Top Ten Greatest Female Soul Singers
The Top Ten
Whitney Elizabeth Houston (August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012) was an American singer, actress, producer, and model. In 2009, Guinness World Records cited her as the most awarded female act of all time. Houston is one of pop music's best-selling music artists of all-time, with an estimated 170–200 ...read more. Toward the end of her life she couldn't sing anymore. That should automatically drop her a few noches. Also Whitney and Mariah sounded alike to me. Doesn't make Whitney unique if someone else sounds like her. Etta James is number 1 and always will be.
The greatest Female Vocalist of all time a legend who paved the way for the likes of celine mariah beyounce alicia. This beautiful lady could sing like no other.
She is a true legend... She is probably in heaven singing while all the people who died before her listen too the voice they all missed.
Although she's dead, she is and will be a legend forever.
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. The feeling and depth with which she sings, soul singing is all about letting come from your inner most depths and let it go making a connection with the audience and the universe. Her song Natural woman is superb. Whitney was amazing look at her she is dead because she didn't make quite the same connection with her soul as what Aretha did. I feel you need to look at the whole picture when you are choosing a soul singer. At the end of the day who do you want to identify with a dead drug addict with a grand voice or a woman who changed the music industry for the better who in spite of her troubles is still standing. Wow what a woman. Such a powerful vice such deep music and lyrics
Well said! She defines Soul like no other female singer. Glady's & Chaka are next as well as Etta. Nice that they can go on just their first names. Whitney was a Pop artist.
Aretha's voice is out of this world. She has so much depth and skill. Love her to bits.
Aretha, Etta James, Chaka Khan. And the order matters. All the rest are pop singers.
Etta James was an American singer who spanned a variety of music genres including blues, R&B, soul, rock and roll, jazz and gospel. I think Etta James should be number 1. She has one of the most unique voices in history. It was bluesy, jazzy, and rock and roll all in one. And it was also super gritty yet super powerful. No one sounded like her and no one will.
I am nearly 50yrs young and have just started listening to Etta James.. What a talented woman with a fantastic voice, with such a sad, sad life.
I grew up on Aretha and adore Gladys Knight, but Miss Etta is in a class of her own. Class A+.
She has the rarity that hits deep into the soul.. Just perfect
Patricia Louise Holt-Edwards better known under the stage name Patti LaBelle, is an American singer, author, actress, and entrepreneur. A supreme soul tour de force, soaring sweet tones and fantastic range, an exciting voice that kicks you in the stomach and kisses you on the lips and strokes your ears all at the same time, if you cannot hear it your are senile... Or dead...
Patti Labelle makes lyrics alive. She has a great very flexible voice and masters perfectly emotions. It is something special to see her performing alive because she is an exceptional entertainer.
A serious living legend, who gave the world hits such as; If only You Knew and Lady Marmalade just to name a few.
I love Patti Labelle she my favorite singer I wish she would come to Springfield Kentucky
Adele Laurie Blue Adkins is an English singer and songwriter. Graduating from the BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology in 2006, Adele was given a recording contract by XL Recordings after a friend posted her demo on Myspace the same year. She is best known with her international hit singles ...read more. If you hear her sing you will always know who she is, and most importantly, you will feel her songs connect with you in one or more ways than you can now, and that is Adele for you.
Adele puts so much emotion and soul into every song that it's enough to make people cry. Have you heard 'Hello' by this queen? It made Katy Perry cry and Sam Smith scream like a little girl.
Just listen someone like you or see the video it will touch you from inside and make you cry
A blessing from god himself for this generation to be honest
Chaka Khan is an American singer-songwriter whose career has spanned four decades, beginning in the 1970s as the frontwoman and focal point of the funk band Rufus. One of the greatest voices of all time. She created a new style of singing that many singers copied. You hear many singers doing runs in their songs, Chaka and Stevie perfected the riffs and runs.
This woman has more impact on the singers that followed her than any from her generation, Chaka has sung on so many different artist and most important she still sounds fantastic... She is her own categoru
How many singers can sing the following great:
Rock
Pop
Soul
Jazz
Gospel
How many Aretha and Chaka that's it- but that's what great singers do - they can sing anything.
Hands down the Queen of Funk!
Anita Denise Baker is a retired American singer-songwriter. Starting her career in the late 1970s with the funk band Chapter 8, Baker eventually released her first solo album, The Songstress, in 1983. In 1986, she rose to stardom following the release of her platinum-selling second album, Rapture, which ...read more. Hello where's Anita Baker?
Soulful voice
Mary Jane Blige is an American singer, songwriter, rapper and actress. She started her career as a backing singer on Uptown Records in 1989. She has released 13 studio albums, eight of which have achieved multi-platinum worldwide sales. One of the worst girl singers ever.
Best soul singer of all time
One of the very very best
ONE OF THE BEST FEMALE SINGERS OF ALL TIME
Gladys Maria Knight, known as the "Empress of Soul", is an American singer, songwriter, actress, businesswoman, humanitarian and author. She has stood the test of time her voice is as great today as it was back in the 60s she has style and grace and every single time you watch her live or see her perform on TVher voice is clear and blows you away how many other artists have span the time she has and delivered the successes she has secured I do believe this is one voice one diva who needs her full recognition
Great singers on the list, but, we are talking soul singers. Close call between Aretha and Gladys.
Whitney was a pop singer... Probably greatest ever, just a cut above Mariah.
EVERYBODY WATCH OUT FOR CANDICE GLOVER! HAS THE DEFINITE POTENTIAL TO MAKE MULTIBLR LISTS... POP, JAZZ, R&B maybe soul too.
If Female Soul is the category then this list misses the mark. Top three has to be Aretha, Etta and Gladys (And the order of these three wonderful lady artist could be in any order from 1-3). How it ends up as 2,4 &10, I really don't understand. Everyone else is pop art!
Yes, Gladys Knight is ethereally sublime and wonderful, a smooth, soulful, purring bunch of heartfelt aching want- all wrapped up in a beautiful bunch of ladylove!
The Contenders
Jennifer Kate Hudson is an American singer, actress and spokesperson. She rose to fame in 2004 as a finalist on the third season of American Idol, coming in seventh place.
Brandy Rayana Norwood, known professionally by her mononym Brandy, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress.
Florence Leontine Mary Welch is an English musician, singer, and songwriter. She is best known as the lead vocalist of the indie rock band Florence + the Machine. Surely, if we are talking about now, Florence Welch works very well and she proves it with each song. Those tunes and her voice just makes one shiver. She definitely belongs here.
She's amazing. Best singer of the century, hands down.
Alicia Augello Cook, known by the pseudonym Alicia Keys, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. I think Alicia should be at least top 5
Talented, pretty and amazing voice!
Diana Ernestine Earle Ross is an American singer, actress, and record producer. Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Ross rose to fame as the lead singer of the vocal group the Supremes. I think Diana has the great potential she had her own group she stared in moves she became a solo and now has a movie made just for her and the Supremes /dream girls
Shes the est because her voice was diferenet but the heart was the same she was a soul singer loved the black culture and never felt used she always fouth for respect and love for everibody
Teena Marie has something that Whitney, Celine and Beyonce do not have... PASSION. Listen to the way she vocally expresses a soul weeping on Cassanova Brown, without using any words.
I have seen contestants on THE VOICE and XFACTOR sing Whitney, Celine, Beyone and match them... Soemtimes even own the song. However, I have yet to hear ANYONE interpret a Teena Marie ballad and not make my ears bleed.
Listen to Teena's cover of "Wishing on a Star" or her song "Naked to the World" and you will FEEL the passion and soul this little white girl emits from her heart.
She is one of the few artists to whom I can listen over and over and not grow weary. It is always a thrill to hear the unique vocal techniques she has developed to express emotion.
Truly miss her.
Next to M.J. B Teena is without a doubt one of the best there is!
Musical Genius...one of a kind voice and song writer.
Teena Marie is " Ivory Queen " of SOUL
Nicole Scherzinger, born Nicole Prescovia Elikolani Valiente on June 29, 1978, is an American singer, songwriter, actress, dancer, and television personality. She first rose to fame as the lead singer of the pop/r&b group The Pussycat Dolls.She's the Lonely Bird...
The Star and the Moon. She is simply THE BEST.
Have you heard her... enuf said.
Awesome vocals, so much soul one of the best. A gospel screamer with with raw power. Just listen to "I'll take you there", "Respect Your self" and "The Weight". Truly one of the best ever.
Joscelyn Eve Stoker, better known by her stage name Joss Stone, is a British singer, songwriter and actress. Joss Stone has the most powerful, and biggest voice, alive today. When it comes to soul she is the one you should listen to. She deserves to be number 1, there is no doubt about that! I love all of her work!
Amazing will touch your heart!
Amy Jade Winehouse was an English singer and songwriter known for her deep expressive contralto vocals and her eclectic mix of musical genres, including soul, rhythm and blues, and jazz. She is also a well-known member of the 27 Club, as she overdosed on alcohol at age 27. She's the best. There are no other singers that could both sing and write with her depth and maturity at such a young age..
She was the best and most beautiful soul singer of all time and it is so sad how she died so young R.I.P.
She was amazingly talented, there's something very real and special about her what vocalists lack these days
Natalie Maria Cole was an American singer, voice actress, songwriter, and actress. The daughter of the great American singer Nat King Cole, she rose to musical success in the mid-1970s as an R&B artist. Natalie Cole is the only Diva to have won Grammys in the categories of soul, pop, jazz as well as record of the year, album of the year and Best new artist. The first black female to sell a million albums [1 IN 77,1 IN 78, and has had a top 10 single or album in various categories in every decade since the 70's. SHE IS THE MOST DIVERSE OF ALL THE DIVAS.
Wow you"re right. She has charted every decade in various genres in every decade since her debut. Now a number 1 album on the Latin charts. One of the best and voices in the biz
Marie Dionne Warrick is an American singer, actress and TV-show host, who became a United Nations Global Ambassador for the Food and Agriculture Organization, and a United States Ambassador of Health. Dionne is 2nd only to aretha is number of charted singles. Her inimitable voice coveys all emotional facets without resorting to the shouting so prevalent today. She is one of the few singers who can handle the key changes, time signature shifts, modulations, etc., of the Bacharach/David Songbook with apparent ease (e.G., check out "Promises, Promises"). Also,
She can belt out terrific emotional anthems --check out "His House and Me"
On You Tube or "All in Love is Fair".
She was very good too and had many hits.
She was fantastik. all her songs were very good.
Bert Bacharach wrote many good ones for her.
Greatest