Forbes' Best Black Female Vocalists of All Time

[Low End Derrick]

There are moments when certain voices become the essence of a generation, the heartbeat of a movement, or the representation of a cause. Sonically, the defiant croon of Billie Holiday’s “Strange Fruit,” the vulnerability of Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” and the commanding emphasis of Aretha Franklin’s “Respect” all fit these descriptions.

Top Black Female Vocalists

I have compiled a subjective, non-exhaustive list of 50 Black artists with incredible vocals, based on their cultural impact, commercial success, popularity and relevance. These women have redefined how we listen to, interpret and engage with music. They are popular, not only for their songs and the relevance of their artistry, but for the way they made us feel and remember certain times and places in our lives.

50 Black Female Singers With Incredible Vocals

Explore the talent of Black female singers. Celebrate their powerful voices, inspiring stories, and contributions to music across genres.

www.forbes.com

Spoiler: 50-11

50. Rihanna
49. Victoria Monét
48. Eartha Kitt
47. Josephine Baker
46. Ma Rainey
45. Janelle Monáe
44 and 43. Chloe and Halle Bailey
42. Angélique Kidjo
41. Sade Adu
40. Tiwa Savage
39. Coco Jones
38. Macy Gray
37. Lizzo
36. Tems
35. Shirley Caesar
34. Cece Winans
33. Fantasia Barrino
32. Faith Evans
31. Aaliyah
30. Ashanti
29. Erykah Badu
28. India.Arie
27. Keyshia Cole
26. Summer Walker
25. Jordin Sparks
24. Kelly Rowland
23. Jill Scott
22. Keri Hilson
21. Monica
20. Brandy
19. SZA
18. Lauryn Hill
17. Anita Baker
16. Alicia Keys
15. Jennifer Hudson
14. Mary J. Blige
13. Chaka Khan
12. Gladys Knight
11. Diana Ross

10. Patti LaBelle
Patti LaBelle is an iconic vocalist whose stage presence and powerful voice have earned her the title “Godmother of Soul.” Born Patricia Louise Holte in Philadelphia, LaBelle began her career as the lead singer of Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles, a girl group known for their harmonies and soulful performances. In the 1970s, the group evolved into Labelle, delivering the chart-topping hit “Lady Marmalade,” which especially proved that Patti had a soaring vocal range. LaBelle’s solo career took off in the 1980s with hits like “If Only You Knew,” “On My Own” and “New Attitude.” Her gospel-rooted emotion and theatrical delivery have made her a living legend and a cornerstone of R&B and soul.

9. Tina Turner
Born Anna Mae Bullock in Nutbush, Tennessee, Tina Turner first started in music as part of the Ike & Tina Turner Revue. Their performances and hits like “River Deep – Mountain High” and “Proud Mary” made them one of the most electrifying acts of the 1960s. However, Turner’s true breakthrough came after she left Ike Turner and started a solo career that made her a global superstar. Her 1984 album, Private Dancer, featuring hits like “What’s Love Got to Do with It” and “Better Be Good to Me,” became a defining moment in pop and rock history. Turner’s raspy, yet powerful voice and stage presence earned her numerous accolades, including eight Grammy Awards and a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction. Even after retiring from touring in 2009, Turner’s legacy as a music and cultural icon remained untouched. Performers like Beyoncé credit her as an inspiration to their craft. Tina passed away in 2023 after over five decades in the music industry.

8. Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey is a once-in-a-lifetime talent whose voice and artistry have remained relevant for over three decades. Born in Huntington, New York, Carey’s career in music began with her impressive five-octave vocal range, a talent she perfected while performing in school productions and recording demo tapes. In 1990, her demo caught the attention of Tommy Mottola at Columbia Records. Her self-titled debut album with hits like “Vision of Love” and “Love Takes Time,” showcased her whistle register and earned her two Grammy Awards. Carey’s experimentation with pop, R&B and gospel influences has resulted in some of the most iconic songs in music history, from the soaring ballad “Hero” to the holiday classic “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” With 19 No. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100—more than any other solo artist—her impact is unmatched. Albums like Daydream, Butterfly and The Emancipation of Mimi highlight her vocal versatility and songwriting brilliance. Still an active force in music, her legacy as a commercially-successful vocal powerhouse has made her a multi-generational cultural institution.

7. Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday, also fondly known as “Lady Day,” used jazz and storytelling to define her music. The Philadelphia-born singer found her footing in the Harlem jazz scene of the 1930s, where her unmistakable voice and deeply personal phrasing quickly stood out. Collaborating with legends like Count Basie and Artie Shaw, Holiday captivated audiences with her haunting performances. Songs like “Strange Fruit,” a striking protest against racial violence, and “God Bless the Child,” a ballad of independence, have become historical relics. Billie’s music was defined by the struggles mirrored the sorrow in her songs, but that is what made her so unforgettable. Her music and sonic delivery has influenced countless artists across genres.

6. Etta James
Etta James is an vocalist whose ability to convey raw emotion cemented her place as one of the greatest voices in blues, soul and jazz. Born Jamesetta Hawkins in Los Angeles, she began her career as a teenager, recording her first hit, “The Wallflower,” in 1955. Her magnum opus, “At Last,” released in 1960, remains one of the most important ballads of all time and was acclaimed specifically because of her rich, sultry voice and the emotional depth in the song. Etta’s career spanned more than five decades, with hits like “I’d Rather Go Blind” and “Something’s Got a Hold on Me” fusing blues, R&B and gospel influences. Despite personal struggles, her artistry never wavered, earning her six Grammy Awards and an induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Etta died from leukemia complications in 2012 at the age of 73 and stopped performing regularly two years before that.

 

[Low End Derrick]

5. Nina Simone
Nina Simone was a visionary artist whose music transcended genres and became a soundtrack for civil rights activism. Born Eunice Kathleen Waymon in Tryon, North Carolina, Nina trained as a classical pianist before turning to jazz, soul and blues to express herself. Her 1958 debut album introduced her signature song “I Loves You, Porgy,” but her later works, such as “Mississippi Goddam” and “To Be Young, Gifted and Black,” highlighted her role as a powerful voice for social justice. Nina’s music is as complex as her legacy, merging jazz, classical, folk and pop influences into impactful emotional and politically charged performances. Her ability to channel both pain and hope made her an important symbol for civic action during the 1960s and years after. Often uncompromising in her artistry, Nina’s influence can be heard in generations of artists who approach music as a tool for both beauty and revolution.

4. Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Fitzgerald, affectionately known as the “First Lady of Song,” is one of the most memorable singers in music history. Born in Newport News, Virginia, in 1917 and raised in Yonkers, New York, Fitzgerald’s career began in 1934 when she won a talent contest at the Apollo Theater. That victory led to her to join Chick Webb’s orchestra, Her breakout hit, “A-Tisket, A-Tasket,” in 1938 catapulted her to fame. Ella’s career spanned nearly six decades, during which she released over 70 studio albums and dozens of live recordings, compilations and collaborations. She earned 13 Grammy Awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award in 1967. Ella was also the first African-American woman to win a Grammy Award in 1958. Her Songbook series, where she reinterpreted works by Cole Porter, Duke Ellington and George Gershwin, is considered a landmark in jazz and American music. Ella’s music crosses generations, and she remains an inspiration to other artists for her classic music and technical genius.

3. Beyoncé
Beyoncé Knowles-Carter is a force majeure whose artistry has cut through time and barriers to set new standards of excellence in performance, production and cultural impact. Born in Houston, Beyoncé first gained fame as the lead singer of Destiny’s Child, a group that dominated the late 1990s and early 2000s with hits like “Say My Name” and “Survivor.” Her 2003 debut solo album, Dangerously in Love, marked a new era of superstardom for the singer and featured chart-topping hits like “Crazy in Love” and “Baby Boy” while earning her five Grammy Awards in a single night. Over the course of almost 30 years, Beyoncé has become a phénomène mondial with her stage presence, vocal precision, attention to detail and visual storytelling. Albums like Lemonade, a personal and politically charged masterpiece, and Renaissance, which celebrated the legacy of dance and queer culture, have made her a living impresario of music and culture. Other genre-defying projects like her country-inspired COWBOY CARTER have proven that the Texas native is the grande dame of modern music who does not conform to, or respect traditional stereotypes. With 32 Grammy wins—the most in history—Beyoncé continues to use her platform to create music and advocate for feminism, Black empowerment and social justice, making her a cross-generational virtuoso.

2. Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin, the undisputed “Queen of Soul,” was one of the most influential and respected artists in music history. Aretha was born in Memphis in 1942, and raised in Detroit where she began singing in her New Bethel Baptist Church, where her father was a minister. Her career took off in the 1960s, when her song “Respect” became a chart-topping hit and earned her the title “Queen of Soul.” Songs like “Respect,” “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” and “Chain of Fools” showcased her ability to channel profound emotion and unmatched vocal power. Aretha earned 18 Grammy Awards, and sold more than 75 million records worldwide, making her one of the best-selling music artists of all time. She was also the first woman to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. Franklin’s legacy includes her role as a civil rights advocate, using her platform to support racial equality and women’s empowerment. Aretha continued to perform leading up to her death in 2018.

1. Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston, known to the world as “The Voice,” had a once-in-a-lifetime range. Born in Newark, New Jersey, in 1963, Whitney was surrounded by music from the very beginning. Her mother, Cissy Houston, was a gospel singer, her cousin was the iconic Dionne Warwick and Aretha Franklin was a family friend and mentor. Whitney’s early exposure to gospel and soul shaped her vocal palette, which she perfected at an early age in her church choir. By the time she signed with Arista Records in 1983, under the guidance of Clive Davis, it was clear that the world was about to witness something extraordinary. Her self-titled debut album in 1985 included songs like “Saving All My Love for You,” “How Will I Know” and “Greatest Love of All” which introduced fans to her crystalline tone, range and emotive delivery. The album sold over 25 million copies worldwide and Whitney followed this success with a string of albums that solidified her position as a musical powerhouse, including Whitney (1987), which made her the first female artist to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. The 1990s brought another career-defining moment with her role in The Bodyguard, where her cover of Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You” became one of the best-selling singles of all time. The song’s delivery, combined with its emotional appeal, is generally regarded as one of the greatest vocal performances in music history. The accompanying soundtrack became the best-selling soundtrack album of all time. Whitney’s commercial success was also staggering with seven consecutive No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100—a record still unmatched by any artist—six Grammy Awards, two Emmy Awards and induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2020. Beyond her technical ability, Houston’s stage presence, magnetic charisma, and ability to convey raw emotion through her music made her a tour de force. Artists from Mariah Carey to Beyoncé to Adele cite her as a primary inspiration, and her songs remain as timeless as ever.

 

[parallax]

beyonce is way too high. her arms are too short to box with other divas in the top ten.

 

[Tyrantus]

Mahalia Jackson? Minnie Ripperton? This list is invalid.

 

[null]

gringo award ...

marsha walsh? jocelyn brown?







angela winbush?





loleatta holloway





-

"beyonce"

 

[null]

oh yeah ..

 

[Belize King]

Hear me out.

She doesn’t have the catalog as the greats, which is part of the ranking, but her voice is an instrument.

She has the voice when every time you hear her, you will complete the song. Live performances are always on point. She has range, power, voice control, and all of it is effortless.

She is crazy ass hell and needs some guidance but she’s the one. I would pay $750 for great seats at Fox Theater in Atlanta to listen to her perform. (I’m also a huge Jasmine Sullivan fan)

 

[Ty Daniels]

How in the ENTIRE FUKK did "SZA" Make it on this list?

 

[Wiseborn]

beyonce is way too high. her arms are too short to box with other divas in the top ten.

List is too fukked up to properly criticize when I saw Diana Ross I thought she was ranked maybe she’s buried in the top 50 but the top Ten? Even Forbes couldn’t go there.

Why is Forbes making a list of Black vocalists? Shouldn’t they be out here praising donnie?

I notice Steve ain’t been saying much since donnie got reselected I guess even he can’t co sign all the fukkery.

 

[jj23]

Mahalia Jackson? Minnie Ripperton? This list is invalid.

They didn't even make the top 50. List is stupid as hell.

 

[Yinny]

Rihanna and SZA being on there is absurd

 

[Belize King]

16. Alicia Keys
19. SZA
26. Summer Walker
31. Aaliyah
49. Victoria Monét
50. Rihanna

List is rage bait. Nobody I. Their right mind would think these women are above a 6 in vocals. This isn’t a lifetime achievement award. It shouldn’t include performance, writing or production. It should be a list of strictly vocal ability.

CACs are going to CAC. They try to sell magazines and stay relevant by including today’s artists.

Could you imagine listening to any of these artists acapella and being impressed?

No disrespect to what they accomplished but this is not the list for them to be on. I enjoy all of their music.

 

[High Art]

The list is a fukking joke written by a fukking retard. No Esperanza Spalding? Seriously?

 

[TheMailMan]

Anita Baker not top 10 is criminal

 

[Tribal Outkast]

Sade being right behind someone named Tiwa Savage is hilarious. Sade’s career is probably longer than this person age lol. The list is hilarious

Also I’m ok with Macy Gray but cmon now Why is she here?