24 Best Female Pop Singers of All Time (2025 Update)

Not to be confused with the term “popular music,” pop music in and of itself is its own genre within popular music defined by the basic songwriting format of verse-chorus, with repeated hooks and a generally short length.

Often associated with other genres such as rock, dance, country and urban, pop music as we know it today rose from the youth-oriented music styles that were popularized in the United States and the United Kingdom during the 1950s and 1960s, such as rock and roll. With a wide variety of subgenres such as dance-pop, experimental pop, baroque pop, indie pop and pop punk, the pop genre has dominated the mainstream music charts and radios since its stylistic evolution in the 1980s.

These are some of the world’s greatest female pop singers that have defined the pop music sound throughout the past six decades.

Here Are the Top Female Pop Singers of All Time

24. Billie Eilish

Born	December 18, 2001 Los Angeles, California
Years active	2015 to Present
Wikipedia page	Learn more about Billie Eilish here

One of the world’s newest pop sensations, Billie Eilish Pirate Baird O’Connell (known professionally as Billie Eilish) has taken the globe by storm with her ethereal vocal style and innovative experimental and dark pop themes in her music.

Having been homeschooled, Eilish was able to focus on her passion for music at a young age alongside her older brother Finneas. At the age of 11 she wrote her first song and at the age of 13 she began writing music regularly with the help of her brother who had been writing and performing music with his own band, the Slightlys. She released her first single later that year on SoundCloud, Ocean Eyes, which received wide acclaim and attention.

Eilish continued to released singles before her debut studio album in 2019 at the age of 17, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, which topped the US Billboard 200, featuring the hit singles Bad Guy, Bury a Friend and You Should See Me in a Crown. Eilish became the youngest music artist in history to win all four general field categories at the Grammy Awards and currently stands as the 9th most popular artist in the world on Spotify.

23. Ariana Grande

Born	June 26, 1993 Boca Raton, Florida
Years active	2008 to Present
Wikipedia page	Learn more about Ariana Grande here

With over 90 billion streams across music streaming services and sales of over 85 million records, Ariana Grande-Butera is one of the world’s most popular pop artists to date, having dominated the genre with her influential music and fashion style.

As a child, Grande participated in musical theatre at the Fort Lauderdale Children’s Theater where she held lead roles in their productions of The Wizard of Oz, Beauty and the Beast and Annie. At the age of 13 Grande was focusing on pursuing a music career and traveled to Los Angeles in hopes of producing an R&B album, but instead was cast in the hit Nickelodeon television series Victorious, playing the role of Cat Valentine. Following Victorious, Grande reprised her role of Valentine for the spinoff series Sam & Cat until the series end in 2014.

In 2013 Grande recorded and released her debut studio album, Yours Truly, which reached number one on the US Billboard 200 albums chart and featured the hit single, The Way. In 2014 she released her second studio album, My Everything, which featured the hits Bang Bang, Problem and Break Free.

Grande has since become one of the most popular artists of the 2010s, as she is the most streamed female artist on Apple Music and Spotify and has won 2 Grammy Awards. In both 2016 and 2019, Time Magazine named Grande as one of the most influential people in the world. The Miami New Times has stated that “of all the biggest pop stars of the past 20 years, Grande has made the most convincing transition from ingénue to independent female artist,” and Bloomberg stated that Grande is truly “the first pop diva of the streaming generation.”

22. Lana Del Rey

Born	June 21, 1985 New York City
Years active	2005 to Present
Wikipedia page	Learn more about Lana Del Rey here

Perhaps one of pop’s most unique artists, Elizabeth Woolridge Grant (known professionally as Lana Del Rey) is known for her exploration of sadness, glamor and romance within her music.

During her childhood, Del Rey performed in her church choir as their cantor. After graduating high school, she lived with her aunt and uncle in Long Island, New York where she was taught how to play the guitar and began writing her own songs. In 2005 Del Rey moved to New York City and released her eponymous debut studio album, though it was until she was signed with Interscope and Polydor Records and released her 2012 album, Born to Die, that she received major international success.

The album featured her hit Summertime Sadness, which reached the top-ten on the Billboard Hot 100. She has since released seven studio albums with her eighth, Blue Banisters, scheduled to be released in 2021.

Praised by rock legend Bruce Springsteen as one of the greatest songwriters in the US, Lana Del Rey has gone on to become one of pop’s biggest stars, with The Guardian stating that Del Rey’s “pure female haze is a hallmark of the defiant female pop stars to come.”

21. Katy Perry

Born	October 25, 1984 Santa Barbara, California
Years active	2001 to Present
Wikipedia page	Learn more about Katy Perry here

Having originally started off as a gospel singer, Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson (known professionally as Katy Perry) is now one of the world’s most successful female pop stars and has sold over 143 million records globally.

During her childhood, Perry was encouraged to stray away from listening to secular music and instead listen solely to gospel, though she listened to some popular music with her friends from time to time. She began vocal training at the age of nine, got her first guitar at the age of 13 and sang in her local church choir until the age of 17.

In 2008 Perry released her debut pop album, One of the Boys, which pushed her into the public eye with songs such as I Kissed a Girl, Ur So Gay and Hot n Cold becoming major hits. Perry broke into the mainstream with her 2010 album Teenage Dream which feature five chart-topping hit songs, the first ever album to do so by a female artist.

Billboard has said that Perry is “the rare celebrity who seems to have enormous popularity but genuine ground-level interaction with her adoring KatyCats.”

20. Rihanna

Born	February 20, 1988 Saint Michael, Barbados
Years active	2003 to Present
Wikipedia page	Learn more about Rihanna here

One of the greatest selling music artists of all time, Robyn Rihanna Fenty (known professionally as Rihanna) rose to stardom with her skilled mixture of pop, R&B and dance music genres.

Growing up in Bridgetown, Barbados, Rihanna often listened to reggae music and decided that instead of finishing high school, she would attempt to pursue a career in music. She was discovered by American music producer Evan Rogers who helped her move to the US in 2005. She released her debut studio album, Music of the Sun, which featured her hit single Pon de Replay which rose to number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Rihanna’s career developed quickly as she received her first Grammy Award just two years later for her hit single Umbrella which catapulted her into the global spotlight. She has since spawned numerous hit singles, including Only Girl (In the World), S&M, We Found Love, Rude Boy and Diamonds. She has also become a successful businesswoman and legend in the fashion and beauty communities across the globe with her notorious fashion and cosmetics brands, Fenty and Fenty Beauty.

As described by Time Magazine, “She’s one of the coolest, hottest, most talented, most listened to, most followed, most impressive artists at work today, but she does it in her own stride. She gives to her fans, friends and foundation not just herself but her energy and spirit.”

19. Lady Gaga

Born	March 28, 1986 New York City
Years active	2001 to Present
Wikipedia page	Learn more about Lady Gaga here

Known for her eccentric fashion style and versatility in her music and vocal abilities, Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta (known professionally as Lady Gaga) has become one of the world’s biggest pop sensations and was the fourth highest-earning female artist of the 2010s.

At the age of four Gaga started taking piano lessons and began creating her own music by ear, as she preferred to do so over reading physical sheet music. As a teenager she performed in numerous theatre productions, was enrolled in a Creative Arts Camp and studied method acting at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute for ten years.

It wasn’t until 2008 that Gaga rose to fame, as she released her debut studio album, The Fame, which included the chart-topping hit songs Poker Face and Just Dance. She was an immediate success in the music industry and has since sold over 124 million records and has earned 12 Grammy Awards.

As stated in The New Yorker, “Lady Gaga blazed a trail for truculent pop stars by treating her own celebrity as an evolving art project,” and Rolling Stone Magazine describes Gaga’s legacy by stating that “it’s hard to remember a world where we didn’t have Gaga, although we’re pretty sure it was a lot more boring.” Lady Gaga is easily one of the best female pop singers of all time.

18. Christina Aguilera

Born	December 18, 1980 New York City
Years active	1992 to Present
Wikipedia page	Learn more about Christina Aguilera here

Known as a powerhouse singer for her soulful and rich vocal style, Christina María Aguilera is known as the “Voice of a Generation” for her revival of teen pop music during the late 1990s.

During her childhood, Aguilera was fascinated by blues and soul records that her grandmother bought and began practicing singing. She performed at numerous talent shows before joining the cast of The Mickey Mouse Club alongside Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake and Ryan Gosling. She was selected to sing the theme song, Reflection, for the animated Disney film Mulan in 1998.

Aguilera released her eponymous debut studio album in 1999 which featured three number one hit singles, What a Girl Wants, Genie in a Bottle and Come On Over Baby (All I Want Is You) which launched her career, leading her to later become the most successful female artist in 2003.

In 2009 Aguilera was recognized by Billboard as the 20th most successful music artist of the 2000s, with sales of over 75 million records and a multitude of awards. In 2013 she was selected as one of the most influential people in the world by Time Magazine. As stated in Vice Magazine, “Aguilera dominated mainstream pop-related discussions. [Her] perfectly packaged music and looks appealed to tweens and teens who wanted to be like the pretty, chart-topping pop stars plastered everywhere.”

17. Shakira

Born	February 2, 1977 Barranquilla, Colombia
Years active	1990 to Present
Wikipedia page	Learn more about Shakira here

Referred to as the “Queen of Latin Music,” Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll has become an international success with her versatile and widely diverse music catalog of over 145 songs.

At the age of four, Shakira began writing poetry and later received her first typewriter at the age of seven. It was around this time that her father brought her along to a local Middle Eastern restaurant where she started dancing on the table along to the sound of a doumbek, a traditional drum used in Middle Eastern music. It was this particular event that sparked Shakira’s desire to become a performer.

With her professional career having started when she was 13 years old, Shakira became a breakthrough international sensation when she released her debut English language album, Laundry Service, which reached number three on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart.

Shakira has since sold over 75 million records worldwide, has received 12 Latin Grammy Awards, seven Billboard Music Awards and three Grammy Awards and made history with her song Hips Don’t Lie, which was the most-played pop song during a single week in American radio history.

16. Alicia Keys

Born	January 25, 1981 New York City
Years active	1996 to Present
Wikipedia page	Learn more about Alicia Keys here

Singer-songwriter Alicia Augello Cook (known professionally as Alicia Keys) is known by many as one of the world’s greatest pop singers, though she’s also acclaimed for her philanthropy, activism and humanitarian work.

Keys was classically trained in piano and by the age of 12, she was composing and performing her own music, having been inspired by her mother’s favorite records by Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald. At the age of 20 in 2001 she released her debut studio album, Songs in A Mirror, which eared five Grammy Awards the following year.

She has since sold over 90 million records globally making her one of the greatest selling artists of all time, with some of her most famous songs being Girl on Fire, Empire State of Mind, No One, If I Ain’t Got You and My Boo. Keys has received a total of 17 NAACP Image Awards, 15 Grammy Awards and 12 ASCAP Awards. She also notably co-founded the nonprofit organization Keep a Child Alive and is was awarded Ambassador of Conscience by Amnesty International.

Keys has since been credited as a multifaceted artist, with The Times stating that her debut album “spoke from a soul that seemed way beyond its years,” and that her follow up album, The Diary of Alicia keys, “confirmed her place in musical history.”

15. Jennifer Lopez

Born	July 24, 1969 New York City
Years active	1986 to Present
Wikipedia page	Learn more about Jennifer Lopez here

Also known as J. Lo, Jennifer Lynn Lopez is considered a pop culture icon for her dynamic music career that launched her into the public eye in the early 2000s.

Having grown up in a Puerto Rican household, Lopez has said that there was “lots of music” around her growing up, and that she was always “encouraged to sing, dance, and create their own plays for family events.” Lopez left college to pursue a professional dance career, became the most successful Latin actress of the 1990s and then transitioned into her music career in 1999 with her album On the 6.

Since J. Lo’s launch into the music world, she has sold over 70 million records and has been referred to as a “triple threat entertainer” for her major success in dance, acting and singing. She is now known as the most influential Latin American entertainer in North America and was ranked as the most powerful celebrity in the world in 2012 by Forbes Magazine.

Time Magazine listed J. Lo as one of the most influential Hispanic women in America, stating “why, because over a decade ago, she was an anonymous background dancer on the second-rated sketch-comedy show. Today she’s known by two syllables.”

14. Taylor Swift

Born	December 13, 1989 West Reading, Pennsylvania
Years active	2004 to Present
Wikipedia page	Learn more about Taylor Swift here

Known for her more narrative songwriting style about love and life’s hardships, Taylor Alison Swift is one of the best-selling artists of all time with her record sales surpassing 200 million globally.

Swift was involved in musical theatre at the age of nine and frequented New York City for acting and vocal lessons. She soon strayed from musical theatre to focus more on country music when she was taught to play the guitar at the age of 12. Swift moved to Nashville in 2004 at the age of 15 to become a songwriter but began working with Big Machine Records the following year and released her eponymous debut studio album in 2006 which featured her earliest hits, Teardrops on My Guitar and Our Song.

Swift became an international sensation immediately following the release of her debut studio album and has since landed numerous top-ten hits across the Billboard charts, including Shake It Off, Blank Space, We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together and I Knew You Were Trouble. She has won 11 Grammy Awards, 25 Billboard Music Awards, which is the most wins by a woman, and 32 American Music Awards, the most wins by a single artist.

13. Gwen Stefani

Born	October 3, 1969 Fullerton, California
Years active	1986 to Present
Wikipedia page	Learn more about Gwen Stefani here

Known for her work as a solo artist and as the lead vocalist of the band No Doubt, Gwen Renée Stefani has become a household name since her musical debut in the 1990s.

During her childhood, Stefani was introduced to American folk by her parents and fell in love with artists such as Emmylou Harris and Bob Dylan. Her brother Eric formed the ska band No Doubt before leaving to pursue a career in animation, which Stefani took over. The band released Tragic Kingdom in 1995 which rose to international success and launched Stefani into stardom.

Stefani went on to begin her solo career in 2004, releasing the album Love. Angel. Music. Baby., which included the hit songs Hollaback Girl and Rich Girl. Since embarking on her solo career, Stefani has received three Grammy Awards, two Billboard Music Awards and has since sold over 30 million albums worldwide.

Now referred to as the “Pop Princess,” Stefani has become one of the greatest pop singers of all time, with AXS stating that Stefani is a “powerhouse vocalist with an incredible range.”

12. Britney Spears

Born	December 2, 1981 McComb, Mississippi
Years active	1999 to Present
Wikipedia page	Learn more about Britney Spears here

Often referred to as the “Princess of Pop,” Britney Jean Spears is known for influencing the revival of teen pop music throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s making her one of the world’s biggest pop icons.

At the age of three Spears began taking dance lessons and went on to partake in gymnastics and voice training. At the age of eight, Spears and her mother traveled to Atlanta, Georgia where she auditioned to be on The Mickey Mouse Club which she was featured on from 1992 to 1994.

In 1999 Spears made history with her debut studio album, …Baby One More Time, which debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 and became the best-selling album of all time by a teenage artist. She has since sold over 100 million albums across the globe, making her one of the world’s greatest selling artists of all time.

According to Glamour Magazine, “when she emerged onto the scene in 1999 with …Baby One More Time, the world hadn’t seen a performer like her. Not since Madonna had a female artist affected the genre so profoundly.”

11. Adele

Born	May 5, 1988 London, England
Years active	2006 to Present
Wikipedia page	Learn more about Adele here

Known for her rich, soulful voice, Adele Laurie Blue Adkins (known professionally by her first name Adele) is one of the best-selling music artists in the world, having won 15 Grammy Awards and sold over 120 million records.

At the age of four Adele began singing and was admittedly obsessed with music. She often played the guitar and sang for her friends before attending the BRIT School for Performing Arts & Technology where she studied alongside Jessie J and Leona Lewis. She went on to sign with XL Recordings after graduating and released her debut studio album, 19, which featured her first hit song, Hometown Glory.

Adele won Best New Artist and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 2009 Grammy Awards, catapulting her into the international spotlight. She released her second studio album, 21, in 2011 which held the top position on the Billboard Albums chart longer than any album since 1985 in the US and is now certified Diamond. Having sold over 31 million copies alone, the album is the best-sel