Although many pop singers come and go through the industry, there are some that become iconic and leave a legacy behind, elevating them to goddess-like pop diva status. Some would argue that these female musicians carried the music industry, dominating charts and radio stations for decades. Here are the top 10 music divas of all time.
1. Christina Aguilera
A pop music diva with a soulful voice, Christina got “Dirrty” back in 2002 and released a series of bangers ever since. Although she started out on the Mickey Mouse Club, she quickly shed that good girl image and pushed creative and musical boundaries. Her tracks show off her impressive voice, which still stands as one of the best in the industry. Over two decades later, she’s still performing and showing off those killer vocal chops.
2. Beyoncé Knowles
Although she’s also the queen of R&B, there’s no denying that Beyoncé reigns on the pop charts. Her superstar quality was clear ever since she was in Destiny’s Child. After launching her solo career, Beyoncé went on to win a total of 28 Grammys — her first one was at just 19 years old. Today, she’s still setting the trends, going out of her comfort zone, and developing new sounds.
3. Madonna
She might not be as trendy now as she was back in the day, but there’s no denying that Madonna is one of the pop pioneers of our world. She was considered extremely edgy when compared to more wholesome pop icons like Michael Jackson, and was one of the first women in the 1980s and its male-dominated pop music industry. While she’s not everyone’s cup of tea, she’s still considered an A-list celebrities and has put out music in recent years.
4. Mariah Carey
A pop diva on all accounts, Mariah Carey has a five-octave vocal range that many would love to have. Her angelic voice first came on the scene In the early 90s with hits like Always be My Baby and Fantasy. Once honored by the World Music Awards as the best-selling female pop artist of the millennium, Carey just kept on shattering records, with her U.S. number-one singles.
5. Whitney Houston
An R&B and pop diva who came on the scene in the 1980s with her debut album, Whitney Houston was known for her gorgeous looks and clean image. Her voice was extraordinary and genre-defying, and she’s partially responsible for making R&B more mainstream. Her fans and the music industry loved her. Unfortunately, her marriage to Bobby Brown and personal problems led her down a dark path.
6. Celine Dion
There’s one thing that Celine Dion is a master of, and that’s the power ballad. I mean, who else gets to have such an iconic moment in “Titanic”? The French Canadian got into music at the young age of 12 and after winning the Eurovision Song Contest, she went on to release albums in both English and French. With an official induction onto the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Celine was a role model for many female pop stars to come.
7. Britney Spears
Thanks to the #FreeBritney movement and her hunk of a younger partner, Britney Spears’ career has experienced a full-fledged revival. Although fame hasn’t always been kind to this celebrity, who has suffered from personal problems, her music has stood the test of time with legendary tracks like Baby One More Time and Toxic. There’s hardly anyone who embodies the world of pop like Brit.
8. Cher
Cher’s music career is up there with legends like Tina Turner. Since the 1960s, this ageless queen has been delivering music in both her solo career and as half of the Sonny & Cher duo. With a total of 26 studio albums and 10 compilation albums under her belt, one of Cher’s most famous tracks is Believe, which was also one of the first mainstream Autotune tracks ever released.
9. Rihanna
Having experimented with all kinds of genres, Rihanna is still one of the top pop divas of all time. Much of that is thanks to her hit single Umbrella, which made her famous. From anthems like Diamonds to Rude Boy, she’s one of the most talented. Musicians who can emulate a range of styles. Today, this new mom is a trailblazer in the world of fashion and body positivity as well.
10. Adele
Straddling the line between soul and pop, this record-breaking singer songwriter isn’t a diva in behavior, but in the musical icon certainly is. Her voice continues to drop jaws, as does her poignant messaging in the albums that are named after her different age milestones. Watching this artist grow and attain new levels of success has been seriously magical.