in films such as Viva Las Vegas, where she starred alongside Elvis Presley, and Carnal Knowledge, which earned her an Academy Award nomination. Her versatility as an actress shone through her diverse roles, spanning from musicals to dramatic films. Beyond acting, Ann-Margret showcased her talents as a singer and dancer. She released multiple albums that showcased her sultry, vibrant voice. As a dancer, her energetic performances captivated audiences, further cementing her status as a triple threat. Over the years, she received five Golden Globe Awards, been nominated for two Academy Awards, and even earned an Emmy nomination.
- 239Lisa Anne Loeb (; born March 11, 1968) is an American singer-songwriter, producer, touring artist, actress, author, and philanthropist who started her career with the platinum-selling number 1 hit song, "Stay (I Missed You)" from the film Reality Bites, the first number 1 single for an artist without a recording contract. Her studio albums include two back-to-back albums that were certified Gold; these were Tails and the Grammy-nominated Firecracker.Loeb's film, television and voice-over work includes a guest starring role in the season finale of Gossip Girl, and she starred in two other television series, Dweezil & Lisa, a weekly culinary adventure for the Food Network that featured her alongside Dweezil Zappa, and Number 1 Single on E! Entertainment Television. She has also acted in such films as House on Haunted Hill, Fright Night, Hot Tub Time Machine 2, and Helicopter Mom.Loeb has released award-winning children's CDs and books such as Catch the Moon, Lisa Loeb's Silly Sing-Along: The Disappointing Pancake and Other Zany Songs, and Songs for Movin' and Shakin', Nursery Rhyme Parade! is her album and long-form video of over 30 children's favorites. She co-wrote the lyrics and co-composed the music to Camp Kappawanna, a family musical that was premiered in New York on March 21, 2015, by the Atlantic Theater Company. Loeb's latest album, Feel What U Feel was released in October 2016.In 2010, she founded the Lisa Loeb Eyewear Collection, which is based on her own designs. In addition, she created The Camp Lisa Foundation, a non-profit that sends kids to camp. It is funded by Loeb's own organic and fair trade coffee, Wake Up! Brew. She was honored as the 2015 Camp Champion by the American Camp Association (ACA). She constructed a crossword puzzle with Doug Peterson for The New York Times, which was published on June 6, 2017.
- 240Marie Osmond was born Olive Marie Osmond on October 13, 1959, in Ogden, Utah. Being a part of the famous Osmond family, she started her illustrious career in show business at a tender age, alongside her brothers in The Osmond Brothers television show. However, it was her solo country music career that skyrocketed her to fame. Her first single, "Paper Roses," released in 1973, instantly climbed to the top of the charts, making her a household name in the country music genre. Osmond's talents were not confined to music alone. She proved her mettle as a versatile performer with successful ventures into acting and television hosting. In 1976, she and her brother Donny hosted the popular variety show, Donny & Marie, which ran for four seasons. Marie also showed her acting prowess in several TV films like Side by Side: The True Story of the Osmond Family and I Married Wyatt Earp. In 2007, she participated in the fifth season of Dancing With The Stars, where she showcased her dancing skills and finished third. Philanthropy has always been an integral part of Osmond's life. She has been a staunch supporter of children's charities, particularly the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, co-founded by her family. Despite personal tragedies, including the loss of her son Michael, Osmond has continued to use her platform to advocate for mental health awareness. Throughout her career, Marie Osmond has demonstrated resilience and versatility, making her an enduring figure in the entertainment world.
