Who’s your favorite? I nominate my favorite Patsy Cline.

Sissel Kyrkjebo. Causes nightingales to hide in shame.

Lot's of favorites... But i gott'a go with "The Welsh Witch"... She had me the first time i heard "Gold Dust Woman"...

Too many for there to be a "greatest", along with too many genres

Here's a favorite or 2
Grace


Maria:




Etta:

Her only fault is she is white. Just sayin’

A favorite anyway.

This is for chiliinstructor

She was also a member of a "Tribe" that some folks around here would hold against her.

And Fiona sings pretty well:

If anyone says Barbara Streisand, I will file a lawsuit against them! lol

KB

Oh wow

I don’t think Old Toot/HoustonToo is dead.

So many. Whitney

Stevie Nicks

Whitney Houston would be high up on the list for me. Martina McBride would also. There are so many very talented women singers both past and present I’d have trouble deciding who is the best. The more I type here the more candidates I come up with……

For me, Lena Horne


with Cab Calloway sounding a little bit Glenn Millerish - which isn't bad at all.

Winehouse was a dude in drag

+1

Yep. If you count longevity, been singing well for a long time.

You guys bring up some good choices, ok how about by genre? Try to narrow it down that way.

The Country, Pop, Rock, Jazz, Gospel, and others in no particular order, all had/have some great talent but when I hear Stevie, Ann,Nancy,Pat,Alana, to name a few, I do a ton of reminiscing of the heroes I served with!

Patsy Cline, or Alison Krauss

There are so many great ones. Amy Winehouse, Beth Hart, Pat Benetar, Joan Jett, If i have to pic just one it would have to be Stevie Nicks.

Lzzy Hale, Ann Wilson, Amy Lee

There's a pile of them and many mentioned already but one I love and rarely see mentioned is Nina -

Alannah Miles
Allison Krauss
Stevie Nicks
Christine McVie
Deana Carter

There’s a bunch of em.

Nobody’s mentioned Yoko Ono.

And shouldn't!

Patsy Cline is still my #1.

kwg

Been diggin some Brandi Carlile lately, what a voice, she's covering Soundgarden here

Eva Cassidy, her album,SONGBIRD, on Blix Street Records,is outstanding.

Listen to this, then re-evaluate…

I've always thought Christine McVie was much better than Stevie Nicks but they aren't at the top. There has been much talent come and go.

Karen Carpenter

Good one. Worldwide, Nana Mouskouri. Sold more records than anyone. Amazing how many Americans have never even heard of her. Can't get beyond American country and pop.

Nana speaks six or seven languages besides her native Greek, and sings in even more. Even does a pretty good job with American country-western.

Yeah, Stevie is at the top of my list. Loreena McKennitt is next.

I would have to vote for Grace Slick !!!

Amen. A Norwegian goddess.

Paul, I agree 100%. I sure wish Nana M. had sung 'Shenandoah'...with no music knowledge all I can do is compare 2 singers singing the same song.
Sissel supposedly brought Riccardo Chailly (arguably the greatest conductor of our time) to tears when he heard her sing, "Going Home".

Being a Texican, therefore a bit (?) biased toward the C&W side of things, I'll put Ms. Cline right up there with the cream of the crop.
THAT said, there aren't many genre's of music that I can't handle. Acid rock, Punk Rock and Rap* at the top of the "Can't Stand" list.

Let me add:
Patty Loveless
Sharon White (Skaggs)
Dottie West
Juice Newton
...and fer chrissakes, don't leave out Ella and Kate! 😉

Each songstress has qualities that others don't. That's what, to me, makes it impossible to select a "G.O.A.T."**.

* - Rap isn't music, it's a vulgar recitation set to indescribable sounds

** - Greatest Of All Times

Not much to look at but Alison Krauss is easy on the ears...

Mighty close. Can you imagine a duet? Nana is in her late 80s now. She wasn't as good in her post-retirement performances. Not surprising.

+1

There has been a lot of good ones. But these two are a good start. Hasbeen

Reba, Adelle, Dolly.
They are all different but great.
Patsy Cline, Tracy Chapmen, very talented Lady Gaga.
Patty Loveless, Suzy Boggus, KD Lang.
I can’t pick just one. And there are many more.

Sandy Denny or Jacqui McShee.

It’s not really fair comparing different venues with one another. Many performers shine in their venue but few crossover. It really boils down to who do you personally like.

Floor Jansen does it for me !



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If I had to pick just 1 I'd lean towards Whitney Houston even though I wasn't a big fan of her genre. Too bad her life ended way too soon.

Many great ones. Jackie Evancho among them.

I have many favorites, but Linda Ronstadt is the GOAT. She could do anything.

BuckHaggar nailed it Linda Rondstadt

Lizzo

Anne Murrey is amough the best.

Judith Durham

Suzannah Hoffs for obvious reasons

Saw Annie Wilson last summer, Emmy Lou two years prior at the same festival.
Both were still very capable of belting out any song in their repertoire.
But there are so damned many great ones!

You have good taste.

I thought about her for a minute, but as has been mentioned, too many to list.

Dude!

Loretta Lynn- It takes exactly one name to call the roll in her class.

Don't think I saw anyone mention the Queen of Soul

I can believe no one has said Elton John !!!

Celine Dion
Anni-Frid Lyngstad

Amen from the back row!

I love the Pentangle. Used to listen to them on The Thistle and the Shamrock.

Janet Joplin - mezzo-soprano.

There was no one like her.

Loretta is definitely great but I give the edge to her bestie Patsy. Both are great.

Petula Clark

With all the singing/talent shows on the TV in recent years, I've concluded that the world is full of great singers, both male and female. The difference is among the songwriters. I could be wrong since I'm not a music aficionado.

Too many, Nora Jones has a sexy voice.

Stevie Nicks

Grace Slick
Joni Mitchell
Sandy Denny
Annie Haslam
Eva Cassidy
Etta James

Sorry, can't pick a greatest.

I've heard a lot of amazing vocalists, but the technique, range and style are unmatched by this lady.

Well, if toot toot / houstan deuce could sing, she'd be right up there !

Mind the thick ankles, but she, sure could sing !

Olivia Newton-John

May not be the greatest, either, just a "home country" favourite.

Amy Winehouse was phenomenal

Stevie !!

We didn't have MTV...and I always assumed that was a dude with a feminine name.

It maybe, maybe it was ahead of its time.

Alison Krauss - Nearly perfection.

My ears tell me some singers are getting voted for their hotness, & not superior singing ability to some of the top ones.

??

She does have an amazing voice but all her songs seem to follow the same formula. I'd love to hear her do some old Jefferson Airplane music. Of course Grace Slick would probably shoot her. 😂

I've listened to Patsy Kline and more than a few of their genre but find most of them have limited range and stage presence- not to step on anyone's toes here but that is as important to me as the actual musical talent, which we have plenty of these days and in the fairly recent past...
There have been some great names mentioned and I can't disagree with any of them but my favorites are a bit different. I love hearing that sultry, sexy delivery of Adelle, the power of the Queen Arethra, and the range of Alicia Keys... But how can you not love Alison Krause?

Let me ask this question just for giggles- how many of us have had our musical tastes change over the years as different talent and genres have become available to us? It can be overwhelming to consider all the great music we have had available if you are 70 or older like me, but I'm not complaining. Most of us grew up with some really great music in our lives that evoke some memories ....

I knew there would be at least one vote for Janet Joplin!

My brother claims Alison Krauss sounds like Alvin and the Chipmunks. I can't shake that, and I heart Alison.

Crystal Gayle

LOL. I’ve heard mating bobcats that sounded better than that old skank bitch.

Seen her a couple of times live. Definitely in my top 10.
Patsy Cline is still # 1 IMO.

But Patty Loveless, Martina McBride, Leeann Rymes, Allison Krause and the Commie Libertard c.unts like Ann Wilson, Emmy Lou Harris, and Linda Ronstadt would make my list too.

Honorable mention to one of my personal favorites Rosanne Cash.

I like Janis.


Dad likes Joan Osborne.

Tarja Turunen & Alissa White Gluz

for different reasons

Diana Ross....Maria Callas.....Etta James.

Elizabeth Cotten, Sister Tharpe.


Bunch of good ones.

You mean Janet?

Ella Fitzgerald
or
Sarah Vaughn

honorable mentions:

Natalie Cole
Diana Krall

Shania Twain

Man, she feels like a woman.

Fugg...missed that at first.


Yep...Janet Joplin for the win.

Take another little piece of my hearth now baby.....

One might use that word,

and quite properly I might add.

Seems the drunks and druggies have something going on with the voice, phrasing, and emotion. Probably some psycho stuff going on too.

Dude,

You win, first to offer up Sister Rosetta!

Without a bunch of production tricks

Nobody gonna menton Jessie Colter?

Love that gals voice.

Coupla Patricia types,

No youtube, Coulter, "His eye is on the sparrow."

This one hard to beat. I could listen to her sing all day


.

Thumbs up here!

I like her mouth better than her singing.

Oh Brother

I meet her and Waylon when I was about 9, Waylon's mom live a couple of houses down from my Grandmother.

It was an intriguing looking mouth...you gotta admit.

Which side of the family was that on?

Dad's

Had to go to google & learn terms.

Stevie Nicks was a mezzo-soprano, but about 1998, due to her excessive drug use she became a contralto, the lowest of all female voices.

Listening to her sing in the later years I thought she could take Johnnys place in the ...Daddy sang base, while Lorreta said...momma sang tenor song.

Both hot but, truth. Watched Martina nearly faint while trying to cover a few Pat Benatar songs, while Pat could cover Martinas songs with what seemed little effort. Is that just the different octave ranges of each singer or is one simply better than the other???

Delores was great, really enjoyed that voice.

I enjoyed Marie also.


Both gone too soon.

My favorite.

Bonnie Raitt, followed by Aretha Franklin, both take most songs to the next level.

Amy Lee...

Not saying greatest, but check her out. Goth rock, opera to concert hall pianist & voice. Most of her lyrics are hers.

Pat Benatar was almost unreal back in the day.

Few try to cover her songs. Cause they can't.

I was going to mention her.
What about Christina Ramos or Elaine Page? Both pretty talented in their own genres.

The other Taylor, not slummy's gal

Dusty Springfield, Skeeter Davis, Leslie Gore, Aretha Franklin

How'a bout the Disco Queens... Donna Summer, Blondie, Amii Stewart and Thelma Houston...

How about Sade?

That's ^ ^ what you want to have playing when
your woman comes out of the bathroom and
drops her robe and she's got all of her V.S.
goodies on and tells you to lay back on the bed

Newcomer Lucy Thomas.
Hallelujah - Lucy Thomas - (Official Music Video) - YouTube
Has younger sister Martha that sometimes sings with her. GW

Priscilla Block is a new artist with a great voice, she’s also a hottie! 🥵

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yes sir, Floor is a vocal phenomenon, most of the tone deaf on this thread can't & never will see it (hear it .. in non pitch terms)

ala .. can you "see" the music ...... almost none will understand that here

Too many good ones to pick just one, but the best voices belong to Ann Wilson, Patsy Cline & Stevie Nicks.

MM

In terms of "country music" a fresh but powerful voice is Lannie Wilson

Twang included

LBP
I respect your opinion, but ain't nobody better than Miss Loretta. Hard for me to put anyone ahead of Miss Tammy in second place or Miss Emmy Lou in third. As long as we have REAL country music, It's all good.

I had to look to verify lol.

yes sir, Floor is a vocal phenomenon, most of the tone deaf on this thread can't & never will see it (hear it .. in non pitch terms)

ala .. can you "see" the music ...... almost none will understand that here[/quote]

Sort of like Mike Patton, everyone should know who he is, most underrated male singer there is. There's nothing he can't do. Ritchie Kotzen doesnt get enough credit either for his singing or guitar playing.

I've never seen Floor live, but have seen Christina Scabbia, she can sing and is nice to look at.

Alison Krauss

Karen Carpenter. One of the greatest female voices ever. Too bad she starved herself to death.

Ron

A Taylor Swift she ain't ,

All great singers!

I told you so!

Thank God for that. She’s a great singer and hot!

There ain't anything hot about her. She's a fatty.

Smokin hot fatty!

She is better than her sister...

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She needs to sing Led Zepplin Greatest Hits, because, that is a "Whole Lotta Love."

Yes Sir!