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MUSIC
Popularity
Best Singers (Rolling Stone)
This list features the best singers of all time according to Rolling Stone magazine.
RANK | ARTIST | GENRE | LIFESPAN |
1 | Aretha Franklin | Soul/R&B | 1942–2018 |
2 | Whitney Houston | R&B/Pop | 1963–2012 |
3 | Sam Cooke | Soul | 1931–1964 |
4 | Billie Holiday | Jazz/Blues | 1915–1959 |
5 | Mariah Carey | Pop/R&B | 1969–present |
6 | Ray Charles | R&B/Soul | 1930–2004 |
7 | Stevie Wonder | R&B/Soul | 1950–present |
8 | Beyoncé | Pop/R&B | 1981–present |
9 | Otis Redding | Soul | 1941–1967 |
10 | Al Green | Soul | 1946–present |
11 | Little Richard | Rock and Roll | 1932–2020 |
12 | John Lennon | Rock | 1940–1980 |
13 | Patsy Cline | Country | 1932–1963 |
14 | Freddie Mercury | Rock | 1946–1991 |
15 | Bob Dylan | Folk/Rock | 1941–present |
16 | Prince | Funk/Rock | 1958–2016 |
17 | Elvis Presley | Rock and Roll | 1935–1977 |
18 | Celia Cruz | Salsa | 1925–2003 |
19 | Frank Sinatra | Jazz/Traditional Pop | 1915–1998 |
20 | Marvin Gaye | Soul/R&B | 1939–1984 |
References
Rolling Stone, (n.d.) Best Singers of All Time. [online] Available at: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-singers-all-time-1234642307/ [Accessed 1 December 2025].
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