Top 10 Singers with the Most Powerful Singing Voice

A great singing voice does more than land on the right note. It fills the room, grabs your attention, and makes the speakers sound like they may need a brief union meeting. You feel it in the chest before your brain has time to start judging technique.

This list is for the singers who bring serious vocal force, from pristine high notes to thunderous belts, from gospel and opera to rock, pop, soul, and metal. Some voices are polished and controlled. Others sound like they were built to blow the roof off and apologize to the contractor later.

Vote for the singers whose voices give you chills, make you replay the same line three times, or leave you wondering how one human throat is legally allowed to do all that.

The Top Ten

David Phelps

David Norris Phelps is an American Christian music vocalist, songwriter, and vocal arranger. He is best known for singing tenor in the Gaither Vocal Band. Phelps is widely respected for his vocal range and has also released several solo albums showcasing his talents.

Please listen to this voice from God! If you've not heard of this wonderful tenor and human being, there is truly no way of comparing him to anyone above him on this list. He could choose to sing any genre of music he wanted to, but he chooses to sing Christian Gospel music. Others have beautiful voices and they have their specific genres they sing, but I love that he says with Christian music all genres are open to you!
He has been singing his heart out and working on his craft, mostly unseen and unheard of in a secular society. So sad, because when he sings, so many are transported straight to Heaven. David Phelps is truly one of a kind. If anyone doubts this, they have only to watch him sing The Dream!
Dimash Kudaibergen

Dinmukhamed Kanatuly Kudaibergenov, commonly known as Dimash Kudaibergen, was born on May 24, 1994. He is a Kazakh singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist.
He gained international recognition as a contestant on the Chinese talent show Singer 2017, where he finished as the runner-up. Dimash... read more

He has the most powerful voice in this galaxy.

He is the best and he deserves to be on this list!

There is no comparison to his unique vocals. Every male singer on this list sings within their categorized range, and I have heard most of them. They are not able to transmit the feelings expressed in the lyrics through their singing. Dimash K. does not just sing. He feels the song and makes you feel it too. It's like he embraces you and takes you on a journey with him through the lyrics.
Dimash Kudaibergen's vocal range is 5 to 6 octaves. He has absolute control over his voice. If you talk about extraordinary voices, this is your man. For that and much, much more, I vote for him.
Freddie Mercury

Freddie Mercury was a Zanzibari‑born British singer of Indian descent, songwriter, and record producer, best known as the lead vocalist and lyricist of the rock band Queen. He achieved fame for his flamboyant stage persona and remarkable four-octave vocal range.... read more

Amazing. The most powerful, beautiful voice ever. Every song came with meaning. Listen to "Somebody to Love" or the best example, "Bohemian Rhapsody." "We Are the Champions"... You name any Queen song, and there's meaning and power behind it.
Freddie was the greatest singer to walk this planet. He's my hero! Freddie Mercury had a killing disease and still performed until the day he was deceased from HIV/AIDS. Unlike some singers who call in sick from a minor cold or small fever, he never had his voice distorted to sound better. He was just naturally talented with his God-given voice.
Rest in peace, dear Freddie Mercury.

Freddie Mercury, where to begin... Lead singer of the amazing band Queen, and he has such a strong, unique voice. From the beautiful lines and uniqueness of Bohemian Rhapsody to the strength, power, and emotion of The Show Must Go On, this man can do it all.
When he sang The Show Must Go On, he was literally dying of AIDS and could sing better than modern-day singers with or without autotune. Somebody to Love is also a great example. His voice starts out gentle and then just changes. Killer Queen captures the elegance, and there is so much more I could go on about.
His voice could go from high-pitched to low, in the middle, strong, elegant, you name it. Plus, he was good at the piano.
Whitney Houston

Whitney Elizabeth Houston was an American singer, actress, producer, and model. She holds the Guinness World Record as the most awarded female artist of all time, with over 400 career awards as of 2006, and was named the most awarded female act in 2009.... read more

Are you kidding me? Whitney ranked this low? That's a mistake. If singing with power were a physical war, Whitney could take down armies with both hands tied behind her back at her best. And among those armies would be all the other singers listed here.

Whitney Houston should be number one. She has the most powerful voice of all time, and in her prime, she could blow anyone else out of the water. When she sang the Star-Spangled Banner in 1991, it was the best National Anthem ever - simply amazing and legendary.

She has a very great voice, a beautiful one at that. She is a talented woman, and most of all, she is my idol. Listen to her song "I Will Always Love You." It's like experiencing the feeling of loving someone and being loved in return.
Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey, born March 27, 1970, is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She's one of the best-selling female artists in music history, with 19 number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100.
She's often regarded as a sex symbol through her songs and videos, and has been noted in the press... read more

It's Mariah Carey, the artist with the most number-one singles ever. Not to mention the longest #1 song on US charts, ever. She has an incredible vocal range that spans five octaves, including an impossible whistle register. Christina has maybe a four-octave vocal range, just saying. She continuously releases incredibly popular songs.

I'm not a fan of hers, but I'm trying to be objective. So, I would say that she has a very powerful singing voice and is a great performer. Young people could learn a lot from her.

She has a voice of soaring beauty. While singing low notes, she can shift to high notes simultaneously.
Michael Jackson

Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 - June 25, 2009) was an American singer, dancer, and songwriter. He passed away from cardiac arrest caused by acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication, which was ruled a homicide. Jackson is widely regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures... read more

My opinion: Michael was the most diverse singer to date. He could sing any genre in any scale. He had a tremendous vocal range with a very clear and highly resonating sound. He also had a rare ability to belt with extreme power.
When he was singing high notes with so much power, others would just cease to sing and start to shout. This post only covers a part of his performing skills, which, in my opinion, really make him the best performer of all time.

Amazing singer. He should be at number 1. If you don't believe me, just listen to one of his songs: Billie Jean, Thriller, or Stranger in Moscow. He died too young, unfortunately. God bless his soul. R.I.P., Michael. We love you. You shouldn't have gone so soon. We miss you.
Rhydian Roberts

Rhydian James Roberts, known as Rhydian, is a classically trained Welsh baritone singer, musical theatre actor, and television presenter. He rose to fame as the runner-up on the fourth series of The X Factor in 2007. Since then, he has released several albums and appeared in various stage productions... read more

Rhydian is a superb person with the most wonderful voice imaginable - he gives you goosebumps! Full of emotion, he can literally sing anything. He would make singing the telephone directory seem like a masterpiece.

Rhydian has the most amazing and mesmerizing voice. He sings with such emotion, it just draws you in.

A good singer, but should be nowhere near the top. Pavarotti would drown his voice out on stage.
Bruce Dickinson

Paul Bruce Dickinson (born August 7, 1958) is an English musician, airline pilot, and broadcaster. He's best known as the lead singer of Iron Maiden and for his solo career.
Outside music, Dickinson worked as a commercial pilot for Astraeus Airlines and flew Iron Maiden's converted charter aircraft... read more

Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden beats every pop musician on this list. I am as surprised as hell that there are no more power metal vocalists on this list, like Hansi Kürsch of Blind Guardian, who should be number 1.
This list is so damn biased it's not funny, because people don't even know who half of the musicians on this list are. People who listen to pop probably don't even know who Blind Guardian is, let alone Iron Maiden.

Oh my God, we're talking about powerful voices, not who is your favorite. Bruce Dickinson was the singer of Iron Maiden. He needs a powerful voice because of the genre of his songs. He is famous for his powerful scream. Some people need to listen to one of his songs. Think about that.
Here are some of his songs you can enjoy:
- Hallowed Be Thy Name
- Fear of the Dark
- Dance of Death
- Trooper
Thanks
Adele

Adele Laurie Blue Adkins, born May 5, 1988, is an English singer and songwriter. She graduated from the BRIT School in 2006 and signed with XL Recordings after a demo posted on Myspace gained attention. She's best known for emotional ballads like Rolling in the Deep, Someone Like You, Hello, and Easy... read more

I love Adele! She has such an amazing voice! She has raw talent, and that is all she basically needs to win my vote. I've listened to Rolling in the Deep and Set Fire to the Rain over and over and can't get bored of them.

Listen to Rolling in the Deep, Someone Like You, etc. She's amazing and has such a powerful voice. Adele's voice is amazing and strong! She's definitely my favorite!

Adele is much too underrated. Sure, she doesn't have the most impressive range, but she definitely uses what she has. From B2 - E5 - Bb5 is all she needs. Honestly, Adele is amazing and has such power behind her voice.
Aretha Franklin

Aretha Louise Franklin (March 25, 1942 - August 16, 2018) was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. She began her career as a child singing gospel at New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan, where her father, C. L. Franklin, was minister.... read more

Queen of Soul. She sang for a president, and he cried. It was moving. No rivals.
There need to be separate categories here. These voices don't mix well on one list. These are bad comparisons.

Why isn't Aretha Franklin at the top of the list for most powerful singing voices? Just listen to Think or Say a Little Prayer for You.

She has the most powerful voice I've ever heard. Also, her songs are really beautiful.

The Newcomers

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Glenn Jones

This man is a monster. Definitely way underrated when talking about R&B greats.
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Hako Yamasaki

I just listened to her song Help Me, and her voice is not only powerful but also beautiful.

The Contenders

Chester Bennington

Chester Charles Bennington (March 20, 1976 to July 20, 2017) was an American musician, singer, songwriter, and actor, best known as the lead vocalist of Linkin Park.
Before he became known for his work with Linkin Park, Bennington was the lead singer of the post-grunge band Grey Daze, which was... read more

Chester has the most powerful singing voice I think I've ever heard, both physically and emotionally. I've never heard a singer with the ability to scream as much as he can and yet still make me emotional (Breaking the Habit). He is incredibly skilled and has a super powerful voice that can impact so many people!

Linkin Park is amazing in any song, from In the End to All for Nothing. He had the strongest voice ever. Listen to Lost in the Echo, What I've Done, Numb, and Pushing Me Away, and you'll see how strong his voice is.
Amy Lee

Amy Lee, born Amy Lynn Hartzler, is an American singer-songwriter, classically trained pianist, and composer. She is best known as the co-founder and lead vocalist of the rock band Evanescence, which gained global fame with their 2003 hit Bring Me to Life.... read more

I am a great fan of Evanescence, and I believe her voice is more powerful than some of the people on the list! I mean, if you just listen to "Bring Me to Life" and "My Immortal," those songs give me chills when I listen. Also, there is one other song from her that is very unique: "Haunted." Believe me, if you want a powerful voice, then Amy Lee is probably one of your greatest options.

Amy has one of the most dynamic vocal ranges and can sustain notes just as long and loud as Whitney Houston. She may not be a pop princess, but she writes and composes her own music, not just lyrics. Her work with Evanescence is wonderful, and her small solo projects are beautiful as well, showcasing that she isn't a one-trick pony.
Clearly, she is an angel.
Adam Lambert

Adam Mitchel Lambert (born January 29, 1982) is an American singer, songwriter, and stage actor. He rose to prominence as the runner-up on the eighth season of American Idol in 2009. Since then, he has sold over 2.5 million albums and five million singles worldwide.

Adam Lambert is the best male singer today. No doubt. Adam is awesome. Regardless of the high notes that Adam achieves, it is important to realize the quality of his voice in the high notes. He has a lot of technique and natural talent.
Adam uses a lot of mixed voice. He has a strong, explosive, and penetrating voice. Besides, Adam has excellent dynamics and control. Oh, and without forgetting that belting is a technical marvel of Adam! Adam Lambert also is a showman on stage!

I was raised on Sinatra, fell in love with the Beatles, adored Richie Havens, protested with Dylan, got stoned with Freddie Mercury, and then felt abandoned. But when I heard Adam Lambert on Idol, he gave me back the gift of music! His magnificent voice is full of purity, joy, and love. Each note is simply perfection, and no one else on this list even comes close.
Celine Dion

Céline Marie Claudette Dion is a Canadian singer and businesswoman. She's best known for "My Heart Will Go On," the theme song of the 1997 film Titanic, which was the first film in history to gross over $1 billion worldwide.

I think Celine should be at least in the top 3. She is a vocal powerhouse. There are so many female singers who suck at singing live, but she sounds so beautiful live. Her vocal range is from C6 to E6, and the E6 is a very hard note. If you have not heard it, then listen to Phantom of the Opera. The last note of the song is an E6. Another thing is she's a great role model. I grew up with a family of powerful singers, and she should be in the top 3.

Amazing voice. She has been low-profile lately due to her style of singing fading for a while, but she is making a comeback. She has an excellent voice that can't be denied. By the way, there are three people in the top five that I have never heard of, including number one.
Ronnie James Dio

Ronnie James Dio (born Ronald James Padavona. July 10, 1942 - May 16, 2010) was an American heavy metal singer, songwriter, and musician. He led and performed with several bands including Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Dio, and Heaven & Hell.... read more

Dio has one of the most controlled and powerful voices in metal. Since metal is one of the more technical (and misunderstood) genres of music, I believe Dio should be much higher on this list.
Of all the singers on this list, Dio is either the best or the second-best (Freddie Mercury is also an incredible vocalist). But to be honest, I can't even take this list seriously. I mean, Gaga at number 19? Really? As an artist, she deserves respect, but as a vocalist, she certainly doesn't belong on a list of the most powerful singing voices.

Ronnie James Dio, the most powerful voice in metal, at 13? Listen to Heaven and Hell and tell me why he isn't at the top of the list. Other guys who deserve to be higher are Freddie Mercury, Myles Kennedy, and Steve Perry. Come on! You may not like him, but he does have a great voice.
Others who deserve to be on this list are Roger Daltrey and Paul Rodgers. Really great voices that belong in the top 10 but are never given the credit they deserve.
Elvis Presley

Elvis Aaron Presley was an American singer and actor, widely dubbed the "King of Rock and Roll" and regarded as a pivotal cultural icon of the 20th century. His energetic musical interpretation and provocative performance style, bridging racial music traditions in a shifting era, both fueled his fame... read more

Whether you like his music or not, Elvis had the most amazing and unique voice. But this evaluation is about power. Listen to Elvis sing American Trilogy and then form your opinion. It will send chills up your spine.

The man who had it all, including the most powerful singing voice in music history. What a star he was, a prince from another planet. He was above all the others on this list, and they know it. RIP, King.

Elvis Presley at a lower rank than Michael Jackson? Ridiculous!
I'm giving my comment, but I also leave this ridiculous page now because this is not a serious list.
Ariana Grande

Ariana Grande‑Butera (born June 26, 1993) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Her four‑octave vocal range has earned widespread critical praise, and her personal life continues to attract significant media attention. She has received numerous honors, including two Grammy Awards, a Brit Award... read more

Lower than Britney Spears, who barely sings live?! Ariana Grande sings while dancing live, has so much talent, and can sing songs like the ones Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey have done! Ariana Grande's cover of Emotions by Mariah Carey has more views than the original!

Are you all kidding me? She should be the highest. #1 because her voice has so much more range and power than all of these... and not only that... it actually sounds gorgeous. Angelic.
No other artist has ever made me care for music. I'm not a musician or singer, but when someone has the most incredible voice in the world, I will know. I found out the day I listened to Ariana. She is amazing. Y'all are stupid for choosing Adele over her... Y'all are stupid for choosing anyone over her.
Christina Aguilera

Christina María Aguilera is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. She rose to fame in the late 1990s with hits like "Genie in a Bottle" and "What a Girl Wants," and she later showcased her vocal power in songs like "Beautiful" and "Hurt." Throughout her career, she's explored a range of... read more

Very, very good singer! And she kills it when she sings! Her voice is very, very likable, and Christina is so beautiful! Her hit Genie in a Bottle really had a female lead! So does Your Body. And she also expresses a lot of things in her songs, such as Circle and Woohoo! I wish this amazing, powerful singer good luck with her career! Keep singing! Woohoo!

Christina Aguilera is an inspirational person, and she has an amazing voice! She can sing live extremely well and can hit the most unbelievable notes! She has definitely got one of the most powerful voices in history!
Rob Halford

Robert John Arthur "Rob" Halford (born August 25, 1951) is an English singer and songwriter. He co-founded the heavy metal band Judas Priest in 1969 and has served as its lead vocalist throughout most of its history. Halford is often called the "Metal God" and is celebrated for his powerful, wide-ranging... read more

How could the Metal God not be included? He can go from a bone-chilling shriek to a death metal growl in just a few seconds.
Luciano Pavarotti

Luciano Pavarotti, Cavaliere di Gran Croce, was an Italian operatic tenor who also achieved crossover success in popular music. Known for his televised concerts and media appearances, he became one of the most commercially successful tenors of all time. He was especially renowned for his interpretations... read more

Poor Luciano. He is the victim of the fact that the 9-15-year-old membership of TheTopTens has never heard of him. It's their loss, but suffice to say Pavarotti's vocal power exceeds that of any other human.

This poll is a farce! Pavarotti's voice is far more powerful than any other singer on this poll... in fact, more powerful than any other singer in the world, dead or alive.

Most powerful? Pavarotti would blast Freddie Mercury and Michael Jackson clean off the stage. To be fair, he outweighed both of them together.
Paul McCartney

Sir James Paul McCartney (born 18 June 1942) is an English singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and composer. With John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, he gained worldwide fame as a member of the rock band The Beatles, one of the most popular and influential groups in the history of pop... read more

He's got such a good voice! Why hasn't anyone voted for him? His harmonies are the best, and he can make the best songs.
Lady Gaga

Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, known professionally as Lady Gaga, is an American singer, songwriter, and actress.
Early in her career, she performed at Lollapalooza on August 4, 2007, as part of "Lady Gaga & The Starlight Revue," where she was noticed by Interscope Records executive Vincent... read more

This is about the most powerful singing voice, which means who has the highest level of emotion that an artist can put out in a single note. Lady Gaga can put her emotions into her voice, especially bravery, happiness, pride, and sadness.

She's not only an awesome singer with a powerful voice. Her voice is more than that, because with her voice she moved crowds and has changed the world. A Little Monster knows what I am talking about. LG is someone to admire in this life. Proud to be a Lil Monster.

Lady Gaga has a very powerful voice. She just doesn't use it at all times. Her voice is also very beautiful, and she is one of the little artists out there who don't lip sync and still sound incredible. Love you, Mother Monster. Paws up!
Alicia Keys

Alicia Augello Cook (born January 25, 1981), known professionally as Alicia Keys, is an American singer, songwriter, pianist, record producer, and actress. A classically trained pianist, she began composing music at age 12 and released her debut album, Songs in A Minor, in 2001. To date, Keys has sold... read more

Should definitely be on the list. Talented.
Carrie Underwood

Carrie Marie Underwood (born March 10, 1983, in Muskogee, Oklahoma) is an American country singer, songwriter, and actress. She gained fame by winning the fourth season of American Idol in 2005.
Her debut album Some Hearts, released in 2005, produced five hit songs, including "Before He Cheats... read more

Carrie Underwood has a voice that is unparalleled in its power, both in the strength of her vocals and in the power of the emotions she injects into her music. Go see her performance of How Great Thou Art with Vince Gill. That is all the proof you will need.
I have heard Carrie Underwood perform in person, and I was absolutely blown away by the power in her voice while keeping it totally controlled without relying on any vocal tricks to stay on key. This woman can truly bring the house down. Amazing.

Love Church Bells! One of the most powerful songs!
Josh Groban

Joshua Winslow "Josh" Groban is an American singer, songwriter, actor, and record producer. His first four solo albums have been certified multi-platinum. In 2007, he was the number-one best-selling artist in the United States, with over 22.3 million records sold.

Lennon and McCartney changed music forever. Very few people dispute that. However, this poll is about "powerful singing voices," not songwriting or the ability to harmonize. Josh Groban, however, has an amazingly powerful voice. Everything he sings is pitch-perfect, and he always seems to have plenty of fuel to spare when belting out a song. He gets my vote.

I'm a bass singer. People tell me my voice is as powerful as Josh Groban's, but when I had a solo at school three weeks ago, I had to sing all of his song "Believe." Oh my God, it's impossible! He does it so powerfully. My voice doesn't even have a quintillionth as much power as his.