The 2000s was defined culturally by its widespread use of the internet that contributed to the globalization that’s ever present in society today; early social media websites such as Myspace and Friendster allowed for individualism and connectivity while music sharing websites shifted the industry economically, allowing for an easier means of storing, recording and distributing music. MP3 players and early smartphones enabled easier access for music consumption on the go, leading to a steady decline of physical sales, forever altering music distribution.
The decade saw an explosive pop and hip-hop boom with artists such as Eminem, Kanye West, and OutKast being major influences. Mainstream music introduced the regular use of auto-tune initially popularized by Eiffel 55 with their 1998 hit single Blue (Da Ba Dee). Pop punk, garage rock and post-punk became synonymous with the decade, with bands such as The White Stripes and The Strokes defining the modern alternative sound.
These are some of the most influential female vocalists of the 2000s from a variety of genres that have defined the decade with their innovative sound, lyricism and image that continues to inspire artists today.
List of the Best 2000s Female Singers
25. JoJo
Born | December 20, 1990 Brattleboro, Vermont |
Years active | 1998 to Present |
Genre | Pop, R&B, Hip-Hop, Soul |
One of the biggest teen sensations of the early 2000s, Joanna Noëlle Levesque (known professionally by her stage name JoJo) began singing at the age of two in her family’s one-bedroom apartment.
JoJo’s debut took the world by storm, leading her to become the youngest female artist to ever be nominated for an MTV Music Award. In 2006 she was cast in the widely successful films Aquamarine and RV and released her second studio album, The High Road. The album’s single Too Little Too Late jumped from number 66 to number three on the Billboard Hot 100 chart; this broke the record for the biggest jump into the top three which was previously held by Mariah Carey.
The teen sensation has continued to release music throughout the past decade with her most recent EP, Trying Not to Think About It having been released on October 1, 2021.
24. Lily Allen
Born | May 2, 1985 Hammersmith, London, England |
Years active | 1998 to Present |
Genre | Electropop, R&B, Pop, Reggae |
Lily Allen began her music career in 2005 at the age of 20 after she was discovered and signed to Regal Recordings. Allen began using the early social media platform Myspace where she posted numerous vocal demos that helped her gain traction before the release of her debut studio album, Alright Still, in 2006.
The album launched Allen into the global spotlight as the album’s lead single, Smile, became a number one hit on the UK Billboard charts, described by the music webzine Drowned in Sound as an “infectious slice of bouncing, carnival reggae that punches hard with its opening line.” Over 2.6 million copies of Alright Still have been sold globally.
Allen has released three studio albums since her debut with her fifth currently in the works.
23. Hilary Duff
Born | September 28, 1987 Houston, Texas |
Years active | 1993 to Present |
Genre | Pop, Dance-Pop, Pop Rock |
Perhaps known best for playing Lizzie McGuire in the Disney television show of the same name, teen idol Hillary Duff’s iconic acting career spawned into a successful music career, making her one of the most prolific teen stars of the 2000s.
Duff released her debut studio album Santa Claus Lane in 2002 at the age of 15, though her music career didn’t gain traction until the release of her second studio album Metamorphosis, which sold over five million copies globally and featured the single Come Clean which peaked at number 35 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Duff’s music career continued into the 2010s when she released her fifth studio album Breathe In, Breathe Out which reached number five on the Billboard Albums chart. Time magazine stated that the album “splits the difference between contemporary club-bangers and mid-2000s pop that’s aged better than Duff or anybody else could have imagined.”
22. Miley Cyrus
Born | November 23, 1992 Franklin, Tennessee |
Years active | 2001 to Present |
Genre | Pop, Rock, Country Pop, Hip-Hop |
Having started her career as one of the world’s most iconic teen stars in the Disney Channel television series Hannah Montana, Miley Cyrus has since detached herself from her childhood stardom and has made a new name for herself as an adult with her distinct raspy voice and gradual plunge into a rock n roll musical identity.
Cyrus’ early hits include Party in the U.S.A, The Climb and See You Again, all of which charted high on the Billboard Top 100 and solidified Cyrus’ reputation as a successful teenage musician.
Cyrus has continued to explore her identity as an adult and has fallen into her voice, covering songs such as Heart of Glass by Blondie and making them her own. Cyrus released her seventh studio album Plastic Hearts in 2020.
Music journalist Bella Fleming stated that “with Plastic hearts comes a wonderful album about life as a fiercely independent woman. Cyrus has found the perfect balance of pushing her own musical boundaries whilst proving she’s one of the strongest and bravest names in the constant celebrity whirlwind.”
21. Lacey Sturm
Born | Homestead, Florida |
Years active | 2000 to Present |
Genre | Alternative Metal, Christian Metal, Post Grunge |
Lacey Sturm is one of the most successful female vocalists in Christian Metal, having defined the modern sound of Christian rock music when she co-founded the band Flyleaf alongside drummer Japes Culpepper in 2000.
Sturm became interested in Christianity after contemplating suicide. She wandered into a church where she met a man who spoke to her about God, forever changing her view of life and religion. Flyleaf released their self-titled debut studio album in 2005 which featured the tracks Fully Alive, I’m So Sick, and All Around Me which is their most successful track to date, having sold over one million copies and topping at number six on the Billboard Alternative chart.
Sturm departed from Flyleaf in 2012 and embarked on her solo career two years later, releasing her debut solo album in 2016, Life Screams, which went on to top the Billboard Hard Rock Albums Chart. In 2020 Sturm released her new single The Decree which was written alongside Skillet’s Korey Cooper.
20. Ashlee Simpson
Born | October 3, 1984 Waco, Texas |
Years active | 1999 to Present |
Genre | Pop Rock, R&B, Pop Punk |
The younger sister of Jessica Simpson, Ashlee Simpson made a name for herself with the release of her debut studio album in 2004, Autobiography, which was noted as “an unexpectedly strong debut” by AllMusic. The album consisted of a pop-rock sound and featured the single Pieces of Me which became an instant hit, surpassing the top five spots on the Billboard Hot 100 and the Mainstream Top 40. Simpson went on to release two more albums, I Am Me in 2005 and Bittersweet World in 2008, both of which were met with positive reception.
19. Lzzy Hale
Born | October 10, 1983 Red Lion, Pennsylvania |
Years active | 1997 to Present |
Genre | Hard Rock, Alternative Metal, Post Grunge |
Known best for the band she started with her brother Arejay, Halestorm, Lzzy Hale became one of the most iconic female rock singers of the 2000s.
Halestorm became a rock sensation towards the end of the 2000s with the release of their self-titled debut studio album in 2009 which featured the hit singles I Get Off and It’s Not You. The band saw major mainstream success in the 2010s with the release of their second studio album The Strange Case of… which features some of their biggest hits to date, I Miss the Misery, Love Bites (So Do I) and Here’s to Us.
In 2021, Hale became the first ever female Gibson Brand Ambassador after being a long-time fan of the legendary guitar manufacturer. Hale partnered with the brand in the past to design the Limited Edition Lzzy Hale Explorer guitar and now as an ambassador will assist in creating new signature models for the company.
18. Natasha Bedingfield
Born | November 26, 1981 Haywards Heath, West Sussex, England |
Years active | 2001 to Present |
Genre | R&B, Pop |
Natasha Bedingfield’s passion for music started from an early age when she formed The DNA Algorithm alongside her siblings Nikola and Daniel. Bedingfield composed songs for the group and experimented with numerous genres and songwriting that expressed female empowerment and independence which became synonymous with her musical identity as an adult.
Bedingfield’s solo career soared in 2004 with the release of her debut studio album, Unwritten. The album’s third single of the same name became an instant hit, as it was the most popular song on US radio that year and reached number six on the UK Singles chart.
Bedingfield’s success only continued to rise with follow-up hits Pocketful of Sunshine and love Like This surpassing the top ten spots on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Bedingfield’s newest project, her fourth studio album Roll With Me, was released in 2019 and was met with positive acclaim from critics and longtime fans.
17. Karen O
Born | November 22, 1978 Busan, South Korea |
Years active | 2000 to Present |
Genre | Indie Rock, Punk Rock, Alternative Rock, Art Rock |
One of the most iconic indie artists of the 2000s, Karen Lee Orzolek (known professionally as Karen O) paved the way for future artists across a variety of alternative genres.
Born in South Korea, Karen O moved to the US as a child and grew up in Englewood, New Jersey. After attending New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, Karen O formed the Yeah Yeah Yeahs with Brian Chase and Nick Zinner in 2000.
The band gained immediate attention after touring with renowned indie bands The White Stripes and The Strokes and released their debut studio album in 2003, Fever to Tell. The album sold nearly one million copies globally and received wide critical acclaim, particularly for the album’s hit single Maps.
Described as “an art-rock trio who made an edgy post-punk, dancefloor-friendly racket that mixed up Blondie with Siouxie and the Banshees,” the Yeah Yeah Yeahs remains one of the most celebrated indie groups of all-time.
16. Corrine Bailey Rae
Born | February 26, 1979 Leeds, England |
Years active | 1998 to Present |
Genre | Neo Soul, R&B |
Some of the smoothest, most dreamy vocals came from the unsuspecting Corrine Bailey Rae in 2006 when her eponymous debut studio album was released and put her on the map as one of the best new artists of the 2000s.
Bailey Rae’s debut album featured the hit single Like a Star which peaked at number four on the Billboard 200 chart, while the album’s second single Put Your Records On remains her biggest hit to date with over one million copies sold in the US alone. Bailey Rae won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 2008 after collaborating with legendary artist Herbie Hancock on his album River: The Joni Letters.
Bailey Rae has released two albums since her debut, The Sea in 2010 and her most recent, The Heart Speaks in Whispers in 2016, both of which were met with critical acclaim. Corrine Bailey Rae is one of my personal favorite female singers of the 2000s.
15. Fergie
Born | March 27, 1975 Hacienda Heights, California |
Years active | 1984 to Present |
Genre | Pop, Hip-Hop, R&B |
One of the most prominent members of the hip-hop music group The Black Eyed Peas, Fergie embarked on a widely successful solo career in the 2000s that put her on the map as one of the best female pop and hip-hop artists of the decade.
Fergie’s debut studio album The Dutchess was released in 2006 and featured four hit singles, Big Girls Don’t Cry, Fergalicious, London Bridge and Glamorous. Hits with The Black Eyes Peas include I Gotta Feeling, Imma Be, Meet Me Halfway, Boom Boom Pow and Rock That Body, all of which have charted highly on the Billboard Hot 100. Fergie continued to sing with The Black Eyed Peas until she released her second studio album a decade later, Double Dutchess in 2017.
Fergie has earned a total of 61 awards throughout her career for her solo music and her work with The Black Eyed Peas, including eight Grammy Awards, five Teen Choice Awards and three MTV Video Music Awards.
14. Imogen Heap
Born | December 9, 1977 Havering, London, England |
Years active | 1997 to Present |
Genre | Electropop, Alternative Rock, Pop |
With some of the most unique vocals of all time, Imogen Heap was one of the most innovative artists to emerge in the 2000s, known for her excessive use of autotune to create an ethereal, futuristic ambiance to her music.
A pioneer of the electropop genre, Heap became interested in music at an early age and learned to play the cello, clarinet and piano. She started writing her own music at the age of 13 and became obsessed with singing and writing while attending the BRIT School for Performing Arts & Technology.
Heaps second studio album Speak for Yourself released in 2005 put her on the map as one of the decade’s most artistic musicians. The album featured the iconic song Hide and Seek which became incredibly popular after it was featured on the season two finale of the TV series The O.C. The song was later sampled by Jason Derulo in his song Whatcha Say in 2009 which brought even more attention to the song.
Now regarded as an influential figure in pop music, Heap has been praised by music journalists and critics, with The New York Times stating that “Heap is a pop pioneer whose work has established her as an innovator in musical technology.”
13. Dido
Born | December 25, 1971 Kensington, London, England |
Years active | 1995 to Present |
Genre | Electropop, Trip Hop, Downtempo, Folktronica |
Dido was one of the most successful artists of the 2000s, defining the decade’s sound with her iconic debut chart-breaking album released in 1999, No Angel.
No Angel spawned the hit singles Thank You and Here With Me, which led the album to sell over 21 million copies globally and won two BRIT Awards and one MTV Europe Music Award. The song Thank You became a legendary hit when iconic rapper Eminem sampled the song’s first verse in his 2000 hit Stan, making the track known to a wider variety of music fans.
Dido’s follow-up album Life for Rent was released in 2003 and featured the hits Life for Rent and White Flag, the latter being her biggest hit to date with over 200 million streams on Spotify. Considered staples of the decade by music critics, both albums remain some of the best-selling of all time in the UK and are listed in the top 10 best-selling albums of the 2000s in the UK.
Despite being a 2000s icon, Dido returned to the music industry in 2013 and released her fourth studio album, Girl Who Got Away, which surpassed the top five on the UK Albums chart.
12. Leona Lewis
Born | April 3, 1985 Islington, London, England |
Years active | 2004 to Present |
Genre | Pop, R&B, Soul |
British singer-songwriter Leona Lewis gained international recognition after winning the third season of British reality competition The X Factor in 2006 where she earned a million-dollar contract with Syco Music that catapulted her into the spotlight.
Lewis’s debut studio album Spirt was released in 2008 in the US and garnered critical and social acclaim, making her the first British artist to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 200 chart with their debut album. The album featured some of Lewis’ biggest hits to date, Bleeding Love and Forgive Me.
Bleeding Love became a 2000s anthem, staying at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks. It was the first song by a female artist from the UK to reach number one on the chart in over two decades.
Lewis has since been regarded as one of the most prominent female artists of the 2000s, with AllMusic stating that “Lewis can hit high belted notes but make it seem easy, never straining her voice and building nicely to the climax. Unlike most divas, there is a human quality to her voice, as she’s singing to the song, not singing to her voice.”
11. P!nk
Born | September 8, 1979 Doylestown, Pennsylvania |
Years active | 1995 to Present |
Genre | Pop Rock, R&B, Pop |
Known for her signature blonde pixie cut and punk attitude, P!nk (born Alecia Beth Moore) was one of the edgiest, genuine female pop stars on the scene during the 2000s that managed to skillfully incorporate an independent rock edge within her music while maintaining major mainstream appeal.
P!nk’s first major success came in 2000 with the release of her debut studio album, Can’t Take Me Home which became certified double-platinum with two Billboard Hot 100 hits, Most Girls and There You Go. Her second studio album Missundaztood was released the following year and spawned three global number one hits, Don’t Let Me Get Me, Get the Party Started, and Just Like a Pill.
The success of P!nk’s unique take on pop music landed her as one of the most influential artists of her time. The Los Angeles Times described P!nk’s legacy, stating that “P!nk stood up for her music, broke the music industry’s mold and scored a breakout hit, challenging a school of teen singers to find their own sounds as well.”
10. M.I.A
Born | July 18, 1975 London, England |
Years active | 2000 to Present |
Genre | Progressive Rap, Hip-Hop, Dance, Electronic |
Rapper and singer Mathangi “Maya” Arulpragasam (known professionally as M.I.A.) broke into the mid-2000s progressive rap and dance scene with her pertinent lyrics that describe immigration, identity, warfare, and social and political commentary.
Growing up in Sri Lanka during a civil war steered M.I.A towards a passion for expressive art and music. She released her debut studio album Arular in 2005 which was met with critical and social acclaim for its musical experimentation with hip-hop and electronic fusion and lyrics that addressed the Iraq War. Her second album Kala propelled M.I.A into the global spotlight, as it featured some of her biggest hits to date, Paper Planes and Come Around.
Now known as one of the most successful and awe-inspiring South Asian musicians of all time, M.I.A has been listed as one of the defining artists of the 2000s by Rolling Stone Magazine as well as one of the 100 Most Influential People by Time Magazine.
9. Amy Lee
Born | December 13, 1981 Riverside, California |
Years active | 1995 to Present |
Genre | Gothic Metal, Alternative Rock, Symphonic Metal, Hard Rock |
Known for her distinctive operatic vocals mixed with rock and metal instrumentals and her unique fashion style, Amy Lee is one of the most important alternative female artists of the 2000s and one of the most iconic frontwomen in metal history.
Perhaps known best as the frontwoman of the hard rock and symphonic metal band Evanescence, Lee rose to prominence with Evanescence’s debut studio album in 2003 which featured four hit singles, Bring Me to Life, Going Under, My Immortal and Everybody’s Fool. The album landed Evanescence two Grammy Awards for Best New Artist and Best Hard Rock Performance.
The iconic album was listed on Rolling Stones 100 Greatest Metal Albums of All-Time list, stating that it was an “unlikely classic with a horror-movie-level ambiance that was as chilling as it was campy.” Lee’s success as the frontwoman of Evanescence has deemed her as a “gothic rock superstar” by many, as she continues to define mainstream modern metal and rock.
8. Amy Winehouse
Born | September 14, 1983 Enfield, London, England |
Years active | 2002 to 2011 |
Genre | Soul, Rhythm and Blues, Jazz |
Considered one of the most legendary modern artists, Amy Winehouse was one of the sincerest innovators in jazz and rhythm and blues with a hardwired passion for music and performance.
Winehouse became an instant legend with the release of her second and final studio album, Back to Black, which has become one of the best-selling albums of all time in the UK. The album featured the hit singles Back to Black, Rehab, Tears Dry on Their Own and You Know I’m No Good. The title single was listed at number 33 on the 500 Greatest Albums of All-Time list by Rolling Stone Magazine.
The iconic album has since been regarded by music critics as a major influence in British soul music in the 2000s, paving the way for artists like Adele and Estelle Swaray. Winehouse landed five Grammy Awards for the album, the most received by a British woman in a single night.
After battling alcohol and drug addiction for a number of years, Winehouse died at the age of 27 in 2011. Despite her tragic passing, she has since been noted as a cultural icon and her legacy continues to live on through the music she created. On Winehouse’s 31st birthday in 2014, a statue was unveiled in her honor in Camden’s Stable Market, where it will stand as a permanent memorial and as a reminder of the impact her music holds in society. Amy Winehouse is easily one of the best 2000 female singers and deserves a spot on this list
7. Christina Aguilera
Born | December 18, 1980 New York City, New York |
Years active | 1992 to Present |
Genre | Pop, Soul, R&B |
One of the most powerful, impactful voices of the 2000s came from Christina Aguilera. Known for addressing topics such as feminism, sexuality, and domestic violence within her music, Aguilera’s meaningful lyrics have contributed to her positive reception, earning her the title of the “Voice of a Generation.”
Aguilera’s 1999 self-titled debut studio album was an instant hit, featuring the singles Genie in a Bottle, Come On Over Baby (All I Want Is You), and What a Girl Wants, all of which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Some of Aguilera’s follow-up hits include Beautiful, Dirrty, Moves Like Jagger, and Say Something.
Having sold over 75 million records globally since her debut, Aguilera has been recognized by Billboard as the 20th most successful artist of the 2000s. The Los Angeles Times has described Aguilera’s legacy in pop music, stating that “for a generation who hit puberty during the great 2000 pop explosion, Aguilera was an essential voice with music that tackled subject matter her contemporaries were shying away from.”
6. Avril Lavigne
Born | September 27, 1984 Belleville, Ontario, Canada |
Years active | 1999 to Present |
Genre | Pop Punk, Pop Rock, Post-Grunge, Alternative Rock |
“Pop Punk Queen” Avril Lavigne became one of the most influential punk-inspired artists of the early 2000s for her female-driven edge, pink highlights, and masculine punk style that has continued to influence teenage girls today.
Lavigne became an instant sensation with the release of her debut studio album in 2002, Let Go, which featured the major hits Sk8r Boi and Complicated, both of which resonated deeply with teenage youth across the globe. The album reached number two on the Billboard 200 albums chart and is currently the best-selling of the 21st century by a Canadian artist, having sold over one million copies in less than a year.
Lavigne’s influence has spilled into the 2010s and beyond, as she has been noted by critics as being one of the most important pop-punk artists of all time. Though she hasn’t released music since 2016, she stated in an interview in September 2021 that she plans to release new music in October.
5. Jennifer Lopez
Born | July 24, 1969 New York City, New York |
Years active | 1986 to Present |
Genre | R&B, Latin, Hip Hop, Pop, Dance |
Pop culture icon Jennifer Lopez (also known as J.Lo) is often referred to as a triple threat entertainer for her successes in music, film, and dance. With over 70 million records sold globally, J.Lo has become the most influential Latin artist in North America known for dissolving ethnic barriers that were present within the entertainment industry for a number of years.
With her hits On The Floor, Jenny from the Block, Let’s Get Loud and Dance Again, J.Lo has scored a variety of awards and records. She is the only female to have a number one film and album simultaneously in the US, holds the Guinness World Record for the number one remix album, and the highest viewed female music video of all time.
In 2012 J.Lo was listed as the most powerful celebrity in the world and the 38th most powerful woman in the world in Forbes Magazine and earned her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame the following year.
4. Shakira
Born | February 2, 1977 Barranquilla, Colombia |
Years active | 1990 to Present |
Genre | Pop, Latin, Rock |
Often referred to as the “Queen of Latin Music,” Shakira is the definition of a pioneer, having fused a traditional Latin sound with modern pop music and landing it into the global mainstream, making her one of the most important Latinx musicians of all time.
With over 75 million records sold globally, Shakira’s diverse discography includes hits such as Waka Waka (This Time for Africa), Hips Don’t Lie, La Bicicleta, Whenever, Wherever and Chantaje. These hits have earned Shakira numerous awards, including seven Billboard Music Awards, three Grammy Awards, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Shakira was described by AllMusic as a “wildly inventive diva who created a cross-cultural pop sound rooted in her native Colombia but encompassing nearly very territory in the world. She wrote or co-wrote nearly all of her own material, and in the process gained a reputation as one of Latin music’s most ambitiously poetic lyricists.”
3. Hayley Williams
Born | December 27, 1988 Meridian, Mississippi |
Years active | 2003 to Present |
Genre | Pop Punk, Alternative Rock, Emo, Pop Rock, Pop |
Considered an icon in the alternative rock and pop scenes, Hayley Williams became one of the most legendary female artists of the 2000s for her work as the lead vocalist for Paramore and her unique fashion style and brightly colored hair that inspired the decade’s angsty youth.
Williams became a global sensation at the age of 19 after Paramore’s second studio album Riot! was released in 2007 which featured some of their biggest hits to date, Misery Business and That’s What You Get, putting the band on the map as one of the most influential of the decade.
Following an interview with Williams, journalist Joshua Martin wrote that “the band isn’t just a short pop-punk girl with red hair and a spunky attitude. Their music is like them, it’s aged differently. It’s sped up, and slowed down. It’s emo without being whiny, or bratty.”
2. Britney Spears
Born | December 2, 1981 McComb, Mississippi |
Years active | 1999 to Present |
Genre | Pop, Dance-Pop, Teen Pop, Electropop |
One of the world’s most authentic pop stars, Britney Spears shook the globe with the release of her first two studio albums which remain some of the best-selling of all-time, …Baby One More Time in 1999 and Oops!… I Did It Again in 2000.
Known by many as the “Princess of Pop,” Spears was the best-selling female artist of the 2000s, having sold over 100 million records globally throughout her career. This made her one of the greatest-selling female artists of all-time with countless hits throughout the 2000s and 2010s including Toxic, …Baby One More Time, Oops!… I Did It Again, Womanizer and Gimmie More.
In 2020, Rolling Stone Magazine described Spears’ legacy as one of the world’s most defining pop stars, stating that “…Baby One More Time is one of those pop manifestos that announces a new sound, a new era, a new century. But most of all, a new star. With …Baby One More Time, Spears changed the sound of pop forever: It’s Britney, bitch. Nothing was ever the same.”
The magazine went on to list Spears as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2021. It’s easy to say that Britney Spears is easily one of the top 2000s female singers.
1. Beyoncé
Born | September 4, 1981 Houston, Texas |
Years active | 1997 to Present |
Genre | R&B, Hip-Hop, Pop, Soul |
One of the most influential cultural icons of her generation, Beyoncé Knowles (also referred to as Queen Bey) has dominated the R&B and pop genres ever since her esteemed debut studio album Dangerously in Love skyrocketed to success with the number one hit singles Crazy in Love and Baby Boy becoming instant 2000s anthems.
Now one of the best-selling artists in the world with over 118 million records sold globally, Beyoncé’s iconic music career has earned her the most awards out of any singer of all time. The Recording Industry Association of America has recognized Beyoncé as the Top Certified Artist of the Decade, while Billboard listed her as the Top Female Artist of the Decade.
The New Yorker has referred to Beyoncé’s legacy, stating that she is “the most important and compelling popular musician of the twenty-first century, the result, the logical endpoint, of a century-plus of pop.” Entertainment Weekly expressed that Beyoncé’s “songs, album rollouts, stage presence, social justice initiatives, and disruptive public relations strategy have influenced the way we’ve viewed music.”
Wrap Up
That does it for this list. Let us know who your favorite 2000s female singers are in the comments.
Growing up in a small town in South Carolina with little to do, I spent the majority of my adolescence listening to music and writing stories. I began playing the violin in the 5th grade which helped me grow to appreciate modern music’s roots from an early age. At the age of 12 my older brother introduced me to the music he grew up with; Nu Metal, Grunge, 90’s Hip-Hop, Rap and Classic Rock. I became infatuated and embarked on my own music journey, discovering who I truly was along the way. During college I developed a passion for journalism, which I’ve now been lucky enough to merge with my love for music here at Guitar Lobby.
Shakira over J Lo? Ok then, but respect for Queen Bey at #1.
Amy is one of the best female singers of all time, up there with Aretha, Ella and Billie. She towers above everyone on this list in singing terms. YT her “Amy Winehouse – Back To Black (Live Acoustic)” performance. No effects, no backing other than one solo acoustic guitar, true talent. Most on this list need autotune. Norah should be second, but she doesn’t even feature? She has a far stronger voice than most of the women on here (plus she is a very talented piano and guitar player). This list should be titled “Most marketable female singers” or better still “Daftest list ever” but certainly not “Best female singers”. Lily Allen???! 🤣
Music is subjective. The way each of us perceive and experience a particular artist can, and usually does, vary drastically. So I am not surprised atall that there would be artists with particularly strong abilities in categories that you value most in your personal idea of what makes someone the “Best”, and that you would consider them underrated or overrated regarding this list. That’s what makes these list fun but also tricky!
To be a “singer” is not just a skill, it’s also a profession. So the idea of marketability and popularity certainly should, and do, weigh into what makes a “best singer” in society.
What a truly awful list. God help humanity if that was the best we had in the 2000s..
without autotune and on pure talent Norah Jones and Amy Winehouse, for me in the same list with Kate Bush, Enya, Bjork ,Aretha, Ella, Joni Mitchel and yes Also Billie and Lorde , Lorde is live unbelievably good. however… that list, as usual and typically, only consists of people who have sold a lot of records, so they’re not good yet. none of them can compete with Aurora. live, her voice is from another dimension. just listen to her concert live Nidarosdomen. what I heard there I have not heard from any other artist.