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in my opinion, janet, whitney, and mariah need to be top 10.

THANK YOU for including Donna Summer. Apart from all the disco and EDM stuff, she was the first African-American woman to have a video on heavy rotation in MTV ("She Works Hard for the Money.") She was also the first African-American woman to win a Grammy for Best Performance by a Female, Rock category ("Hot Stuff"). AND she was the first artist to have 3 consecutive DOUBLE ALBUMS go to #1 on the Billboard hot 100 albums (Live and More, Bad Girls and On the Radio-Greatest Hits Volumes I & II). She was a pioneer in many ways.

I really admire Dolly, she's 76 years young, and she's still performing, just as vibrantly as ever!

I can't believe Celine Dion wasn't even included *clutches pearls* or Barbra Streisand or JUDY FREAKING GARLAND

Mariah out of Top 10 is insane. But behind Selena? I can’t even have a word for it

Janis Joplin is NOT an honorable mention. She is a legend and should be on the official list!

Mariah at 13 is ridiculous. Literally everyone who goes to competitions sings her and Whitney songs. She has influence the way people sing and is credited with making melisma popular in the mainstream. She also is considered one of if not the major influence of blending R&B and hip-hop. Not to mention writing all but one of her 19 number one hits. Her influence definitely should have placed her at least in the top 10 but she really should be top 5

I don't disagree with the artists on this list but they're wildly out of order. Whitney & Mariah not in the top 5 is insane.

Donna Summer was the first female and the first black artist to take 3 albums to the top of the Billboard 200 back to back (the just happened to be 3 multi-platinun-selling double albums) She was also the first artist to have 3 #1 singles and 5 top 10 and/or 5 top 5 singles in a calendar year (79). The only artist to be nominated for a Grammy in 5 different genres (at least 3 times each), and the only artist to win a Grammy in 4 different genres. She was named the "Dive De Tutti Dive", meaning the first true diva of the modern Pop era, by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

JUDY GARLAND, Stevie Nicks, even Britney are some of the most influential singers ever.

Excuse me? You might be missing out The Princess of Pop, Britney Spears. How she changed the pop industry during the time when it was dominated by male groups.

Madonna should be credited with not only empowering women but also her challenging sexual boundaries by bringing LGBTQ+ culture and marginalized sexuality into the mainstream, as proven by her classic "Vogue", her controversial "Justify My Love", and more. Plus she was very public about being gal pals with lesbian celebrities like Sandra Bernhard and Rosie O'Donnell. This was especially influential and important in a time period marked by activists battling homophobia and the HIV and the AIDS crisis.

Just want to say that Shania Twain , along with , Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson, and Selena were my crushes in the 90s

Any list like this without Céline Dion and Barbra Streisand is a bluff. These iconic female legends literally paved the way for some of the artsits included on the list. Also Whitney and Cher is way too low.

I agree with the list, but add: Celine Dion, Adele, Patti LaBelle, Chaka Khan, and Annie Lennox

Most of them l agree with, but if it’s women of all time too many on the list are too recent to be influential - Judy Garland, Liza Minnelli, Julie Andrews and Barbra Streisand to name a few have been far more influential! There are a lot of others from the 20th century that paved the way for today’s music.

Janet Jackson should be higher on this list. She is one of the rare artists who dominated multiple genres of music.

Joan Jett is the reason why it's cool to play like a girl. And nothing gets me going like a good Donna Summer tune to this day

Absolutely love seeing Billie Holiday on the list. I can step in most department stores, cafes, restaurants, or Barnes and Nobles, and still hear her music playing. However, Janet, Mariah, and Whitney should all be in the top 10.

Thank you for including latin Icons like Selena and Celia Cruz. They have done so much. Their legacy will live on and continue to inspire others.

One name comes to mind when I read 'Influential Women in Music' and that is Madonna, so I'm glad she's in the top 5, though I would have placed her higher for her influence on pretty much every female pop music star that came after her.

I know a female artist who dominated Country, Rock, Latin, Jazz, Pop, Broadway, and single handedly rehabilitated the Great American songbook. Linda Ronstadt. Why on earth is she not listed? She helped form the Eagles. First woman to have 5 consecutive platinum albums, I could go on and on. Most of all, the greatest singing voice ever. Ask Dolly Parton, she'll tell you.

Madonna should be on top with all my respect to all the other names. Her social and musical influences are unmatched.

I'm glad to see my top five in the list! 1. Janet Jackson 2. Loretta Lynn 3. Dolly Parton 4. Cher 5. Shania Twain Although the list didn't have them in the order I'd choose, I'm just glad they were included!

Think we need another list. Maybe like Patsy Cline, Missy Elliott, Barbara Streisand?

How you can forget Barbra Streisand is beyond me. My personal vocal idol.

Donna Summer did create the Pop/Dance Diva concept.She was a True Pioneer who changed the face of Music and who influenced most female singers who followed until today.She could sing every kind of music and her phenomenal voice was unique!!

Janet Jackson (in tandem with Michael Jackson) should also be credited with solidifying choreographed dance performances, particularly group ensemble dances, as a standard in mainstream pop music. That aspect can be seen reflected in the videos and concerts of numerous other female artists, including Britney Spears, Pink, Destiny's Child, Paula Abdul, and K-pop stars.

Mariah Carey not being in the top 5 is criminal... but im just happy to see her be included because you guys often exclude her from the "greatest" lists.

If Britney Spears is not gonna be in the top 20, she at least deserves to be an honorable mentioned because she brought back the teen pop music era and so many of today’s artists wouldn’t even be here without her. And where was Celine Dion?

I really enjoyed this list! So many beautiful voices and genre!

Very disappointing video. Whitney Houston its too low. And, where is Gloria Estefan? She made latin music so popular during the middle 80 and the 90. Without her, latin music wouldn't be as popular as it is these days, and you don't even put her as an honorable mention? C'mon, you put Taylor Swift as an honorable mention but Gloria Stefan didn't deserved to make it on the list? SHE DESERVES MINIMUN TOP 5. Oh, and you forgot one of the most important artists of the late 80' and 90', Celine Dion.

Glad to see Donna Summer high up on a list when it seems she's normally not. Or, she's absent. Donna Summer's name should always be high up on a list of singers and their vocal ability. This list, however, is about influence. Glad to see she's on it. She has influenced many and continues to do so. It has been said that she was the precursor to Whitney. #1 in my book (Donna).

I don't mind the list but I think it should have included Amy Winehouse cos of her influence on singers today, Mary j Blige impact on 90s and 00s r&b, and Britney Spears impact on pop music in 00s all pop singers that followed in her wake. Damm it the list should have been longer!!!

Maddona should have been in top 3 . Mariah and Whitney deserved higher ( especially not seeing celine even in mentions ) and Britney deserved at least a mention !

Thank you so much for not over looking or discounting the influence of Donna Summer An artist who co-wrote and or wrote most of her hits and who brought “disco” into the new wave era and beyond

why is janet so low she’s literally the blueprint of the popstars of today

Whitney, Mariah and Janet are in the top ten if not top five of most influential female artists. JMHO. Celine and Barbra was also missing too.

I think this is a good list! It's not a ranking of "popular", "most talented", "greatest ability", or "most successful", but a ranking by degree of influence/impact on what was to come after. While ranking of this type is alway subjective, I appreciate the reflection on the impact these women have had on their successors!

Laura Nyro's influence on popular musicians has been acknowledged by such artists as Joni Mitchell, Carole King, Tori Amos, Patti Smith, Kate Bush, Diamanda Galas, Bette Midler, Rickie Lee Jones, Elton John, Jackson Browne, Alice Cooper, Elvis Costello, Cyndi Lauper, Todd Rundgren, Steely Dan, Sarah Cracknell, Melissa Manchester, Lisa Germano, and Rosanne Cash. And you don't even mention her?

Definitely Whitney Houston it's just so sad she's gone and her daughter they're all good singers however Whitney Houston is the best

Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart, Stevie Nick's, Grace Slick, these Rock & Roll women deserve an honorable mention as well.

CELINE DION SONG'S IS VERY POPULAR IN THE WORLD,ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL VOICES OF ALL TIME

I was hoping that Nina Simone would be on this list. She is a legend!

Selena being on this list, YES!❤❤❤ Mariah & Whitney ABSOLUTELY! But no Celine???? 😩

This is a great list - I might finagle a few of the rankings, but overall y'all are on point...I also love how you included ladies like Beyonce, Taylor and Gaga in the Honorable mentions. The only glaring omission from this list is Annie Lennox.

I feel like Janet Jackson should be ranked higher that that if not no. 1. At least the top 5 or 10

Some amazing women on this list. Particularly happy to see Dolly made it, what a gifted songwriter she is… but seriously, no Streisand? Barbra definitely deserves to be there.

Selena (and Ricky Martin) is frequently credited with the crossover of Latin music to the U.S. mainstream, but those who also helped pave the way include Gloria Estefan and Latin freestyle acts like Exposé and Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam.

No Amy Winehouse? 😔 Janet being so low ? Whitney only 11? This is upsetting

WatchMojo Never Fails To Disappoint.

Celine Dion not being on this list is the biggest crime of all.

If Selena was still alive today, no doubt that she would be even bigger than Beyonce.

Cyndi Lauper? Celine Dion?

I think this was a great list. Even though some of these artists are more popular, the list was about who was more inspirational. The women who came before them to pave the way for their popularity deserve higher spots on this list. Bravo to the women in the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s that gave the women of today their chance to shine and inspire the next generation.

You all forgot to mention: Debbie Harry, Patti Smith, Stevie Nicks, Pat Benatar and Roberta Flack. Also, why was Janis Joplin an honorable mention. She should have been in the top ten.

This was a good list. But I don't necessarily agree with the order and it's a huge oversight that Stevie Nicks wasn't even an honorable mention. Otherwise, good job Mojo. Sidenote: isn't it sad how many of these talented women are no longer with us?

I said it before and I'll say it again: Kate Bush deserves at least an honourable mention. There's life on the other side of the Atlantic, you know...

Madonna should be the top 1 on this list!! The way she crossed boundaries throughout her music is phenomenal. She really changed the world! She changes People's minds, the world became a better place for the LGBT Community people because of her, and many female artist can express themselves sexually because of her. She's a risk taker and speak her mind for the people who are being oppressed by the society. She's so ahead of her time during the 80s and 90s. She's the best selling female artist of all time. No one comes close to her massive influence in Pop culture. She's in league of her own!!

janet jackson is so amazing

Why the fuck is Whitney number 11? She needs to be much higher

All those mentioned plus many others not mentioned in this video have made my life better

Y'all missed Ma Rainey, mother of blues. Should've at least made honorable mention 😆

Not including Abba’s Frida and Agnetha is a crime! Selling 400 million albums and singles, that’s pretty damn influential and sound, fashion and attitude

I am truly surprised artists such as Britney Spears, Nicki Minaj, Chaka Khan, Patti Labelle, Gloria Estefan, Lil Kim, Gladys Knight were not at least mentioned

Love the list but to me it out of order because Dolly Parton, Whitney Houstonand Cher should have been in the top . Whitney Houston as number one.

Judy Garland, Barbra Streisand, Liza Minelli

Celine Dion always has her songs on every singing contest It's not influential enough for you?

EDIT: IN TODAY'S NEWS, 4/19/22: "Taylor Swift Scores 10th No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With 'Red (Taylor's Version)' Swift becomes only the second woman with at least 10 No. 1s, following Barbra Streisand." AND SHE DOESN'T EVEN GET A MENTION??? The fact that this list does not include Barbra Streisand is a seriously myopic oversight. What seems to be forgotten by the compilers of this list is exactly how much impact Streisand's career has had on more than just music. When she first became noticed in the early 60s, it was because of her being a completely new kind of singer with her powerful belting range and emotional investment in every lyric. She shook up the female recording scene, redefining the trend of bland, cookie cutter pop queens of the day. She was 21 when she signed with Columbia Records, insisting on keeping complete artistic control over her recordings, virtually unheard of at the time, especially for a female singer. By the time she opened on Broadway in FUNNY GIRL, she went from recording artist to major star by the age of 22. Before her, NO ONE kept their ethnic last name, nor their ethnic looking nose. She was urged to change both, but was steadfast in her refusal. She was known to get her clothes at second-hand thrift shops, which set a trend that can still be seen. She became one of the most photographed young women of that time, and was unique in the description of her looks as a "now you see it, now you don't beauty," redefining the very term "beautiful." She even started the trend of long fingernails for women by having 1-inch "scandalously long" nails. She became an instant superstar with the release of the movie version of FUNNY GIRL in 1968, winning the Academy Award for her first film, done by the age of 26. She later became the first and only person to have won Oscars for both acting,for her role in FUNNY GIRL, AND songwriting for "Evergreen," which she co-wrote for A STAR IS BORN. She became the Number One female box office star of the 70s, and became the first woman to produce, direct, write, and star in her own movie, YENTL, becoming the first woman, and still only, woman to win the Golden Globe for Best Director of a Musical or Comedy. Her recording achievements are beyond legendary. What's more, she literally paved the way for just about every pop "diva" that followed, from Whitney to Mariah to Celine; they all, and many others to this day, have given Barbra credit as their inspiration. All that is still just SOME of the ways in which this extraordinary, phenomenal talent has inspired, and continues to inspire, generations of female singers. To COMPLETELY overlook even so much as a MENTION of this icon is inconveivable and totally discredits this entire list.

Good choices. Well done!

I first started to listen to Joni Mitchell in high school and continue to do so. A true artist both as a singer, song writer and a graphic artist she has influenced a new generation of artists. Before their was Alanis, Taylor or even Katy we have Joni who stood alone as a performer not the girl lead in a band and inspired other artists including Annie Lennox to do the same.

great list. For me there is no bigger or smaller, they all had an impact on the music industry.

How is Whitney Houston only number 11? She deserved to be on the Top 5!

Dolly Parton has always capture my heart all those beautiful ladies are icon 💗💗💗💗💗💗

Common Mojo!!! Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey deserves to be on the top 6. These 3 with Donna Summer, Diana Ross and Dionne Warwick opened the doors for the new girls.

Celia Cruz in this list is an awesome point.

Great video

gets on my nerves so much when people say "add this and this and this oh you forgot this". it's a top 20 list. there are only 20 spots. they didn't forget anyone. they just didn't make the cut. that's how top lists work. great video msmojo👍

Donna Summer - well deserved and way underrated!

I understand the choices made here, putting Etta, Aretha etc, in the Top 5. However, not putting Janet Jackson and Whitney Houston in the top 5... let alone the top ten, is criminal. Especially since they are ranked by Billboard at #3 and #4 most successful female artists of ALL TIME!

Janet Jackson is too low considering she has influenced an entire generation of artists - men, women, gay, straight, black, white, Asian, old, young. Her reach is very far.

Dolores o Riordan by the Cranberries ...Queen of rock , icon of músic

30’s, 40’s, 50’s, 60’s She was a recording artist at Decca at 13 years old, she made dozens of hit movies, she became a concert singer giving sold out concerts for decades, her album “Judy at Carnegie Hall“ is probably the greatest one woman show on a concert stage There’s nobody in the world that hasn’t listened to somewhere over the rainbow And she didn’t even get a mention

Influential list in music, people. Not best singers. Edit: with that being said, Janet should be much higher..

Pat Benatar, Ann and Nancy Wilson, Babs, Celion, Madonna, and Billie Elish

I agree that Janis Joplin SO deserved a spot on the official list. Plus, where was Barbra Streisand? That was a HUGE oversight.

Whitney is no. 1.

I like the research done on this list. But y’ll did Britney dirty for not including her anywhere since she was the blueprint blonde pop girl in late 90s and early 2000s and she contributed heavily in how music sounded during that era and many artists like Jessica Simpson, Mandy More and Christina Aguilera were pushed to follow Britney’s image and she also brought electronic sound to the forefront with her Blackout album in 2007 which influenced the sound from 2008-2012.

I’m so lucky to see two of this fabulous women on this list live. Dolly in 2014 and Cher in 2019

Just a suggestion, you should change the title to American Music in the last 70 years.

Good list of artists, but IMO Janet/Mariah/Whitney should be higher!

Love the list… I do think Lil Kim deserves a spot on this list…she reinvented female rap.

Love Loretta Lynn, Karen carpenter, Stevie Nick's, and Gwen Stefanie as much as the Beatles!!!!

Loretta Lynn was an unexpected surprise! Props to you, MsMojo!

Brandy is overlooked way too much for her influence. She has influence just about every single R&B artist male and female as well as mainstream artists who have listed her as an inspiration. She literally has her own style of singing that has penetrated the industry. I'm tired of her being overlooked. There are too many people out here who literally mimic Her Style

Selena & Celia Cruz ❤

This list is so out of order, Janet Whitney and Mariah not being top 5 is a crime.

This was a great list, though I could quibble about the order. MOJO can be pretty USA-centric, so I was thrilled at their recognizing international divas like Celia Cruz and Selena. I was also hoping to see MIRIAM MAKEBA. She was Goddess in Africa, the diaspora and much of Europe, bringing the South African influence to western soul and pop. As for cultural significance, it could possibly be said that her voice helped bring down apartheid. BTW, I would have also included Barbra Streisand, Nina Simone, Laura Nyro, Karen Carpenter... but then I just couldn't stop at twenty.

In addition to not listing Streisand, to not to mention Edith Piaf, Ethel Waters, Mahalia Jackson, Dusty Springfield is almost criminal. Who did Shania Twain influence as a singer, a few housewives singing at Holiday Inn lounges on weekends??