Top 10 Musicians Who Were Knighted

The Top Ten
1 Paul McCartney Sir James Paul McCartney (born 18 June 1942) is an English singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and composer. With John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, he gained worldwide fame with the rock band the Beatles, one of the most popular and influential groups in the history of pop and rock music.One of the most successful composers and performers of all time, he is known for his melodic... read more

Ah, whoever said the only person who can beat him is Freddie Mercury, what exactly are you comparing them on? If it's songwriting, McCartney is far superior, as well as his ability with an instrument (though that doesn't really matter much). As a singer, it's actually (believe it or not) debatable, as McCartney has this amazing talent where he has like 20 different voices! I really like Freddie, and I would understand why you would love him if you do, but compared to any of The Beatles, he doesn't quite compare to their level. But to be fair, no one really does.

In terms of bands, I'd put Queen somewhere in my top 5, possibly 5th, but The Beatles are number 1.

Paul McCartney was knighted, and deservedly so. He's a brilliant songwriter, singer, and a legendary music artist who revolutionized music in a way that only a few did!

Paul McCartney has been a part of 20 No. 1 hits with The Beatles, 5 with Wings, and two in his solo career. There is really no competition as to who is No. 1.

2 Elton John Sir Elton Hercules John (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight; 25 March 1947) is an English singer, pianist and composer. Collaborating with lyricist Bernie Taupin since 1967 on more than 30 albums, John has sold over 300 million records, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time. He has more than fifty Top 40 hits in the UK Singles Chart and US Billboard Hot 100, including nine number... read more

Sir Elton John is a SUPERB philanthropist. He created and hugely supports the Elton John AIDS Foundation, as well as 90 other charities. He richly deserves his latest honour, the highest knighthood of all, the "Order of the Companions of Honor" group. He is presently on his 3-year farewell tour around the world, and in November 2019, Billboard named him "Top Male Solo Artist of All Time".

Sir Elton John has just received the highest honour. He's been appointed to the "Order of the Companions of Honour" group (December 2019).

Sir Elton John has won the 2020 Billboard Music Award for Top Rock Tour.

3 Mick Jagger Sir Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger is an English singer, songwriter, and actor, best known as the lead vocalist and a co-founder of the Rolling Stones.

He received his award in 2003 from The Prince of Wales after Queen Elizabeth II allegedly refused to knight him in person for his historically anti-establishment views and image. Keith Richards criticized him for accepting the award. Mick responded by saying, "It's like being given an ice cream - one gets one, and they all want one."

Best singer ever, he beats Paul McCartney. Rolling Stones are better. A funny thing about Mick Jagger is he is Spanish.

4 Ringo Starr Richard Starkey known professionally as Ringo Starr, is an English musician, singer, songwriter and actor who gained worldwide fame as the drummer for the Beatles.

He received his knighthood from Prince William on March 20, 2018.

WAIT, wait, wait... just continuing from Gg2000's comment: He got knighted on my birthday?! Best 13th birthday present ever!

5 Van Morrison Sir George Ivan Morrison OBE is a Northern Irish singer, songwriter, instrumentalist and record producer. In 2016, he was knighted for services to the music industry and to tourism in Northern Ireland.
6 George Martin Sir George Henry Martin was an English record producer, arranger, composer, conductor, audio engineer, and musician

The greatest producer of all time.

7 Bono Paul David Hewson, known by his stage name Bono, is an Irish singer-songwriter, musician, venture capitalist, businessman, and philanthropist. His original nickname was Bono Vox which means "big voice".

He so deserves to be knighted. I hope he gets knighted soon.

8 Cliff Richard
9 Julie Andrews Dame Julia "Julie" Elizabeth Andrews is an English film and stage actress, singer, author, theatre director and dancer.
10 Tom Jones Sir Thomas Jones Woodward was a Welsh singer known by his stage name Tom Jones. He became one of the most popular vocalists to emerge from the mid-1960s.
The Contenders
11 Bob Geldof
12 Ravi Shankar
13 Rod Stewart Roderick David "Rod" Stewart is a British rock singer-songwriter. Born and raised in London, he is of Scottish and English ancestry.

He was knighted in the 2016 Birthday Honours.

14 Olivia Newton John Dame Olivia Newton-John was a British-Australian singer, songwriter and actress. She was a four-time Grammy award winner who had amassed five number-one and ten other Top Ten Billboard Hot 100 singles, and two number-one Billboard 200 solo albums. She died on August 8, 2022 of breast cancer in Santa Ynez, California.
15 Shirley Bassey Dame Shirley Veronica Bassey is a Welsh singer whose career began in the mid-1950s, best known both for her powerful voice and for recording the theme songs to the James Bond films Goldfinger, Diamonds Are Forever, and Moonraker.
16 Barry Gibb Barry Alan Crompton Gibb is a British singer, songwriter and record producer who rose to worldwide fame as a co-founder of the group Bee Gees, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed groups in the history of popular music.
17 Ray Davies Raymond Douglas "Ray" Davies is an English musician. He was the rhythm guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter for The Kinks, which he led with his younger brother, Dave.

Ray was knighted in 2017 for "service to the arts". I'm not a believer in the knighthood, but I do appreciate that Ray is getting some kind of recognition nowadays.

18 David Gilmour David Jon Gilmour is an English singer, songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer. He joined the progressive rock band Pink Floyd as guitarist and co-lead vocalist in 1968.
19 Joan Sutherland Joan Sutherland (November 7, 1926 - October 10, 2010) was an Australian operatic dramatic coloratura soprano, known for her contribution to the renaissance of the bel canto repertoire from the late 1950s to the 1980s. She was the first Australian to win a Grammy Award in 1962.
20 Ian Anderson Ian Scott Anderson is a Scottish-born musician, singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist whom is best known for his work as the lead vocalist, flautist, and acoustic guitarist of British rock band Jethro Tull.
21 Bryan Ferry
22 John Lennon John Winston Ono Lennon, MBE (9 October 1940 - 8 December 1980) was an English singer and songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as a co-founder of the Beatles, the most commercially successful band in the history of popular music. He was assassinated by Mark David Chapman on December 8, 1980 at age 40. Lennon was characterised by the rebellious nature and acerbic wit in his music, writing and drawings,... read more
23 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, baptised as Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart, was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical era, born in Salzburg.
24 Damon Albarn Damon Albarn is an English singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. He is known as the lead singer of the British rock band Blur, the co-founder, vocalist, instrumentalist and principal songwriter of the virtual band Gorillaz. He was born on March 23, 1968, in Whitechapel, London, England. Albarn has been an active supporter of various charities and philanthropic efforts throughout his career... read more
25 Brian May Brian Harold May is an English musician, singer, songwriter and astrophysicist, best known as the lead guitarist of the rock band Queen.
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