Top 10 Greatest Female Singers of the 1990s

K.S. Chithra

Krishnan Nair Shantakumari Chithra, often credited as K. S. Chithra or simply Chithra, is an Indian playback singer from Kerala. She also sings Indian classical, devotional, and popular music. Chithra has recorded over 25,000 songs in various languages and is a recipient of six National Film Awards.

Chithra has the most pure and lovely voice by far. She is The Voice. You fall in love with her voice even if you don't understand the language.

Legendary singer. She can touch anyone's heart through her soulful singing. Blessed to hear her songs.

Her voice is timeless. She can still sing all her songs even though years have passed.

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

I'm from the 80s, and I have a soft spot for Whitney. She has an amazing voice, and all of her songs are stuck in my head! I'm a huge fan!

The best female vocalist to ever live. Her voice will never be forgotten.

Whitney, I don't have words to describe you!

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

Mariah's voice is such a treasure. She can hit high notes easily and reach low notes that other female singers struggle with. She can write inspirational songs based on her own experiences, which is very important in musicianship. She has more #1 hits than any other female artist.
Her runs and riffs are super cool, with melismas and resonance. She has developed many vocal qualities throughout the years. In my opinion, she has the best technique, and she makes covers sound like her own music. Mariah rose from a simple background to become the Songbird Supreme - so inspirational.
She can whistle like a bird, which is rare among singers. She brings her own style to whistling, and Mariah doesn't discriminate in friendships. She has friends of all backgrounds. Mariah was incredibly popular in the 90s, and even now, many people still sing her songs and adore her.
I know Mariah has critics, but that's normal for anyone. She's a multiracial singer with unique capabilities, including her voice, looks, style, and attitude. I'm so proud of our Songbird Supreme.

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

She's a great singer. I like Hand In My Pocket and Ironic. She is one of the artists who defined the 90s.

Love her and her music. She is great.

Madonna

Madonna Louise Ciccone, known professionally as Madonna, is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and businesswoman. She has influenced many artists, including Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, Rihanna, Beyoncé Knowles, and Britney Spears. Often referred to as the "Queen of Pop," she has played a significant... read more

Britney Spears

Britney Jean Spears (born on December 2, 1981, in McComb, Mississippi) is an American former singer and actress. She was raised in Kentwood, Louisiana. As a child, she performed acting roles in stage productions and television shows, such as The Mickey Mouse Club, before signing with Jive Records in... read more

Céline 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.

Fiona Apple

Fiona Apple McAfee-Maggart is an American singer-songwriter, pianist, and record producer. She gained widespread acclaim with her debut album Tidal in 1996, which included the hit single Criminal. Apple has won several Grammy Awards and is known for her introspective lyrics and distinctive musical style... read more

Tori Amos

Tori Amos is an American singer-songwriter and pianist. She is a classically trained musician with a mezzo-soprano vocal range. She gained prominence in the early 1990s with her debut solo album Little Earthquakes.

Janet Jackson

Janet Jackson is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and dancer known for her innovative music, socially conscious lyrics, and elaborate stage shows. She gained prominence with her third album, Control (1986), and has since sold over 100 million records worldwide. Jackson is also recognized as... read more

Literally one of the best and most underrated entertainers ever.

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Sia

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.

Born and raised in Adelaide, she started her career as a singer in the acid jazz... read more

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PJ Harvey

Polly Jean Harvey, known professionally as PJ Harvey, is an English musician, singer-songwriter, writer, poet, and composer. She is known for her distinctive voice and for experimenting with diverse musical styles throughout her career. Harvey is a two-time winner of the Mercury Prize, making her the... read more

Toni Braxton

Toni Michele Braxton was born on October 7, 1967, in Severn, Maryland, and is the oldest of six siblings. She has sold approximately 70 million records worldwide. Often referred to as the Queen of R&B, Braxton is known for her distinctive voice and major impact on 1990s and early 2000s R&B music.

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

Awesome performer! - Tommy Vee, GGC

Anneke van Giersbergen

Beyoncé

Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter is an American singer, songwriter, and actress who began her career as lead singer of Destiny's Child. The group scored multiple Billboard No. 1 hits including "Say My Name," "Bills, Bills, Bills," "Survivor," "Independent Women," and "Bootylicious." After their split,... read more

Dolores O'Riordan

Dolores Mary Eileen O'Riordan (September 6, 1971 - January 15, 2018) was an Irish musician, singer, and songwriter. She served as the lead vocalist and lyricist for the alternative rock band The Cranberries from 1990 until their breakup in 2003.... read more

As the lead vocalist of the Cranberries, Dolores was one of the most prominent women of 90s alternative and indie music.

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

Selena Quintanilla

Selena Quintanilla-Pérez was an American singer, songwriter, spokesperson, actress, and fashion designer. Known as the Queen of Tejano music, she was one of the most celebrated Mexican-American entertainers of the late 20th century. She was tragically murdered in 1995 at the age of 23.

Selena was and is legendary, and her legacy shall be carried on for generations.

Aaliyah

Aaliyah Dana Haughton was born on January 16, 1979, and tragically died on August 25, 2001. She was a dancer, actress, model, and R&B singer. Born in Brooklyn, New York, she was raised in Detroit, Michigan, and died in a plane crash near Marsh Harbour, Bahamas.... read more

Aaliyah is the queen. She's my heart. I love you!

Tarja Turunen

Tarja Soile Susanna Turunen-Cabuli (born August 17, 1977) is a Finnish singer-songwriter and soprano with a vocal range spanning approximately three octaves.

She studied singing at Finland's Sibelius Academy and Germany's Hochschule für Musik Karlsruhe. She's best known as the former lead vocalist... read more

Björk

Björk Guðmundsdóttir (born November 21, 1965) is an Icelandic singer, songwriter, composer, record producer, and actress. Over her four-decade career, she has developed a unique and eclectic musical style that incorporates elements from electronic, pop, jazz, experimental, trip hop, alternative, classical... read more

Girl power, genius videos, heroine of the rave scene, and a 90s icon. Huge influence - everybody named their babies Isobel for a year.

Lauryn Hill

Lauryn Noelle Hill is an American singer, rapper, and songwriter. She is best known as a member of the Fugees and for her solo album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, which won multiple Grammy Awards and achieved critical and commercial success. The album is widely regarded as one of the greatest hip-hop... read more

The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill is one of the greatest albums of all time. Every song was a bop, and it won so many awards!

Jewel

Jewel Kilcher is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, producer, actress, author, and poet. She rose to fame with her 1995 debut album Pieces of You, which went multi-platinum. Known for her folk-pop style, she has received multiple Grammy nominations.

Liv Kristine

Liv Kristine Espenæs, better known as Liv Kristine, is a singer and songwriter who has performed and composed songs mostly for various subgenres of heavy metal music. She is best known as the former lead vocalist of the bands Theatre of Tragedy and Leaves' Eyes. Liv Kristine has also released several... read more

Sarah McLachlan

Sarah Ann McLachlan (born January 28, 1968) is a Canadian singer and songwriter known for her emotive ballads. She founded the Lilith Fair tour, which showcased female artists in the late 1990s. As of July 2025, McLachlan has sold over 40 million albums worldwide.

Sinéad O'Connor

Sinéad Marie Bernadette O'Connor was an Irish singer-songwriter who rose to fame in the late 1980s with her debut album The Lion and the Cobra. She gained global recognition with her 1990 cover of Prince's Nothing Compares 2 U. Throughout her career, she was known for her powerful voice and outspoken... read more