Top 10 Best Glee Singers
Glee wasn't just about the drama-filled lives of high schoolers trying to figure things out, it was also about the music. Over six seasons, the series gave us some incredible vocal performances that ranged from heart-wrenching ballads to high-energy showstoppers. From the iconic solos to the jaw-dropping group numbers, the cast of Glee showcased a diverse range of musical talents that kept viewers coming back for more.
But with so many standout singers, who really stood out as the best of the best? That's where you come in! We've put together a list of the top Glee vocalists, and it's up to you to decide who deserves to be at the top. Is it the diva who could hit every note with ease, or the underdog who blew everyone away with unexpected talent? Maybe you're drawn to someone whose emotional performances left a lasting impression, or perhaps it's the person whose versatility made them unforgettable.
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Lea Michele (Rachel Berry)
Lea Michele Sarfati is an American actress, singer, and author. She began her career as a child actress on Broadway in productions of Les Misérables, Ragtime, Fiddler on the Roof, and Spring Awakening. Michele rose to international fame as Rachel Berry on Glee and has since released studio albums and... read more
I just think Lea Michele's voice is amazing, as is Naya Rivera's. However, while everyone often says Naya's voice is the best, it just doesn't seem as touching to me as Rachel's. Lea Michele (Rachel Berry) steals the show. She conveys so much emotion in her songs, and Amber Riley is good too. It's just that I aspire to be a famous singer when I'm older, and I find Lea very inspirational.
She also knows how to portray emotion authentically. For instance, when Finn broke up with her in the last episode, it made me cry, and I rarely cry at anything. But she made it seem so real. If you're a true Gleek, you'd think everyone on Glee is a great singer, even Mike Chang! But that's just my opinion. I used to not like Rachel, but now I do because, like I said, she steals the show!
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Naya Rivera (Santana Lopez)
Naya Rivera Dorsey (January 12, 1987 - July 8, 2020) was an American actress, singer, and model. She was best known for portraying Santana Lopez on Fox's musical comedy-drama series Glee. Rivera began her career as a child actress and model, and she was the mother of her son, Josey Dorsey.
People often say that singers have a "unique" voice when they break vocal technicalities and aim for less conventional qualities. I do agree that her voice is recognizable, but only in the sense that she sings a bit differently from the others in Glee. She has a certain scratchy edge to her voice, somewhat like Amy Winehouse but not quite, and a naturally lower pitch. Sometimes, she pronounces her words differently too, to give her songs a more "indie" quality. However, it's not overemphasized, so it sounds pleasant rather than exaggerated.
This combination gives her an edge compared to the rest of the technically perfect singers on Glee. So, while Amber Riley and Lea Michele, known for their impressive vocal range and powerhouse voices, excel in sections that sound absolutely perfect, Naya's style is more rebellious and breaks the mold slightly. That's why people think she's "unique." In reality, many singers do sing like that, but Naya's style is less "out there" and more toned down and subdued for her character.
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Amber Riley (Mercedes Jones)
Amber is really the best in Glee. I'm really surprised to see Naya at the top. Hey, I love Naya's voice, but I really think Amber is a true diva and is neglected.
Please recall her juicy solos like "Disco Inferno." That song is an absolute killer (I tried singing it and it almost killed me), but she murdered it. No sentiments attached, but I don't think Lea and Naya can handle that song. Also, have you heard the notes she belts? Man, this diva needs her space.
Throughout the Glee seasons, I know they've praised her for her ability to sing, but in my opinion, she's the best. Rachel (on the show) is overrated as hell. I mean, no doubt Lea Michele can sing, but this girl right here can do what I call blow. Her voice is truly amazing. Her control, breath, and melismatic abilities are outstanding.
Have you heard her runs and how she can hold some long notes? Her belts are truly amazing, loud and bold, and can command an arena. And don't get me started on her ability to emote. She truly can make you feel the song, and she expresses the song more than well.
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Darren Criss (Blaine Anderson)
Darren Everett Criss (born February 5, 1987) is an American actor, singer, and songwriter. He rose to fame starring on the television series Glee (2010-2015) and received both Emmy and Golden Globe awards for his leading role as Andrew Cunanan in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story... read more
Darren's voice is utterly breathtaking, both on "Glee" and off. Lacking the prescription-perfect vocals of Lea Michele or Amber Riley, the occasional waver in Darren's voice brings so much depth and emotion to his songs, making them uniquely his own and far more intense than those of other actors/singers on the show.
I mean, as much as "Glee" helped me a great deal when I was struggling with issues of my own sexuality years ago, the only reason I watch it now is for Darren. I skip most of the other parts because I just get bored by the voices of most of the other singers. Darren is the only one who can do exactly what he does. Plus, he is an insanely talented actor and a very nice person.
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Chris Colfer (Kurt Hummel)
Christopher Paul Colfer (born May 27, 1990) is an American actor, singer, and author. He gained international recognition for his portrayal of Kurt Hummel on the television musical Glee (2009-2015). Colfer's portrayal of Kurt Hummel earned him a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Series... read more
His range is absolutely incredible, and he knows how to sing with both a head voice and a chest voice. He can sing both the mezzo-soprano high note and the baritone low note, with the impressive ability to sing from an A2 to a Bb5. Three octaves and one note of pure, clear tones. In season one, everything he knew was purely self-taught, compared to Rachel Berry's extensive vocal training gifted to her by her dads.
Sure, maybe he wasn't as good as he would have been had he had lessons, but he was still able to compete on relatively even grounds with Rachel while in her vocal wheelhouse, despite purposely botching it for his father's sake. However, he stopped getting as much limelight, so people easily ignored his character, talent, and, most of all, passion.
His solos are pretty much always either deep and meaningful or fun and uplifting. Whatever he does, he does with intent and emotion. By far, his voice is the most individual and unique of all the voices, rare and entirely one of a kind. No matter who he is performing with, he still manages to stand apart. When he hums in the background with Blaine and the Pips, you can still easily pick him out if you know his voice, and that's star quality if I ever saw it.
The thing about his character is that he is so intent on bringing the diva and holding back the nightmare that no one pays attention to him like he deserves - the focus goes onto the nightmare divas instead. That's the closest thing to a flaw that I can pick out.
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Kevin McHale (Artie Abrams)
He is a really great singer, definitely the best. He 100 percent doesn't get enough credit. Maybe he is too hard to put in songs because of the complications of the wheelchair.
I personally think that Darren Criss is really great too (as well as Amber Riley!), but Kevin doesn't get enough credit, and he should because he has the most handsome voice. I don't know what the big fuss is about the voices of Rachel and Finn. Artie's singing tops theirs any day.
1. He can dance amazingly! Safety Dance is such a complex routine, and Kevin performs it with so much ease!
2. His voice is so underrated, even though I think it's a tie between him and Darren for the best male voices in Glee! He is so talented!
3. He learns routines in a wheelchair! That seems so complicated already, and yet he performs it amazingly and gets past all of the challenges he faces in the wheelchair.
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Dianna Agron (Quinn Fabray)
Dianna Elise Agron is an American actress, singer, and dancer. In 2006, Agron made her television debut as Jessica Grant on CSI: NY. From 2006 to 2007, she had recurring roles on Veronica Mars as Jenny Budosh and Heroes as Debbie Marshall, before gaining fame for her role as Quinn Fabray on Glee.
Dianna's voice is incredibly soft and light. Her voice is a perfect blend between soft and sweet while also being quite husky. A perfect alto/falsetto. It might not be as strong as Lea's, or even Naya's, but it's definitely one of the more unique and different voices of Glee. You don't have to be a powerhouse to sound beautiful. Dianna/Quinn simply has something the rest of the Glee members don't.
Quinn is a perfect character. She's beautiful, the perfect mix of nice and mean, and her voice is so... refreshing and unique, not to mention amazing. Quinn takes complicated to a whole other level, but her voice is flawless, and she really should get more solos.
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Jenna Ushkowitz (Tina Cohen-Chang)
The best singer in "Glee." She can sing any song perfectly. She's one of my top three singers (Jenna, Naya, Darren). It's so sad that she didn't get enough songs in "Glee." She can belt and hold notes for a long period of time (up to 10 seconds) like she did in "More Than a Feeling," "Because You Loved Me," "You Can't Stop the Beat," and "Dog Days Are Over." She can sing powerful songs like Amber did and sweet or gentle songs.
Too bad she didn't get a chance to show off all of her talent, but you can find her "hidden talent" if you listen carefully to some of her songs. And not to mention that her voice can sometimes be mistaken for Naya's and sometimes for Lea's. Many people thought Jenna's solo in "You Can't Stop the Beat" was Lea's solo, but it has been confirmed it was in fact Jenna's. She also sounded wonderful during her duets with Darren, Naya, Lea, Amber, and Mark.
Unfortunately, not only did Tina get a very small amount of solos, but also a very small number of duets. However, you can find her "duets" in group numbers. Like in "Cell Block Tango," "Shake It Out" (with Santana), and "Home" (with Mark). She is the most underrated character in "Glee" but also the best singer in the show.
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Cory Monteith (Finn Hudson)
Cory Allan Michael Monteith (May 11, 1982 - July 13, 2013) was a Canadian actor and musician best known for his role as Finn Hudson on the Fox television series Glee. He died on July 13, 2013 from a toxic combination of heroin and alcohol.
Cory's voice is so unique. I could listen to him sing all day (I do, haha). He is so talented. I know other people have more experience, and they are all amazing singers.
There's just something about Cory that makes you fall in love, not just with him, but with his voice too.
Finn puts so much emotion into his unique singing voice that he makes up for the fact that he isn't "technically" the best singer.
Cory's voice is great. It's soft and unique. I love listening to him sing.
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Jonathan Groff (Jesse St. James)
Who the heck put him under Cory? Jon is an amazing singer. He was on Broadway, for God's sake. On the show, even Finn admits that Jesse makes him feel inferior.
He is the only male (possibly save Darren/Blaine) that can keep up with Lea/Rachel. Yes, "Hello" was a lovely duet, but you can't judge his voice completely on that. Listen to him sing "Rolling in the Deep" or "Highway to Hell," and it is obvious why he was the lead for Vocal Adrenaline. J. Groff/Jesse is definitely worthy of the second-place spot, if not tied with Rachel for first.
His voice is so soothing and exciting at the same time. I absolutely love it when he sings. He has a large vocal range and can sing while dancing to a hard song, like Bohemian Rhapsody. His Vocal Adrenaline performances were incredible, and his Bohemian Rhapsody performance is often underrated. Out of all the guys on Glee, he is easily one of the best.
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Gwyneth Paltrow (Holly Holliday)
Gwyneth Kate Paltrow is an American actress, model, writer, businesswoman, singer, and author. She has received numerous accolades throughout her career, including an Academy Award, an Emmy Award, and a Golden Globe Award. Paltrow is also known for her role as Pepper Potts in the Marvel Cinematic Universe... read more
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Jane Lynch (Sue Sylvester)
Jane Marie Lynch is an American actress, singer, and comedian. She is best known for her role as Sue Sylvester on the television series Glee. Lynch has received numerous accolades, including a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award.
I like her F5 belt in The Final Countdown and also her Eb5 belt in Vogue and I Still Believe/Super Bass.
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Chord Overstreet (Sam Evans)
Chord is the most versatile singer in the cast. He sang many different genres successfully. He has such a sweet and charming voice. Overstreet has an interesting vocal range. He definitely has one of the top male vocal ranges on the show. He can hit a beautiful and powerful falsetto.
Chord's also a great musician. He can play lots of instruments and is a great songwriter.
To be honest, in my opinion, Chord is a much better singer than Jenna Ushkowitz, Dianna Agron, and Cory Monteith. They are all really great as well, but I don't think he's ever gotten enough credit.
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Idina Menzel (Shelby Corcoran)
Idina Kim Menzel is an American actress, singer, and songwriter. She rose to prominence when she originated the role of Maureen Johnson in the Broadway musical Rent, earning a Tony Award nomination in 1996. Menzel later won a Tony Award for her performance as Elphaba in Wicked and voiced Elsa in Disney's... read more
She really does remind me of an older Rachel Berry. I've loved her since "Wicked" and find her voice fascinatingly refined.
I think that she is the best singer in Glee. Haven't you heard her voice?
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Matthew Morrison (Will Schuester)
I know he is a teacher, not a student, but as far as singing goes, he ranks number one in my opinion. His range, skill, and ease of listening put him at the top.
Of the male cast members, he is the true triple threat. His vocal range, timbre, and expression are impressive. I hope he continues his career with a strong emphasis on Broadway.
Not only is he the best dancer, but he is the best singer as well. He can sing everything from love songs to rap. Truly amazing.
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Mark Salling (Noah Puckerman)
Mark Wayne Salling (August 17, 1982 - January 30, 2018) was an American actor and musician known for his role as Noah "Puck" Puckerman on the television series Glee.
Salling studied at the Los Angeles College of Music before working as a guitar teacher. He also worked as an occasional actor, appearing... read more
In my opinion, Mark is way better than Cory. Don't get me wrong, I do love Cory as a person, but his voice isn't really that great. Mark's voice is stronger and has a nice tone to it. His solo songs tend to be some of my favorites, and his duet with Lea was much better than anything she did with Cory.
Personally, I feel that before Blaine came, Puck should have had the male lead, with Artie getting to share some of the male solos. It would have been so much stronger.
I think his voice was one of the strongest male voices on Glee. Although I love Cory Monteith, Mark's voice has a nice tone and sound to it. It's very nice to listen to. I loved his solos. They were definitely some of my favorites, especially in Run Joey Run. Personally, I think he could have been top 5!
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Charice (Sunshine Corazon)
Jake Zyrus, born Charmaine Clarice Relucio Pempengco, is a Filipino singer who gained international attention through YouTube. He was previously known by the mononym Charice before coming out as a transgender man. Zyrus has appeared on international television programs and released several albums.
You have got to be kidding. This girl has pipes that are off the charts. She is just amazing to even hit that so high note in All By Myself. Can Lea Michele hit that note? I doubt that. But this girl, she just blew it like it's so normal for her. This girl should be on top.
Sunshine's voice is actually better than Rachel's voice. Rachel even admitted it when she sent her to a crack house in the show. Sunshine should've been at the top of the list, in front of everyone else. She just didn't have a bigger role, unfortunately.
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Melissa Benoist (Marley Rose)
Marley has such an amazing voice! At the beginning of the show, I thought Rachel was going to be the one and only star until Marley showed up in Season 4. She just blew me away with her powerful voice and her strong passion.
She was so kind to everyone, and she is definitely the biggest star on Glee. I love how sassy Santana is, but her voice isn't that amazing, and Rachel is great, but Marley is the new and improved Rachel. Anyone else shouldn't even be on the top list. Marley is just the best singer!
Melissa's voice has a very pure Broadway style to it. She is very versatile and can sing almost every genre. Her voice is warm and powerful at the same time. Capable of an incredibly high mix, she can also hit low, rich notes with ease.
Melissa was the only female vocalist who could represent "The New Rachel," even though she doesn't need to be associated with Rachel. She is a star on her own. A very talented, unique star.
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Kristin Chenoweth (April Rhodes)
Kristin Dawn Chenoweth is an American actress and singer, known for her work in musical theatre, film, and television. In 1999, she won a Tony Award for her performance as Sally Brown in You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown on Broadway. She also originated the role of Glinda in the Broadway musical Wicked... read more
God, her voice is so emotional, and you can tell she feels every single word she's singing. She has a mature voice. She's a true star.
Her voice rivals Lea Michele's belting power and Naya Rivera's uniqueness. Her voice is just so wonderful.
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Blake Jenner (Ryder Lynn)
Why people haven't added him is way beyond my understanding. He was quite the amazing singer, with a wider range of genres than most people had (except Blaine), and his voice was absolutely beautiful.
They made a mistake by not including him in season 6. The new New Directions were blah!
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Grant Gustin (Sebastian Smythe)
Completely underrated, Sebastian was one of the hands-down best singers. Combining that with his dancing and breath control, the only thought that comes to my mind is Bravo.
His rapping and ability to sing as fast as he can in Smooth Criminal should get him top 10 alone. He is so much better than Sam and Finn (R.I.P). Just the fact that people aren't voting for him, instead, for Sam? This isn't a popularity contest, people! It's about who is the best singer!
I love his energy, and he's one of the few who can dance and sing so well. The Warblers actually are better with him leading. They move better and are less boring.
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Alex Newell (Unique Adams)
Come on, guys! 19? I'd like to compare him to the artists above. The only reasonable people above him would be Lea, Amber, Naya, Chris, and Darren.
What about the rest? You can think whatever about his way of thinking or sexuality, but Alex's voice is amazing. He can reach impossible tones. So: Jenna, Dianna, Kevin, Mark, Melissa, Chord... They sing okay. Their voices are fair, but Alex's is unique and can't be replaced.
Another incredible voice that was not nearly used as much as it should have been. Their voice is so powerful and it wasn't utilized as much as it should have been.
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Adam Lambert (Starchild)
Love Adam! Incredible range, incredible tone. Just love his voice. I could listen to Marry the Night over and over again.
Amazing. Just listen to "I Believe in a Thing Called Love," "Gloria," and "Marry the Night."
I mean, he sings with Queen. Do I need to say more?
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Becca Tobin (Kitty Wilde)
Kitty is actually a good singer. How she sang in 2, 3, and 4-part harmony was beautiful. When she had that harmony and connection with Jake when they sang Wide Awake, it was perfect.
She has a quality alto and mezzo-soprano sound. I love her voice.
She's amazing. Loved when she sang Signed, Sealed, Delivered.
Really like her F5 belted note in Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm Yours, and another F5 belted in Hey Jude, It Must Have Been Love, as well as her Eb5 belted in Hey Jude.
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Damian McGinty (Rory Flanagan)
I love Rory's voice, and I thought that his version of Blue Christmas was really touching.
He had such great control and could sing low and high. Truly underrated.
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Demi Lovato (Dani)
I'm not a fan of Demi Lovato, but in Glee, I was so surprised, and I realized she can sing so well! I just love the tone of her voice, and her storyline and relationship with Santana is interesting.
Wow, she has such a great voice! She is amazing. I am so glad she is a part of Glee. She should be number one.
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Heather Morris (Brittany S. Pierce)
I'm sorry, but why is she at the bottom? Maybe her voice isn't as unique, but she can definitely sing better than a lot of the people in front of her on this list. Some of my favorite covers, like Dance with Somebody, and let's not forget the Brittany episodes. She has such a fun and cheerful sound in her voice that makes me feel the happiness she's feeling. Sorry if it sounds cheesy, but to me, it's true.
She's so underrated, and I'm just going to ask again, why is she all the way at the bottom of this list? Remember, bullying is mean, and she won't tolerate it!
Brittany's voice should be 5th! She's nice, pretty (no, make that beautiful), is a Cheerio, is super popular (you have no idea how hard it is to be popular and kind), Santana likes her, Artie likes her, Mike might've liked her, Rory likes her, she's the best dancer I've ever seen (by far), and a great singer. PLEASE VOTE! Britt deserves way higher!