Who should be on the list of 200 Greatest Singers of All Time?

Jennifer Hudson
Controversial list
Not on the list: Tony Bennett
191: Jung Kook
Not on the list: Celine Dion
102: Taylor Swift
Not on the list: Cher 
86: Michael Jackson
Not on the list: Janet Jackson
84: Amy Winehouse
Not on the list: Pink
Not on the list: Nat King Cole
But who did make it to the list with flying colors?
4. Billie Holiday
3. Sam Cooke
2. Whitney Houston
1. Aretha Franklin
Jennifer Hudson

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?

 

Controversial list

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.

Not on the list: Tony Bennett

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.

191: Jung Kook

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. 

Not on the list: Celine Dion

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.

102: Taylor Swift

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.

Not on the list: Cher 

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.

86: Michael Jackson

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.

Not on the list: Janet Jackson

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.

84: Amy Winehouse

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.

Not on the list: Pink

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.

Not on the list: Nat King Cole

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.

But who did make it to the list with flying colors?

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.

4. Billie Holiday

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.

3. Sam Cooke

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.

2. Whitney Houston

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.

1. Aretha Franklin

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.