Top Ten Canadian Singers

1. 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.

   Best Canadian singer by far. Her voice is pure and pitch-perfect, and her concerts are superb!

   She's my favorite Canadian singer. Her voice is fantastic!

2. Avril Lavigne

   

   Avril Ramona Lavigne (born September 27, 1984) is a Canadian singer-songwriter and actress. At age 14, she won a radio contest singing with Shania Twain, performing before a large arena crowd. By age 16, she had signed a two-album recording contract with Arista Records, reportedly worth over $2 million.... read more

   Avril Lavigne was basically the right artist at the right time. She was the backlash against what was going on from the mid to late '90s beforehand, which involved the overly repetitive Eurodance music at the clubs and the teenybopper stuff like *NSYNC, the Backstreet Boys, and early Britney Spears, with some of those artists being factory products.

   Avril Lavigne was society's way of trying to be authentic and genuine, like going back to the point of, "Hey, it's a punker chick being sexy and ambitious, like back in the '80s" or something like that. So she was literally a backlash against commercialized pop.

   She saved my life. I related to her music and all the lyrics. She's my escape. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for her.

3. Bryan Adams

   

   Bryan Guy Adams is a Canadian singer, songwriter, record producer, guitarist, photographer, philanthropist, and activist. He gained international fame with hits such as Summer of '69 and (Everything I Do) I Do It for You. Adams is also known for his humanitarian efforts and has been involved in various... read more

   He has to be the best Canada has ever produced. 100 million plus records sold and he sounds as good now as he did decades ago. One of the greats of all time. Legend.

   One of the best the world has ever seen.

   Bryan Adams is the best singer. He should be number one. He is amazing, cute, and handsome.

4. Neil Young

   

   Neil Percival Young is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, producer, director, and screenwriter. He gained fame both as a solo artist and as a member of bands like Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Known for hits such as Heart of Gold and Rockin' in the Free World, Young is also... read more

   Incredible career. Is he the only one to receive the Canadian Order of Merit?

   I can't believe he's not higher. Poseurs such as Celine and the Bieb, come on, that's not right.

5. Shania Twain

   

   Shania Twain (born Eilleen Regina Edwards on August 28, 1965) is a Canadian singer and songwriter. With over 100 million records sold worldwide, she is the best-selling female artist in country music history and one of the best-selling music artists of all time. Her 1997 album Come On Over remains the... read more

   She must be #1. Her voice comes entirely and naturally from her beauty and her spirit. She is the artistic spirit of Canada.

   Canada's best female country singer.

6. Geddy Lee

   

   Gary Lee Weinrib, known professionally as Geddy Lee, is a Canadian musician, singer, and songwriter best known as the lead vocalist, bassist, and keyboardist for the Canadian rock group Rush. He joined Rush in 1968 and remained with the band until its retirement in 2018. Lee is widely acclaimed for his... read more

7. Justin Bieber

   

   Justin Drew Bieber (born March 1, 1994) is a Canadian singer, songwriter, and record producer. He currently resides in Ontario, Canada, and is Christian. He is the son of Pattie Mallette, an author.

   Justin Bieber is best known for his songs "Baby" and "What Do You Mean?" As of mid 2025, 11 of... read more

   No words to explain his voice. Marvelous. He is the person who teaches me to become strong in my failures.

   I love this man literally and like a brother. I am Indian, but I love Canada because of him. Such a great man he is.

   Love you @Justinbieber

   He deserves to be number one. He has sold more albums than all of the other ones together.

   Justin Bieber deserves to be in first place. His music is so good, and he is so inspirational!

8. The Weeknd

   

   Abęl Makkonen Tesfaye, known professionally by his stage name The Weeknd, is a Canadian singer, songwriter, and record producer. He was born on February 16, 1990, in Toronto, Ontario. He began uploading music to YouTube in 2010 and later released several studio albums, including Kiss Land, Beauty Behind... read more

   I'm South African, so I grew up listening to Celine Dion (she is very popular here). As an adult, I began listening to Avril Lavigne (she has one of the best singing voices, and her first two albums are great). But The Weeknd will always be my favorite Canadian singer and writer.

   His music is incredible, and his production is always high quality and unlike anything you have heard before in RnB. In my opinion, his underground music (Trilogy, Kiss Land) is way better than his mainstream songs like Blinding Lights. His old music helped me through so much. It's like he is singing about me, even though I never engage in drugs or sex. The way he sings and writes makes you really feel his emotions and pain. His underrated songs never get boring.

9. Shawn Mendes

   

   Shawn Peter Raul Mendes is a Canadian singer-songwriter and model. He gained a following in 2013 by posting song covers on the video-sharing application Vine. Mendes later signed a record deal and released his debut album, Handwritten, in 2015, which included the hit single Stitches.

   Shawn Mendes is a clear representation of Canadian ethics and culture. He is kind and loving. He has skyrocketed to fame in less than four years, which is incredible. He is very talented and produces some of the best pop music in the world industry. We all love Shawn. He is amazing and deserves to be at the top of the list.

   Shawn Mendes is incredible! I'm hardly impressed with singers, but damn this man can sing and he's gorgeous! He's the whole package. His music sounds great and he's an amazing songwriter.

10. Michael Buble

    

    Michael Steven Bublé is a Canadian singer, songwriter, actor, and record producer. He has won several awards, including four Grammy Awards and multiple Juno Awards. Bublé is known for his smooth vocal style and modern interpretations of classic jazz and pop standards.

    He is my favorite singer. His voice lets me dream and love. He is the Frank Sinatra of today.

    I can tell if he's singing on the radio. His voice is that unique, in a good way!

    I love his voice! It's so cool and unique!

The Newcomers
11. ?

    Bruce Cockburn

12. ?

    Skye Sweetnam

The Contenders

13. Leonard Cohen

    

    Leonard Norman Cohen was a Canadian singer-songwriter, poet, and novelist. His work explored themes such as religion, politics, isolation, sexuality, and personal relationships. Cohen passed away on November 7, 2016, at the age of 82, shortly after releasing his final album, You Want It Darker.

    As a singer, a little rough - but as an interpreter of his own songs, there is no one better.

    This man was a genius at writing songs with in-depth meaning. His voice had a raspy sound which added to the lyrics.

    One of the greatest songwriters of all time.

14. Alanis Morissette

    

    Alanis Nadine Morissette is a Canadian-American alternative rock singer-songwriter, guitarist, record producer, and actress. She gained international fame with her 1995 album Jagged Little Pill, which included hit singles like You Oughta Know and Ironic. The album won five Grammy Awards and was later... read more

    Way better than all the Shawn Mendes and Justin Bieber crap. Seriously though, all Shawn Mendes' songs sound the exact same and are uninspired. I thought it sounded bad at first, but then I realized how amazing she is!

15. Joni Mitchell

    

    Roberta Joan Mitchell, professionally known as Joni Mitchell, is a Canadian singer-songwriter. Drawing from folk, pop, rock, and jazz, Mitchell's songs often reflect social and environmental ideals as well as her feelings about romance, confusion, disillusionment, and joy. Her 1971 album Blue is frequently... read more

    Clearly most of the voters are young, and Joni Mitchell is no longer in the mainstream. But there are still singers trying to emulate her magical voice.

    Joni Mitchell wrote hit songs in the '60s and '70s that are still popular today. Her songs "Yellow Taxi," "Blue," and "Carey" are some of the many favorites.

    Why the hell is Joni so low? Definitely should at least be in the top 10.

16. Adam Gontier

    

    Adam Wade Gontier is a Canadian musician and songwriter. He is the lead singer, rhythm guitarist, and main songwriter for Saint Asonia, and a co-lead vocalist for Three Days Grace. Gontier initially left Three Days Grace in January 2013 but rejoined the band in October 2024 to share vocal duties with... read more

17. Stu Block

    

    Stuart "Stu" Block is a Canadian singer-songwriter. He gained recognition as the frontman of the progressive death metal band Into Eternity. He later became the lead vocalist for the American heavy metal band Iced Earth, though he left the group in 2021.

18. Devin Townsend

    

    Devin Garrett Townsend is a Canadian musician, songwriter, and record producer. He founded the extreme metal band Strapping Young Lad, active from 1994 to 2007. Townsend has also developed a prolific solo career known for blending progressive, ambient, and heavy metal styles.

    He is better than almost everybody on the list. Just go listen to The Death of Music, Bastard, Life is All Dynamics, Kingdom, The Way Home, Awake. Come on, Justin Bieber ahead of him? What a dumb world.

    Just listen to his song Kingdom, and you'll realize he is much better than 12th.

19. Sebastian Bach

    

    Sebastian Philip Bierk (born April 3, 1968), known professionally as Sebastian Bach, is a Canadian heavy metal singer. He achieved mainstream success as the frontman of Skid Row from 1987 to 1996. Since leaving Skid Row, he has taken on numerous television roles, appeared in Broadway productions such... read more

20. Gordon Lightfoot

    

    Gordon Meredith Lightfoot Jr. was a Canadian singer-songwriter who achieved international success in folk, folk-rock, and country music. He is credited with helping to define the folk-pop sound of the 1960s and 1970s. His most popular songs include If You Could Read My Mind, Sundown, and The Wreck of... read more

    An absolute classic. The fact that he's not higher on the list is only evidence of the young age of the voters, not of his talent.

    One of Canada's all-time great writers and folk singers. Truly a legend.

    Brilliant singer and songwriter.

21. Carly Rae Jepsen

    

    Carly Rae Jepsen is a Canadian singer-songwriter from Mission, British Columbia, and later based in Los Angeles. She's best known for her 2012 hit single "Call Me Maybe", which topped charts worldwide... read more

22. James LaBrie

    

    Kevin James LaBrie is a Canadian vocalist and songwriter best known as the lead singer of the American progressive metal band Dream Theater. He joined the band in 1991, replacing Charlie Dominici. LaBrie has also released several solo albums and is known for his wide vocal range and dynamic performances... read more

23. Alissa White-Gluz

    

    Alissa White‑Gluz is a Canadian vocalist best known as the former lead singer and a founding member of the metal band The Agonist. She left the band in 2014 and then joined the Swedish melodic death metal band Arch Enemy as their lead vocalist. With Arch Enemy, she has released multiple well‑received... read more

24. Alessia Cara

    

    Alessia Caracciolo, born July 11, 1996, is a Canadian singer and songwriter professionally known as Alessia Cara. She gained widespread recognition with her debut single Here, which became a sleeper hit in 2015. Cara has since released multiple albums and won a Grammy Award for Best New Artist.

    I saw her live, and it was so cool! I've never heard a voice as unique as hers!

    I hope she gets #1 this year. My favorite song she sang is River of Tears!

    She is the best singer! I love her!

25. Massari

    

    Sari Abboud, known by his stage name Massari, is a Lebanese Canadian singer and songwriter. He was born on December 10, 1980, and began his music career in the early 2000s. Massari is recognized for blending R&B and pop sounds in his music.

    I LOVE this guy's singing! And he is really a nice guy, besides being so hot!

26. Nelly Furtado

    

    Nelly Kim Furtado is a Canadian singer and songwriter. She has sold 20 million albums worldwide and more than 20 million singles, bringing her total record sales to over 40 million globally.

    She is one of the most widely known singers on this list, as well as one of the best vocalists. She deserves to be in the top 5.

27. Anne Murray

    

    Morna Anne Murray, known professionally as Anne Murray, was born on June 20, 1945. She is a retired Canadian singer who found success in pop, country, and adult contemporary music. Murray sold over 55 million albums worldwide and won four Grammy Awards, including Best Female Pop Vocal Performance in... read more

    One of Canada's original female artists who had such a clear and soothing voice. Her songs Snowbird, Could I Have This Dance, You Needed Me, and Just Another Woman in Love are a few of her many hits.

    Very sorry she retired. She has such a smooth voice.