Who should be on the list of 200 Greatest Singers of All Time?
She's incredibly talented, both as a singer and an actress. She was the finalist of American Idol's third season, won an Oscar for her masterful performance in 'Dreamgirls' (2006), got two Grammys, and also won a Tony with the musical 'A Strange Loop' in 2022. Is Jennifer Hudson one of the 200 best singers we know?
According to Rolling Stone, she is not. The music outlet made a list of the 200 greatest singers of all time and caused quite the controversy. 'Where's Celine Dion?' people said, for example. The prolific vocalist is not in the top 200 of Rolling Stone either. We take a look at some of its debated choices.
The now-retired singer Tony Bennett is one of the forgotten stars on the list. Let's remember songs like 'Because of You' or 'The Way You Look Tonight.' The famous crooner also broke a Guinness Record for being the oldest singer to release an album with new material.
Korean BTS band member Jung Kook ranked 191st. His most recent hit was 'Left and Right' featuring Charlie Puth. It may have been the 400 million streams on Spotify, cited by RollingStone, that got him on the list before American Idol Kelly Clarkson, who's at 194. Of course, there will be a lot of BTS fans who say he should have ranked much higher.
Celine Dion's voice is recognizable and her hits are everywhere you go. Think of 'The Power of Love,' 'Because You Loved Me,' 'It's All Coming Back to Me Now,' and 'My Heart Will Go On' - an Oscar-winning song, by the way. Big stars such as Britney Spears, Rihanna, Adele, Delta Goodrem, Jennifer Hudson, and Kelly Clarkson say they were inspired by Celine Dion.
She writes catchy songs with heartfelt lyrics and is a genius in that sense, but is Taylor Swift's voice better than the people who didn't make the list, such as Dionne Warwick, Nat King Cole, or Pink? Taylor Swift is undoubtedly one of the big award-winning artists of the era, with 11 Grammys for example. That may have helped her enter the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time list, at #102.
Yes, there's been autotune, but Cher was one of the few singers who used it in a brilliant way. The singer and actress has had many fans across generations with her particular voice for decades. It started with 'I Got You Babe' and went to 'Do You Believe,' but her success did not get her a spot on the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time List by Rolling Stone.
The King of Pop is one of the most significant vocal artists of all time. Although he died in July 2009, his music is always present. He is number 86 on the list.
His sister did not get to be on the Rolling Stone 200 list. Janet Jackson has a recognizable, melodious voice and made highly successful albums - her first two once made the highest-paid artist at the time - but there was no room for her in the top 200.
She left us early, but her powerful voice, her delivery on stage, and her music will live on. Amy Winehouse's album 'Back to Black was considered one of the best albums of 2006 and 2007 in rankings by Billboard (number 3), The New York Times (number 3), and Rolling Stone (40 on their list of the best 50 albums of 2007). In the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time list, she made it to number 84.
A beautiful raspy voice and a tremendous and energetic personality on stage were not enough for singer and songwriter Pink to enter the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time list. She's a 'powerhouse,' USA Today says, and it's surprising she didn't make it to the list.
He didn't make Rolling Stones' 200 Greatest Singers of All Time list either. It is a curious oversight for the eternally 'Unforgettable' Nat King Cole. Other people missed by critics of the list, cited by USA Today, were
Justin Bieber and Madonna.
Mariah Carey has a five-octave vocal range and is one of the world's best-selling singers, actresses, and songwriters, with approximately 220 million albums sold worldwide. She entered the list at number 5.
She was a renowned Jazz and Swing singer, with a beautiful and powerful voice. According to Rolling Stones, "She’ll always be known as a poet of gloom, her slow-drip delivery perfectly suited to the forlorn ('Lover Man') or downright morbid, but she could also use the openness in her voice to convey overflowing elation." Billie Holiday ranked 4th on the list.
Commonly recognized as the King of Soul, he is considered one of the most influential Soul artists. With hits like 'You Send Me,' among many others, Cooke ranked number 3 on the list by Rolling Stone.
Whitney Houston is one of those singers who has managed to delight several generations with her voice. Unfortunately, she left us early. Houston's first albums were iconic, and her magnificent, Grammy-awarded interpretation of 'I Will Always Love You' continues to be a romantic classic. She ranked second in this list.
The best singer is someone many of us can agree on. She deserves 'R.E.S.P.E.C.T' all around. Aretha Franklin filled our hearts during her long career with the true meaning of soul music, including tracks like 'A Natural Woman' and 'Think.' She ranked number 1 on the list.