Top 10 Greatest Female Singer/Songwriters of All Time
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. Joni just happens to be a genius and uses that special gift in the arts to explore and express her thoughts on the things in life that are important to her. Somehow, magically, we, her audience, in turn, self-identify and internalize her words into our own lives. She will always have a special place in my heart like no other female songwriter or artist can.
The other nine on this list and the contenders put together don't have the musical depth, breadth, and imagination Joni has before she even wakes up. The same is true of the poetic quality of her lyrics. She is an artist - the rest are commercial constructs with varying degrees of backing, making them seem to be what we see them as.
Carole King is an American composer and singer-songwriter. She is the most successful female songwriter of the latter half of the 20th century in the USA, having written or co-written 118 pop hits on the Billboard Hot 100 between 1955 and 1999. King also wrote 61 hits that charted in the UK, making... read more Just the best writer/performer, closely followed by Carly Simon. And where's Diane Warren on this list?
The most important female singer/songwriter of our time!
Beautiful music. My favorite female songwriter-singer.
Taylor Alison Swift is an American singer-songwriter. She was born on December 13, 1989, in Reading, Pennsylvania. Swift is best known for writing personal songs and has won 13 Grammy Awards... read more Lyrical genius. Her words have the ability to make and break someone mentally. Personally, I feel that folklore and evermore depict the zenith of her songwriting skills. Both are such lyrical masterpieces. She is one of the greatest and most intellectual songwriters of modern times.
Outstanding songwriter! The emotion she captures through her words is amazing. They're so deep and meaningful, and if people would listen, they would realize it's not all about her ex-boyfriends. It's much deeper. She should be No. 1, but all the women on the list are also amazing and talented!
Stephanie Lynn "Stevie" Nicks is an American singer and songwriter, best known for her work with Fleetwood Mac and an extensive solo career, which collectively have produced over forty Top 50 hits and sold over 140 million albums. Her voice and songwriting - that's raw talent right there. Give her a microphone, and her sound and words will have you swept away into a spiritual and emotional journey.
The greatest songwriter of all time, man or woman! Both beautiful and brilliant! Her voice is pretty damn good too! Love, love Stevie!
Every man's dream woman from the mid-seventies through the mid-eighties. I remember when real women walked the planet with style and grace.
Patricia Lee "Patti" Smith is an American singer-songwriter, poet, and visual artist who became a highly influential component of the New York City punk rock movement with her 1975 debut album Horses. Maybe Patti Smith can top a list for once!
Janis Joplin (1943-1970) was an American singer who rose to fame as the main singer of acid band Big Brother and the Holding Company. She was known for her eccentric hippie style and psychedelic rock music. She was soulful, brilliant, cutting edge, and phenomenal. Gone way too soon!
Dolly Rebecca Parton is an American singer-songwriter, actress, author, businesswoman, and humanitarian, known primarily for her work in country music. There is nothing cheap about Dolly's words and lyrics. Dolly's songs touch the heart and will be around forever. While Dolly writes a lot of songs about women, she also writes about growing up in the Appalachian Mountains, faith, family, work, and fun (e.g., Two Doors Down).
Dolly's songs are about life and are relatable to ordinary people. These songs, along with her melodies and music, cross gender, ethnicity, and age! Dollywood is more than a theme park!
Dolly Parton is an incredible showwoman, singer, and songwriter. Her music is a part of our history because it tells stories about growing up and living in Appalachia. She is amazing.
Extremely honest, witty, even a bit brutal, but always catchy songwriting with a sexy, unique voice. Carly is the most underrated female pop singer of the '70s and '80s. She seems to have always been overshadowed by her peers - Joni, Carole, and Linda.
Carly is a powerful, original talent, but she is also humble and down-to-earth. God forbid! No wonder she didn't receive the recognition she deserved.
Only Joni Mitchell is Kate's peer among female singer-songwriters. The depth of meaning and emotional impact of so many of her songs, the gorgeous music, and her amazingly expressive voice are inimitable.
On top of that, she is one of the first artists to seize control of her music from her label and is a pioneer in video and live performance excellence. No one is as influential across genres, from Big Boi to Björk, from Solange to St. Vincent, from Tori Amos to Lady Gaga, and many more.
The most original, intelligent, and creative singer-songwriter of all time - male or female. Not just an incredible talent in this field, either. She excels as a dancer, choreographer, pianist, producer, and director. Also, despite her protestations to the contrary, she can act.
Finally, Kate is a modest woman who obviously cares far more for her family than she does for fame. What more can be said? Kate is in a different league from all the others.
Hayley Nichole Williams is an American singer, songwriter and musician. She is best known as the lead vocalist, occasional keyboardist and primary songwriter of the American rock band Paramore. In 2020 she started a solo career.The Newcomers
Ladonna Adrian Gaines (31 December 1948 - 17 May 2012) was known by her stage name, Donna Summer. She was an American singer, songwriter, and painter.
Victoria Regina Spivey (October 15, 1906 - October 3, 1976), sometimes known as Queen Victoria, was an American blues singer, songwriter, and record company founder... read more
Mariah Carey, born March 27, 1970, is an American singer, songwriter and actress. She is one of the biggest best-selling women in the music industry, with 18 number 1 records to her name. She is regarded as a sex symbol through her songs and music videos, and she is "well known" for her over-the-top... read more She has written all her songs except for the covers. And by the way, many of the singers who haven't written even one song are above this lady who wrote 17 #1 hits!
Mariah is the greatest of them all - singer, songwriter, producer.
She has more #1s than probably this entire list combined!
Christine Ellen Hynde (born September 7, 1951) is an American-British musician. She is a founding member and the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter of the rock band the Pretenders, and one of the band's two remaining original members alongside drummer Martin Chambers. She is the only continuous... read more She offers something different in a male-driven area of music.
Number 3, behind Joni and Carole.
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. We will never know how brilliant she could have been, but she still earns my vote.
Wow. She should totally be higher on the list. Her wordplay and her voice are amazing.
Bridgit Claire Mendler is an American actress, singer, and songwriter. In 2004, she began her career in the animated Indian film The Legend of Buddha.
Joan Chandos Baez is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and activist whose contemporary folk music often includes songs of protest or social justice.
Lily Rose Beatrice Cooper, known professionally as Lily Allen, is an English singer, songwriter, actress, and television presenter.
Adele Laurie Blue Adkins (born 5 May 1988) 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... read more Adele is the best singer-songwriter of all time, and it's not even close. Joni Mitchell? She has a self-described "helium voice." Bob Dylan? Again, songwriter - yes. Great singer - not exactly. Adele excels at both, and she has the record-setting album sales and Grammy wins to back it up too.
Alecia Beth Moore known professionally as P!NK, is an American singer, songwriter, dancer and actress.Ann and Nancy are probably the most dynamic singer-songwriters ever. They should follow the beauty and class, respectively, of Joni Mitchell and Carole King in the #3 spotlight. No women have ever rocked harder than them, though Tina Turner certainly has her place in history alongside the Wilson sisters.
Avril Ramona Lavigne is a Canadian–French singer-songwriter and actress. By the age of 15, she had appeared on stage with Shania Twain; by 16, she had signed a two-album recording contract with Arista Records worth more than $2 million.
Sia Kate Isobelle Furler (born December 18, 1975), referred to mononymously as Sia, is an Australian singer and songwriter. She released her debut album in 1997 but mainly gained mainstream attention in the 2010s... read more Everything about her is amazing: her voice, her personality, and her ability to be an outstanding songwriter. It's incredible how she never runs out of ideas, writing many famous songs for others (e.g., Chained to the Rhythm, Diamonds, Flashlight, Quit, to name a few) and releasing over five pop albums herself that contain many great songs. Her songs all have a unique style, yet they are not too similar to each other. She is like a songwriting machine, I will say. Not many songwriters can match her level.
Emmylou Harris is an American singer and songwriter. She is also known for her activism. Despite her diverse talents, she is best known for her contributions to the country music genre... read more
Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, known professionally as Lady Gaga, is an American singer, songwriter, and actress.On the start of her career, she performed at an event called the Lollapalooza Festival during 2007 whereby a record label company Interscope found her due to her performance... read more
Why is this legend not on the list? Are you simply going to ignore the very intelligent lyrics from Bad Romance, Poker Face, and LoveGame? Or the heartwarming ballads like Speechless, The Edge of Glory, and You and I? Vote for her!
Definitely top 3. Modern pop singers should be ranked based on the amount of records sold: 1. Taylor Swift, 2. Lady Gaga.
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 The voice, the piano skills, the great songs - you believe every word she sings.