By Iris Goldsztajn
4:58am PST, Jan 29, 2026
Céline Dion
Céline Dion can reach notes other singers have never even heard of — skills that were all too apparent in hits like "My Heart Will Go On" and "It's All Coming Back to Me Now."
Cynthia Erivo
The
Wicked films established
Cynthia Erivo as one of our greatest musical talents ever, but she
had a long and fruitful career before that, having won Grammy, Emmy and Tony awards.
Miley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus is sometimes underestimated because she's an ex-Disney star, but her voice is unmistakably one of the best we have.
Ariana Grande
Ariana Grande is not only one of the greatest vocalists ever when she's singing her own music, but also when she's
impersonating other artists. That's what we call perfect pitch.
Beyoncé
Beyoncé is amazing — a fact we can all agree on — especially if you consider that she can perform songs in any genre under the sun and always gets it exactly right.
Diana Ross
One simply doesn't get dubbed the "Queen of Motown" — only people with voices like Diana Ross do.
Tina Turner
Tina Turner said it better than we could: She was "simply the best."
Whitney Houston
Over the course of her too-short life,
Whitney Houston moved millions of people with her out-of-this-world singing voice. Whitney, we will always love you.
Susan Boyle
Susan Boyle won the world over the second she opened her mouth to sing on
Britain's Got Talent. Say what you will about
Simon Cowell, he sure knows how to spot a special voice.
Sam Smith
Sam Smith is a ridiculously talented singer — from "Fire on Fire" to "Unholy."
Etta James
"At Last" is one of the best songs of all time (there's a reason it's the soundtrack to so many people's first dance), making Etta James one of the best singers.
Otis Redding
Otis Redding's singing voice is totally timeless in its ability to move spirits. "These Arms of Mine" is a particular favorite of ours.
Aretha Franklin
We have nothing but the deepest R.E.S.P.E.C.T. for the singing legend that is Aretha Franklin.
Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson truly could do it all — catchy pop songs AND heartbreaking ballads.
Mariah Carey
There's
a page on the official Grammy website explaining how
Mariah Carey earned the nickname of "The Songbird Supreme." That should tell you everything you need to know.
Amy Winehouse
Though she was gone far too soon, Amy Winehouse's angelic voice lives on through songs like "Back to Black" and "Valerie."
Kelly Clarkson
You just have to hear
Kelly Clarkson's absolute
roar on "Because of You" to know why she deserves a place on this list.
Adele
It's possible
Adele's albums and shows have caused more tears to fall than, like, the movie
Titanic. What a voice.
Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash's textured timbre on "I Walk the Line" or "Folsom Prison Blues" is inimitable.
Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley wasn't called The King because of his gyrating dance moves or middling acting work — he was called The King because he was one of the most talented singers of his generation.
Freddie Mercury
Though Queen's songs may seem poppy and upbeat, they took a serious voice to carry them — and that voice was Freddie Mercury's.
Maria Callas
Maria Callas is widely considered the best opera singer of all time — and frankly, it's hard to disagree.
Prince
Prince had a voice for the ages — we owe him a debt of gratitude for "Purple Rain" and "Raspberry Beret."
Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong's husky baritone cuts straight to the soul — even five decades after his death.
