Vote on these lists of outstanding female vocalists, musicians, songwriters, and performers in every genre.

Who Run the World?

Women in Music

When it comes to the best female musicians of all time, there&#39;s a long list of female powerhouses that could be considered the greatest of all time. Whether it be a female-led band like Blondie or a <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/girl-group-bands-and-artists/music-lover?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">group of female singers</a> like the Supremes, music has seen some incredible&nbsp;females throughout its history. Of course, you also have to consider all the single ladies out there. You know, the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-female-voice-ever" target="_blank">top female vocalists</a> like Etta James, Mariah Carey, Adele&nbsp;and&nbsp;P!nk, who made careers of their very own (among a great deal of others).

So, while you may have a favorite female singer of all-women band, it&#39;s time to rank the top female musicians of all time. That means any genre, any type of group, and any type of woman. From the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/girl-group-bands-and-artists/reference" target="_blank">girl groups</a> of the 60s and 70s to the top&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-female-singer-of-the-year" target="_blank">female singers out right now</a>, you certainly have your work cut out for you. Some of the greatest musical acts of all time have been led by females and some have been exclusively female. In fact, some even led bands&nbsp;and&nbsp;had successful solo careers&mdash;and both can be found on this list. That means if you like Gwen Stefani&#39;s music more than No Doubt, vote accordingly!&nbsp;

Check out the extensive list of female musicians below and vote up your favorites, or those who you think are the absolute best. In short, who made the best music?&nbsp;

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The Best Female Musicians of All Time

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The 100+ Greatest Female Musicians of All Time, Ranked by Music Fans

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Are you the Rap Expert on your Zoom Trivia Team? Here's everything you need to know about the big names in hip-hop, young & new school rappers, and where are they now? acts you almost forgot about.

Get to Know Those Rap Guys

Sean Combs

Sean &quot;Diddy&quot; Combs, man of many names and many more dollars, occupies a place in pop culture few others can match. Plenty of cool Diddy stories exist which exemplify his incredible, over-the-top career and lifestyle, and a few of them happened&nbsp;before he hit it big. In fact, his first moniker, Puff Daddy, actually stems from a childhood nickname. Apparently even before fame, Diddy already thought quite highly himself. Throughout all of <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/sean-combs-names/amylindorff" target="_blank">Sean&nbsp;Combs's&nbsp;name changes</a>, he held his title as a record label exec.&nbsp;Fun facts about Diddy include his monumental influence on music of the '90s and 2000s.&nbsp;More than a music mogul, Diddy holds stakes in&nbsp;liquor,&nbsp;fashion, restaurants, and television. As a result, Diddy now stands as one of the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/wealthiest-rapper-ceos-and-entrepreneurs/whatevayoulike" target="_blank">wealthiest rappers-turned-CEOs</a>.With all these accolades and riches, naturally a couple of dark Diddy&nbsp;facts also exist, including the infamous Bad Boy Curse people say follows the label. Regardless of how you view him, one cannot deny the influence of Diddy not just on music but on American pop culture in general. When you're Diddy-big, the stories just follow you.

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Things You Never Knew About Diddy

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20 Surprising Things You Never Knew About Sean 'Diddy' Combs

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Documentaries

From classical symphonies to modern pop tunes, TV shows about music have been instrumental in bringing the joys of melody, harmony, and rhythm to homes around the world. These best music shows bring together storylines, remarkable performances, and enthralling musical compositions that not only entertain but also provide insight into the fascinating universe of tunes and melodies. It's no wonder that TV shows about music have garnered a loyal following and continue to thrive across various streaming platforms and networks.&nbsp;The best TV shows about music showcase the limitless possibilities of artistic expression and storytelling. From engrossing documentaries to competitive reality series, these programs reveal the essence of creating spectacular music while pulling in viewers with their personalities. The success and impact of these best music shows symbolize the indelible connection between people and the world of melody, rhythm, and harmony.&nbsp;Programs such as Behind the Music, Song Exploder, and Glee exemplify the pinnacle of music shows that have resonated with viewers and critics alike. Behind the Music is a groundbreaking documentary series that offers an in-depth look into the lives and careers of legendary musicians, providing fans with a glimpse behind the curtain. Song Exploder dissects the creative process behind popular songs, revealing the intricate details and background stories that make them truly memorable. Meanwhile, Glee combines a stellar cast, engaging narrative, and well-crafted musical performances to create a cultural phenomenon that has captured the hearts of millions. These shows represent the immense variety and caliber that can be found within the world of the best music shows.&nbsp;Beyond the exciting performances and engaging narratives, the best music shows serve as a reminder of the intrinsic bond between humanity and the enigmatic world of music. The enduring appeal of these exceptional programs is a testament to the power of music and its ability to connect with people on a profound level. These shows about music remind us of the beauty and infinite possibilities that lie within the enchanting universe of melody and harmony.&nbsp;

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The Best Music TV Shows That Aren't Just Another Singing Competition

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The Best TV Shows About Music, Ranked By Music Nerds

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Play It Again

Song Lyrics

Many artists and creatives draw inspiration for their art from their personal lives, and musicians are certainly no exception. In many cases, some of their biggest hits were written about other people, who become immortalized in song, whether they like it or not. Sometimes the person turned inspiration is <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/songs-about-other-celebrities/matt-manser">another celebrity, </a>like in the case of Eric Clapton's song “Layla.” In other instances, the famous name from a song, like Sharona of “My Sharona,” is a regular person who leads an otherwise normal life.&nbsp;When singing along to many of these name-filled songs, we often don't even realize they are about actual people. From the love stories, to the humorous tales, to the darker inspirations, the people <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/famous-songs-weird-back-stories/sean-kelly">behind these songs</a> turned out to be surprisingly real.

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14 Famous Songs We Didn't Realize Were About Actual People

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14 Famous Songs About Real People

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The most bananas stories and insane 100% true tales about the lives and behind-the-music antics of your favorite rock stars and legendary bands.

Freakin' Rock Stars

Sex Pistols

Few <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-punk-rock-bands-and-artists/reference" target="_blank">rock stars</a> have burned out&nbsp;with the same vigor as Sid Vicious.&nbsp;His fireball career lasted only two years&nbsp;but in that tumultuous time, Vicious&nbsp;transformed from a shy David Bowie fanatic into a&nbsp;spiky-haired&nbsp;punk icon who will forever sneer at us&nbsp;from posters, ads, and book covers the world over.&nbsp;He could never play a single <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/all-sex-pistols-songs-ranked-best-to-worst/voteable" target="_blank">Sex Pistols' song</a>&nbsp;successfully on his bass but it didn't matter. Sid Vicious&nbsp;was punk rock in its purest, most dangerous form.&nbsp;His wild antics were often the desperate acts of an addict looking for his next fix, and he surrounded himself with whatever destroyed him the most - violence, drugs, and his most lethal favorite, Nancy Spungen.

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Sid Vicious's Life Was Just As Messed Up As His Death

General

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Kiss

KISS is a polarizing rock band -&nbsp;or brand, depending on how you look at it.&nbsp;From their first days together, KISS supposedly created an image linked to Nazis, Satan, and blood. That image has become a marketing juggernaut and demonstrates why people are split when it comes to the KISS rock and roll legacy. Were they serious musicians that managed to parlay their success into continuous fame, or were they simply actors in it for the money, sex, and drugs? &nbsp;

To some, KISS is&nbsp;known for their&nbsp;outrageous outfits, makeup, and antics -&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/gene-simmons-being-a-jerk-stories/mariel-loveland" target="_blank">everything from Gene Simmons&#39;s</a>&nbsp;tongue action to on-stage blood-spewing and fire-breathing - aspects that reach&nbsp;far beyond their music. KISS got their start with Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Peter Criss, and Ace Frehley&nbsp;in 1973. Each member played a part -&nbsp;Simmons as the Demon, Stanley as the Starchild, Criss&nbsp;as the Catman, and Frehley&nbsp;as the Spaceman (or the Space Ace).&nbsp;By 1982, Criss and Frehley&nbsp;were out, but the band still played on at shows. Later members Eric Carr and Vinnie Vincent became the Fox and the Ankh Warrior, respectively.

KISS&#39;s biggest hits were released in the 1970s, and their international fame eventually led to solo projects. During the 1980s, KISS without makeup toured the world, but -&nbsp;after a resurgence in the 1990s&nbsp;- the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-members-of-kiss-ranked/ranker-music?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">original KISS band members</a> dove back into their personas. Did they do it for the music? Or&nbsp;for the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/ridiculous-kiss-merchandise/melissa-sartore" target="_blank">brand they had created</a>?&nbsp;

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KISS Stories That Earn Them The Title Of 'The Most Calculated Band In Rock History'

14 Infuriating Stories About The Band Kiss

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Fun facts, fascinating trivia, and wild stories about some of your favorite ladies behind the microphone.

Let's Hear It for the Girls

Lists about the itty bitty piano-playing funky-shod meat-clad powerhouse-piped songwriter & art pop star known around the entire world as Lady Gaga.

The Lady Known as Gaga

Lady Gaga

When you think of Lady Gaga, what pops in your head? A person wearing a dress made of meat on a red carpet? Maybe a beautiful young woman singing a duet with the incomparable Tony Bennett? Maybe you even imagine her as a sexed up vampire queen from American Horror Story? She certainly is an enigma, but true originals usually are.

Lady Gaga is a self-made pop superstar who&rsquo;s created a larger-than-life personality and thrives on the theatrical. But then again, that&#39;s just who she is on stage. The real Lady Gaga - ne&eacute; Stefani Germanotta - is a classical pianist, a My Little Pony enthusiast, a former drug addict, and so much more. After scouring every Lady Gaga bio there is, here are the best stories, quotes, and trivia to paint a picture of the real Gaga.&nbsp;

Are you ready, Little Monsters? Forget the Lady Gaga wiki page - here&rsquo;s everything you need to know about Lady Gaga&#39;s history, legacy, and life.

Fun Facts You Didn't Know About Lady Gaga

Who Is Lady Gaga? Fun Facts & Stories About Lady Gaga

Jessica L. Yarbrough

Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton is not only one of the greatest living legends performing country music today, but she&rsquo;s also one of America&rsquo;s biggest exports. Dolly brings in millions of dollars in revenue a year on the back of her undying singles&nbsp;and massive world tours. But who is Dolly Parton?

Most people only know the wise-cracking blonde that shows up every couple of years on TV to sing &ldquo;9 to 5,&rdquo; or from the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/dollypartonchallenge-memes/mrennie" target="_blank">Dolly Parton Meme Challenge</a> which started a social trend, but the Dolly Parton biography is full of heartbreak and a never-ending drive to succeed. Whether you&rsquo;re one of Parton&rsquo;s biggest&nbsp;fans, or you&rsquo;re a newcomer to this country/pop crossover mega-star, these&nbsp;Dolly Parton facts will give&nbsp;you&nbsp;more to love.

After six decades in the music business, there&rsquo;s almost no end to the Dolly Parton trivia, and the singer herself seems to relish dropping hints about her real life into every interview she gives. After you&rsquo;ve spent any time reading about the singer, it&rsquo;s obvious Parton knows where she fits into the modern cultural landscape as America&rsquo;s campy country aunt, and she dishes out enough homespun and sassy wit to fill that role perfectly.

If you only know Parton&rsquo;s singles, this is the perfect opportunity to learn about Dolly Parton family history, and dispel a few rumors that have plagued her since she first hit Nashville.

27 Weird And Charming Facts About Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton Facts You Haven't Heard Before

Jacob Shelton

The Mamas & the Papas

The Mamas &amp; The Papas were a band marked by a blend of groundbreaking music and equally dramatic personal lives. While their harmonious tunes captured the spirit of a generation, the most controversial Mamas &amp; the Papas stories behind the curtain often involved dramatic twists worthy of their own Hollywood scripts. The band's legacy, infused with both musical brilliance and turbulent tales, offers a fascinating look at the price of fame during an era of expressive freedom and experimental lifestyles.One of the most shocking claims came years later when John Phillips' daughter, Mackenzie Phillips, alleged an incestuous relationship initiated by her father at the height of his drug use. Adding to the psychedelic mix, the group lived on the Virgin Islands, infamously experimenting with liquid LSD as part of their creative and hedonistic adventures. Notorious filmmaker Roman Polanski once threatened John Phillips with a knife during a turbulent period, adding yet another dark chapter to the band’s storied past.For those curious about the gritty details that defined this iconic band’s life, check out more controversial stories about the Mamas &amp; the Papas below. These accounts reveal a group whose real-life drama was as complex and captivating as their enduring musical legacy.

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The Most Controversial Stories About The Mamas & The Papas

12 Controversial Stories About The Mamas & The Papas

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Fun facts and fascinating trivia about some of the greatest and most infamous albums ever released.

Put Your Records On

Music History

There&#39;s no rushing art. The perfect album can take a long time and come&nbsp;with&nbsp;a steep bill. Production budgets for major albums are often high,&nbsp;but when you&nbsp;add in an expensive studio and a major artist with a knack for perfection, the cost can quickly spiral.

With some artists, perfectionism takes over and deadlines are blown off, causing longer delays and more money spent. In other cases, major production expenses can be chalked up to the luxury of experimentation and creative freedom. Whatever the case,&nbsp;some unbelievably expensive recordings in recent years have yielded a variety of commercial&nbsp;and critical results.&nbsp;Let&#39;s take a look at the tab.

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The 10 Most Expensive Albums Ever Made

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Lists of the craziest, most memorable things that ever happened on stage during music concerts and performances.

Live Music or Bust

Riots, rants, and technical failures - live music comes with plenty of risks. Performances can make or break a musician&#39;s career. For every legendary performance that launched a musician&#39;s career, there are truly disastrous performances that doomed a musician forever.

We&#39;re not talking one-offs - this is about those genuinely bad performances that tanked someone&#39;s career. Whether it&#39;s because of bad lip-syncing, a wardrobe malfunction, or personal meltdown, some terrible performances&nbsp;have majorly disserviced&nbsp;an&nbsp;artist&#39;s&nbsp;career.&nbsp;

Let&#39;s take a look at&nbsp;the most unbelievably bad performances that just about ended it all for the people on stage.&nbsp;

The Most Career-Ruining Performances Of All Time

The 12 Most Career-Ruining Musician Performances Of All Time

Bob Dylan

You have to wonder. After giving us Prince, the Replacements, and Bob Dylan, why hasn&#39;t the entire state of Minnesota been inducted into the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/rock-n-roll-hall-of-fame-drama/jon-wiederhorn" target="_blank">Rock and Roll Hall of Fame</a>?

But never mind that now. Let&#39;s focus on young Robert Allen&nbsp;Zimmerman, who graduated from Hibbing High School in 1959 and never looked back. As&nbsp;one of the most influential poet-musicians of all time, Bob Dylan remains an enigma to many music fans. And while you may think you know all there is to know about the singer-songwriter, there&#39;s a lot you likely don&#39;t - such is his way.

These interesting nuggets from his long and legendary career will&nbsp;help shed some light on the man behind the harmonica.

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Interesting Bob Dylan Facts You May Not Know

Interesting Facts About Bob Dylan You May Not Know 

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Paul Thomas Anderson

Boogie Nights&nbsp;is revered by film enthusiasts for many reasons, but one of them is massive. No, it's not Marky Mark's&nbsp;prosthetic member - it's the music. The&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ranker.com/review/boogie-nights/610741" target="_blank">Boogie Nights</a>&nbsp;soundtrack is one of the best soundtracks ever not just because the music is choice, but because it seamlessly weaves throughout the film, bringing to life the juxtaposition of the glamour and grit of the adult film industry in the late '70s and early '80s.&nbsp;All the songs in&nbsp;Boogie Nights&nbsp;are perfectly matched to the rise and fall of Dirk Diggler's&nbsp;career, and boy were there a lot of them - enough to produce two full&nbsp;albums! So let's take a look back at some of the biggest musical moments from the film and remember why&nbsp;Boogie Nights&nbsp;has the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-greatest-soundtracks-of-all-time" target="_blank">greatest soundtrack of all time</a>.

A Song-By-Song Breakdown Of Why 'Boogie Nights' Has The Greatest Soundtrack Of All Time

Why Boogie Nights Has The Greatest Soundtrack Of All Time

Tori Preston

Weird History

After the metal and synth-pop dominance of the 1980s, the world&nbsp;was overdue for a new generation of artists that would change the trajectory of music forever. Leather jackets, hair spray, and tight pants were becoming passe in exchange for flannel, baggy jeans, and Converse. A strong argument can be made that 1991 was one of the most important years in music - with bands such as <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/weird-true-nirvana-stories/erin-mccann" target="_blank">Nirvana</a>, <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-red-hot-chili-peppers-songs/voteable" target="_blank">Red Hot Chili Peppers</a>, <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/pearl-jam-jeremy-music-video-controversy/idoia-gorosabel-gkikas" target="_blank">Pearl Jam</a>, <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-soundgarden-albums-list/ranker-music" target="_blank">Soundgarden</a>, the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/the-best-smashing-pumpkins-songs/voteable" target="_blank">Smashing Pumpkins</a>, and My Bloody Valentine (just to name a few) putting out game-changing records.

The most notable scene that formed in the early &#39;90s was the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/facts-about-90s-grunge-stars/julian-hoffman" target="_blank">Seattle grunge scene</a>, which saw many bands break through with their gloomy, apathetic music. Grunge had become synonymous with &quot;1990s music,&quot; but it wasn&#39;t just Seattle that was changing music forever. Even bands like <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/ranking-of-best-metallica-songs/music-lover" target="_blank">Metallica</a> and <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-u2-songs-of-all-time/voteable" target="_blank">U2</a> were changing direction, adapting to a new decade that offered less neon, more black. Everything was starting to form under the blanket of &quot;alternative rock,&quot; which would stay popularized until the 2010s.&nbsp;

Here are some&nbsp;albums of extreme significance that made music history back in 1991. Vote up the ones that still matter to you.

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1991 Might Have Been The Most Game-Changing Year In Rock 'N' Roll

1991 Might Have Been The Most Game-Changing Year In Rock And Roll

Julian Hoffman

There's nothing worse than going out to see one of your favorite musical artists and being crushed by a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/live-performances-gone-wrong/lauren-glen">catastrophic performance</a>. But a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-concert-ever/blue-velvet">great live music performance</a> can be a truly transportive experience. There's a sense of collective ecstasy and oneness as audience members witness artists performing at the peak of their powers. Not surprisingly, stories about the best concerts live on long afterward.&nbsp;Even centuries ago, before the advent of recording, there were concerts so memorable that they've come down to us in the history books. More recently, classic live performances have been preserved on tape or digital media for future generations to enjoy. Here's a sampling of some of the most memorable concerts ever - from J.S. Bach to Elton John.

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The Real Stories Behind Some Of The Most Memorable Live Music Performances

Gordon Cameron

Breakups

Every beginning comes from another experience's ending, but that doesn't make breakups any easier or less messy. And although all splits are tough, there's something about a band breakup that leaves its fans as heartbroken, angry, and nostalgic as the members who experienced the abrupt departure firsthand.&nbsp;This list features the messiest band breakups in history, proving that highly public, complicated splits cross all decades and genres. Some rock 'n' roll bands took their intentional <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/bands-who-hate-each-other/jacob-shelton">hateful personalities</a> a little too far. In other cases, the hard-partying lifestyle and inter-band romances were to blame. And despite some band members' outwardly harmonious “best buds” reputation, the truth later came out.As some called it quits for good, others desperately tried to save what was left of their careers by <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/band-member-changes/lauren-glen">replacing band members</a>, with mixed results.&nbsp;

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The Messiest Band Breakups In History

The Most Dramatic Band Splits In Music History

Lauren Glen

Music History lists at Ranker - the ultimate source for lists and rankings in all categories

Music History lists on Ranker

Music History lists at Ranker - the ultimate source for hundreds of Music History lists and rankings.