Have you been searching for the most famous and influential female pop singers in the world? Well, I have you covered!
Pop music is one of the most popular and diverse genres of music in the world. It encompasses a wide range of styles, sounds, and influences. This is from dance to rock, from hip hop to country, and from R&B to EDM. Pop music also reflects the culture, trends, and issues of the times. It has the power to inspire, entertain, and challenge listeners.
There are many artists who have shaped and defined pop music in the 21st century. However, female singers stand out for their talent, creativity, and impact.
Female pop singers have not only produced some of the most memorable and successful songs and albums of the past two decades. Rather, they have also influenced the music industry, the fashion world, the social media landscape, and the global society.
Want to know more? Well, then, keep on reading this blog till the end…
Top 15 Female Pop Singers Who Made History!
I won’t keep you waiting to get what you have been looking for. This article will look at the 15 most influential pop music female singers of the 21st century. This listing is based on their musical achievements, cultural relevance, and personal influence.
I will also explore how they have contributed to the evolution and diversity of pop music and how they have inspired and empowered millions of fans around the world.
So, without further ado, let’s get popping…
1. Beyoncé
The first one on this list is none other than Queen B herself. Beyoncé is undoubtedly one of the most influential and iconic female pop singers of all time. She started her career as the lead singer of Destiny’s Child, one of the best-selling girl groups in history. Then, she launched her solo career in 2003 with the hit album Dangerously in Love.
Since then, she has released six more solo albums, all of which have topped the Billboard 200 chart, and won 28 Grammy Awards, the most by any female artist.
Beyoncé is known for her powerful vocals, her versatile musical style, her stunning visuals, and her innovative and groundbreaking projects. Some of them include the visual albums Lemonade and Black Is King, and the live album and documentary Homecoming.
She is also a global icon of feminism, black excellence, and social justice. Furthermore, she rightly uses her platform and influence to advocate for women’s rights, racial equality, and humanitarian causes.
2. Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift is the second one on the list of the most influential female pop singers at present. She started her career as a country singer-songwriter and then transitioned to pop music with her 2014 album 1989. A small trivia for you all: this one won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year.
She has released nine studio albums, seven of which have debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart. Moreover, she has won 11 Grammy Awards, including three for Album of the Year.
Taylor Swift is known for her catchy melodies, her honest and relatable lyrics (sometimes based on her current or ex-boyfriends), and her loyal and passionate fan base.
Apart from that, she is also popular for her fearless and creative approach to music. Swift is also a role model and a leader in the music industry. She fights for artists’ rights, supports emerging talent, and speaks out on social and political issues.
3. Rihanna
Rihanna is one of the most influential and versatile female pop singers of the 21st century. She started her career in 2005 with the hit single Pon de Replay. However, she rose to fame with her 2007 album Good Girl Gone Bad, which featured the global smash Umbrella (…ella, ella…).
She has released eight studio albums, all of which have reached the top 10 on the Billboard 200 chart. And has won nine Grammy Awards, including two for Record of the Year.
Rihanna is known for her distinctive voice, her diverse musical style, her edgy and glamorous fashion, and her adventurous and experimental projects. Some of these are the concept album Anti and the visual album ANTI. Impressive, right?
RiRi is also a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist. She has launched her own beauty and fashion brands, Fenty Beauty and Fenty, and founded her own charity, the Clara Lionel Foundation.
4. Lady Gaga
This list will always be incomplete without Lady Gaga, am I right? Gaga is one of the most influential as well as controversial female pop singers in the world. She started her career in 2008 with the hit single Just Dance.
However, that is not what she became famous for! Rather, she became a global phenomenon with her 2009 album The Fame Monster. This one featured the iconic songs Poker Face and Bad Romance (the one that goes like Rrraaa… Rrraa…).
Since then, she has released six studio albums. Four of these have debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart and won 12 Grammy Awards, including two for Album of the Year.
Lady Gaga is known for her powerful vocals, her eclectic musical style, and her theatrical and provocative performances. Apart from these, she is popular for artistic and visionary projects, such as the concept album Born This Way and the visual album ARTPOP.
She is also a champion of social causes, such as LGBTQ+ rights, mental health awareness, and sexual assault prevention. And the list does not end here. We certainly cannot forget the fact that she is also a successful actress, winning an Oscar for her role in A Star Is Born.
5. Adele
Fifth on the list of popular and influential pop female singers is Adele (one of my personal favs too). She started her career in 2008 with the hit single Chasing Pavements.
However, just like most other singers on this list, fame did not come to her overnight! Rather it came ‘rolling’ to her (iykyk). She achieved worldwide fame in 2011, three years after her debut, with her album 21. This featured the timeless songs Rolling in the Deep and Someone Like You.
She has released three studio albums, all of which have topped the Billboard 200 chart. She has also won 15 Grammy Awards, including three for Album of the Year.
Adele is known for her soulful vocals, her classic and elegant musical style, her emotional and heartfelt lyrics, and her humble and authentic personality.
She is also a record-breaker and a trendsetter, setting new standards for album sales, streaming, and awards and inspiring a new generation of singers and songwriters.
Thank you, Next…
6. Ariana Grande
Yes, Ariana Grande is the next one on this list! She started her career as a child actress and then launched her music career in 2013 with the hit single The Way.
The Positions singer has released six studio albums, all of which have reached the top 10 on the Billboard 200 chart. She has also won two Grammy Awards, including one for Best Pop Vocal Album.
Ariana Grande is known for her impressive vocals and her catchy and contemporary musical style. She is also known for her glamorous and feminine fashion.
And yes, her prolific and consistent output of releasing three albums in less than two years is something that is commendable. She is also a social media sensation and a cultural icon, attracting millions of followers and fans and influencing the music, fashion, and beauty industries.
7. Katy Perry
Katy Perry is one of the most influential and successful female pop singers in the world at present. She started her career in 2008 with the hit single I Kissed a Girl and then became a pop superstar with her 2010 album Teenage Dream.
Teenage Dream is THE popular album that featured five number-one singles, including Firework and California Gurls.
She has, since then, released five studio albums. Among them, four have reached the top 10 on the Billboard 200 chart. She has also won five American Music Awards, including one for Artist of the Year.
The One That Got Away singer is known for her upbeat vocals, colorful and fun musical style, and playful and quirky performances.
Apart from these, her entertaining and inspiring projects, such as the documentary Katy Perry: Part of Me and the Super Bowl halftime show, do not fail to entertain her fans. She is also a philanthropist and an activist, supporting various causes, such as children’s education, animal rights, and LGBTQ+ rights.
8. Nicki Minaj
How can we talk about the popular female pop singers of this age and not mention Nicki Minaj? She is one of the most influential and groundbreaking singers of the 21st century.
Starting her career in 2009 with the mixtape Beam Me Up Scotty, she became a rap legend with her 2010 debut album Pink Friday. This one features the hit single Super Bass.
The Anaconda singer has released four studio albums, all of which have reached the top 10 on the Billboard 200 chart. She has also won six American Music Awards, including two for Favorite Rap/Hip Hop Artist.
Nicki Minaj is known for her rapid-fire rap skills, her diverse and eclectic musical style, her bold and extravagant fashion, and her daring and controversial projects. Some of these projects are the music video Anaconda and the alter ego Roman Zolanski.
She is also a trailblazer and a leader in the music industry, breaking records, setting trends, and paving the way for other female rappers and pop singers.
9. Madonna
Madonna is one of the most important mentions on this list! This legendary pop singer started her career in 1982 with the hit single Everybody. Since then, she has never looked back.
The Papa Don’t Preach singer became a pop icon with her 1984 album Like a Virgin, which featured the classic songs Material Girl and Like a Virgin.
She has released 14 studio albums, 12 of which have reached the top 10 on the Billboard 200 chart. Besides she has also won seven Grammy Awards, including one for Best Pop Album.
Madonna is known for her expressive vocals, her innovative and diverse musical style, and her provocative and revolutionary performances.
And yes, we simply cannot forget her influential and iconic projects, such as the album Ray of Light and the documentary Truth or Dare.
She is also a pioneer and a leader in the music industry, reinventing herself, challenging boundaries, and inspiring generations of artists and fans.
10. Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys is the next one on the list of the most influential and respected female pop singers of the 21st century. She started her career in 2001 with the hit single Fallin’, and then became a soul sensation with her 2003 album The Diary of Alicia Keys.
The Diary of Alicia Keys is the album that features some of her most popular and beautiful songs, If I Ain’t Got You and You Don’t Know My Name.
The This Girl is on Fire singer has released seven studio albums. Six of these have reached the top 10 on the Billboard 200 chart. Moreover, she has also won 15 Grammy Awards, including five for Best R&B Album.
Alicia Keys is known for her amazing vocals, her soulful and sophisticated musical style, her piano skills and musicality. Some of the most influential projects that she has worked on are the album Here and the book “More Myself.”
She is also a humanitarian and an activist, supporting various causes, such as HIV/AIDS awareness, women’s empowerment, and racial justice.
11. Pink
The list of the most popular female pop singers will be incomplete without Pink! She started her career in 2000 with the hit single There You Go.
It did not take her too long to reach the charts as she became a pop rebel with her 2001 album Missundaztood. This album featured the anthems Get the Party Started and Don’t Let Me Get Me.
She has released eight studio albums, seven of which have reached the top 10 on the Billboard 200 chart. Apart from this, she has also won three Grammy Awards, including one for Best Pop Vocal Album.
Pink is known for her raspy vocals, her rock and pop musical style, and her acrobatic and stunning performances.
And yes, we should not forget her honest and empowering projects, such as the album Funhouse and the documentary All I Know So Far.
Pink is also a role model and a mother, balancing her career and family and sharing her experiences and wisdom with her fans.
12. Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey started her career in 1990 with the hit single Vision of Love, and then became a pop diva with her 1993 album Music Box, which featured the classic songs Hero and Dreamlover.
She has released 15 studio albums, six of which have reached the top 10 on the Billboard 200 chart, and won five Grammy Awards, including one for Best New Artist.
Mariah Carey is known for her incredible vocals, her pop and R&B musical style, her festive and glamorous fashion, and her timeless and influential projects, such as the album Butterfly and the song All I Want for Christmas Is You.
She is also a record-holder and a trendsetter, setting new standards for vocal range, chart performance, and musical collaborations.
13. Lana Del Rey
If there is a name that screams beauty, it has to be that of Lana Del Ray. Coming at number thirteen on the list of the best and most popular female pop stars, Rey started her career in 2011 with the hit single Video Games.
She then quickly reached the top with her album Born to Die in 2012, becoming a pop phenomenon. This album featured the mesmerizing songs Summertime Sadness (YES, THAT ONE) and Blue Jeans.
The Champaign singer has released seven studio albums, six of which have reached the top 10 on the Billboard 200 chart and won one Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album.
Lana Del Rey is known for her sultry vocals and pop and indie musical styles. She is also known for her vintage and nostalgic fashion and her poetic and cinematic projects. Some of these include the album Norman Fucking Rockwell! and the song Young and Beautiful.
Rey is also a cult and a critical favorite in the music industry, creating her own genre, influencing other artists, and receiving acclaim and recognition.
14. Sia
Sia, the one whose face was a mystery for the longest time, is the next one on this list. She started her career in 1997 as an indie singer-songwriter.
However, life has been tough for her. She only got the global recognition she deserved in 2014 with the album 1000 Forms of Fear. She became a pop hitmaker with the album that featured the powerful songs Chandelier and Elastic Heart.
Sia has released nine studio albums, three of which have reached the top 10 on the Billboard 200 chart, and won two MTV Video Music Awards, including one for Video of the Year.
The Thunderclouds singer is known for her amazing vocals and pop and electronic musical styles. She has given us some of the most creative and artistic performances.
Besides, her meaningful and inspiring projects, such as the album This Is Acting and the song The Greatest, are some of the best examples of her creative excellence.
She is also a prolific and successful songwriter and producer, writing and producing songs for other artists, such as Rihanna, Beyoncé, and Katy Perry.
15. Halsey
Last but not least, Halsey is one of the most influential and diverse female pop singers of the 21st century. She started her career in 2014 with the hit single Ghost, then became a pop star with her 2015 debut album Badlands, featuring the popular songs New Americana and Colors.
She has released three studio albums, all of which have reached the top 10 on the Billboard 200 chart, and won one American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Song.
The Without Me singer has also collaborated with many artists, including the popular K-pop band BTS, in their album and title track “Boy with Love,” and with Chainsmokers in the global hit song “Closer.”
Halsey is known for her expressive vocals, her pop and alternative musical style, her colorful and edgy fashion, and her personal and honest projects, such as the album Manic and the song Without Me.
She is also an activist and a representative of various communities, such as LGBTQ+, bipolar, and biracial. She supports various causes, such as sexual assault prevention, mental health awareness, and Black Lives Matter.
Read More: The Oscar Statue: A Cultural Icon or a Cliché?
Bonus: Hips Can’t Lie Because Shakira is Here!
Yes, I know you must have felt personally attacked because I did not mention Shakira’s name on the list! But that was probably because she is the ULTIMATE pop singer whose name deserves to be in the Hall of Fame!
This Colombian singer and songwriter has been referred to as the “Queen of Latin Music.” She is known for her musical versatility, fusion of pop, rock, reggae, and Latin genres, and belly dancing skills.
She has released 11 studio albums, four of which have reached the top 10 on the Billboard 200 chart. She has also won three Grammy Awards and 12 Latin Grammy Awards. Some of her most famous songs include “Whenever, Wherever,” “Hips Don’t Lie,” “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa),” and “Chantaje.”
She is also a philanthropist and an activist, supporting causes from children’s education to environmental protection. With over 95 million records sold worldwide, she is one of the best-selling music artists.
Shakira’s influence on the industry extends beyond her chart-topping hits. She has become a role model for aspiring Latin pop artists, particularly female performers.
Her ability to blend Latin rhythms with contemporary pop and rock influences opened doors for Latin music to reach a global audience. Furthermore, Shakira’s success in the English-language music industry as a non-native English speaker broke down barriers for other Latin artists.
Shakira is a global icon of music and culture who has left a lasting imprint on the pop music scene. Her unique and diverse musical style, her captivating and energetic performances, and her positive and empowering messages have inspired and entertained millions of fans around the world.
Wrapping It Up!
The 21st century has witnessed the rise and success of many female pop singers. They have influenced and shaped the pop music industry. These singers have produced memorable and popular songs and albums. That is not all; they have also contributed to the diversity and evolution of pop music, as well as the culture and society at large.
These artists have showcased their talent, creativity, and impact in various ways, such as their vocals, musical style, fashion, performances, and projects.
They have also inspired and empowered millions of fans around the world, as well as other artists and musicians. These female pop singers are icons of music and culture. They have really left a lasting imprint on the pop music scene.
In case you were searching for the best female pop singers, I hope that this blog has been of help to you. If there are any other queries related to the same, please tell me. And yes, do share your thoughts and suggestions about the article. All you need to do is scroll down till you reach the bottom of the page. Then leave your comments and queries in the box below. And I will be ether to answer them all for you!
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