Criteria: These Modern Rock Female vocalists are rated by their ability, in their prime, for vocal range, power, versatility, uniqueness, ability to convey emotion, and lasting popularity. (This list is comprised of female vocalists generally considered hard rock, soft rock, punk, alternative, indie, new wave, folk rock, psychedelic rock, and similar sub-genres. It does not contain female vocalists generally considered pop, country, blues, new age, soul, R&B, hip-hop, and similar sub-genres.)
Edited By: Lew
Last Updated: 2017-05-25
Newly added names are in Red
Greatest Classic/Modern Rock Female Vocalists
Janis Joplin
Grace Slick
Ann Wilson
Stevie Nicks
Tina Turner
Pat Benatar
1. Janis Joplin 2. Grace Slick (Jefferson Airplane) 3. Ann Wilson (Heart) 4. Stevie Nicks (Fleetwood Mac, Solo) 5. Tina Turner 6. Pat Benatar 7. Debbie Harry (Blondie) 8. Annie Lennox (Eurythmics) 9. Chrissie Hynde (The Pretenders) 10. Joni Mitchell 11. Melissa Etheridge 12. Patti Smith 13. Alanis Morissette 14. Björk 15. PJ Harvey 16. Kate Bush 17. Kim Gordon (Sonic Youth) 18. Tarja Turunen (Nightwish) 19. Ani Difranco 20. Nico (Velvet Underground) 21. Delores O'Riordan (Cranberries) 22. Shirley Manson (Garbage) 23. Patty Smyth (Scandal) 24. Rickie Lee Jones 25. Sandy Denny (Fairport Convention, Solo) 26. Martha Davis (Motels) 27. Fiona Apple 28. Meredith Brooks 29. Christina Scabbia (Lacuna Coil) 30. Tanya Donelly (Belly) 31. Liz Phair 32. Terri Nunn (Berlin) 33. Alannah Myles 34. Sheryl Crow 35. Exene Cervanka (X) 36. Suzi Quatro 37. Suzanne Vega 38. Debora Iyall (Romeo Void) 39. Kim Deal (The Breeders, Pixies) 40. Kat Bjelland (Babes In Toyland) 41. Christine McVie (Fleetwood Mac, Solo) 42. Lita Ford 43. Joan Jett (Blackhearts) 44. Siouxsie Sioux (Siouxsie & the Banshees) 45. Melanie 46. Brody Armstrong (The Distillers) 47. Karen O (Yeah Yeah Yeahs) 48. Gilly Smyth (Gong) 49. Kate Pierson (B-52's) 50. Jann Arden
51. Gwen Stefani (No Doubt) 52. Mary Margaret O'Hara 53. Lana Lane 54. Alison Moyet (Yaz) 55. Nina Gordon (Veruca Salt, Solo) 56. Maggie Bell 57. Annie Haslam (Renaissance) 58. Corinne Drewery (Swing Out Sister) 59. Beth Gibbons (Portishead) 60. Nina Hagen 61. Susanna Hoffs (Bangles) 62. Amy Lee (Evanescence) 63. Nancy Wilson (Heart) 64. Skin (Deborah Dyer) (Skunk Anansie) 65. Joss Stone 66. Shawn Colvin 67. Doro Pesch (Warlock) 68. Nanci Griffith 69. Jane Siberry 70. Karla Bonoff 71. Patty Griffin 72. Rita Coolidge 73. Chrissy Steele 74. Amanda Marshall 75. Amy Winehouse 76. Linda Perry (4 Non Blondes) 77. Hope Sandoval (Mazzy Star) 78. Carrie Akre (Hammerbox) 79. Kristen Hersh (Throwing Muses) 80. Lee Aaron 81. Sarah Shannon (Velocity Girl) 82. Mia Zappata (Gits) 83. Harriet Wheeler (The Sundays) 84. Wendy Waldman 85. Jennifer Warnes 86. Jonnette Napolitano (Concrete Blonde) 87. Holly McNarland 88. Judy Henske 89. Annette Peacock 90. Candice Night (Blackmore's Night) 91. Patti Santos (It's A Beautiful Day) 92. Sas Jordan 93. Paula Cole 94. Katrina Chester (Luxx) 95. Margo Timmins (Cowboy Junkies) 96. Kim Richey 97. Signe Anderson (Jefferson Airplane, '65-'66) 98. Maria Azevedo (Battery) 99. Courtney Love (Hole) 100. Marianne Faithful
101. Avril Lavigne 102. Laetitia Sadier (Stereolab) 103. Jennifer Herrema (Royal Trux) 104. Dorothy Moskowitz (United States Of America) 105. Heather Findlay (Mostly Autumn) 106. Kim Wilde 107. Sharon den Adel (Within Temptation) 108. Maria Mckee (Lone Justice, solo) 109. Christina Amphlett (Divinyls) 110. Wendy O. Williams (Plasmatics) 111. Hayley Williams (Paramore) 112. Dale Krantz (Rossington-Collins Band) 113. Jane Jarboe (Swans) 114. Darby Mills (Headpins) 115. Amy Ray (Indigo Girls) 116. Emily Saliers (Indigo Girls) 117. Tara MacLean 118. Jennifer Rush 119. Leslie Rankine (Silverfish) 120. Dale Bozzio (Missing Persons) 121. Joan Osborne 122. Lynda Stipe (Hetch Hetchy) 123. Jennifer Cella (Trans Siberian Orchestra) 124. Simone Simons (Epica) 125. Dominique Durand (Ivy) 126. Kimberley Locke 127. Georgia Hubley (Yo La Tengo) 128. Melanie Doane 129. Lacey Mosley (Flyleaf) 130. Linda Sundblad (Lambretta) 131. Bif Naked 132. Tracey Thorn (Everything But The Girl) 133. Sandi Saraya (Saraya) 134. Pamela Moore 135. Kay Hanley (Letters To Cleo) 136. Kelly Hogan (Jody Grind) 137. Kari Wuhrer 138. Alison Mosshart (aka VV of The Kills) 139. Tobey Torres (Snake River Conspiracy) 140. Teena Marie 141. Cat Power 142. Grace Potter (Grace Potter and the Nocturnals) 143. Monique Powell (Save Ferris) 144. Kirsty Hawkshaw
145. Neko Case 146. Isabel Monteiro (Drugstore) 147. Lisa Gerrard (Dead Can Dance) 148. Justine Frischmann (Elastica) 149. Anneli Marian Drecker (Bel Canto) 150. Tairrie B (My Ruin) 151. Emm Gryner 152. Charlotte Martin 153. Louise Post (Veruca Salt) 154. Beth Orton 155.Anna Murphy (Cellar Darling, Eluveitie) 156. Kate Voegele 157. Mimi Goese (Hugo Largo) 158. Marti Dodson (Saving Jane) 159. Kim Shattuck (The Muffs) 160. Thalia Zedek (Live Skull) 161. Charlotte Hatherley (Ash) 162. Melanie Campbell (Burning Brides) 163. Angela Gossgow (Arch Enemy) 164. Jenny Haan (Babe Ruth) 165. Clare Torry (Pink Floyd-DSOTM) 166. Leigh Nash 167. Kathleen Hanna (Le Tigre/Bikini Kill) 168. Ida No (Glass Candy & Shattered Theatre) 169. Jenny Lewis (Rilo Kiley) 170. Nina C. Alice (Skew Siskin) 171. Kate Nash 172. Lilly Allen 173. Dot Allison 174. Ella Hooper (Killing Heidi) 175. Suzi Gardner (L7) 176. Sara Bareilles 177. Tina Dico 178. Sheila Nicholls 179. Danielle Brisebois 180. Lucia Cafarelli (KMFDM) 181. Anette Olzon (Nightwish) 182. Corin Tucker (Sleater-Kinney) 183. Anna Nalick 184. Regina Spektor 185. Sandra Nasic (Guano Apes) 186. Bonnie Bramlett 187. Nellie Mckay
