No. 5: Amy Lee - Evanescence
If you’ve ever heard her voice's powerful, haunting, dolorous timbre, then you know why she is ranked so high on the list. Like others mentioned here, her singing style is distinct and unmistakable.
Evanescence was founded in 1994, and it took nearly a decade for them to get a record deal. Once they gained notice, it’s hard to understand why it took so long.
Since finally delivering a hit song with “Bring Me to Life” in 2003, which reached the top five on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, they’ve added two other top-10 hits and five total songs on that chart. They have eight songs that make the Hot Songs and Alternative Rock charts.
Amy and her band are still relevant in the rock scene. “Afterlife,” releasing in April 2025, was a top-10 hit on the Rock & Alternative Airplay chart. It’s impressive to chart 22 years after their first hit and 31 years after becoming a band.
Lee’s vocals set the stage for Evanescence’s success. Their music is crafted for Lee’s incredible voice to weave in and out of the notes, filling the spaces with her signature sound. Their longevity is a testament to their songwriting, musicianship, and Lee’s haunting vocals.
No. 4: Pat Benatar
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame should be ashamed that Benatar and her husband, songwriting partner, and guitarist Neal Giraldo were inducted only in 2022. If anyone deserved a place in the Hall, it is Benatar, and it took far too long for this icon to get the call.
From 1079 through 1988, Benatar hit the Billboard Hot 100 charts with 17 tunes, 15 of which were top-40 hits. Of those, four were top-10. In addition, she’s had 15 entries on the Billboard 200 Album chart, including three top-5 albums, including Precious Time, which reached the top. She’s had even more success on the Mainstream Rock Airplay chart.
More importantly, she became an iconic example and role model, proving that women can carve out a place in rock music and crossover to pop music without compromising their rock roots. She was iconic musically and with her fashion. She’s a pioneer by all definitions.
Vocally, she is a rocker through and through. She proves this over and over with songs like “Heartbreaker,” “Hit Me With Your Best Shot,” and “Fire and Ice.” She could tone it down beautifully, as in ”We Belong” and “Invincible.”
She has a 4.5 octave range, and let’s face it, she could have chosen any genre of music. Luckily, she decided on rock and roll, and she excelled.
No. 3: Stevie Nicks - Fleetwood Mac, solo
Few rock and roll acts, men or women, have had as much success as the incomparable Stevie Nix as a band member and as a solo artist. Between her time with Fleetwood Mac and her solo career, Nicks was part of 39 Billboard Hot 100 chart hits.
Her Hot 100 chart history includes 13 top-10 songs and 29 top-40 hits. She’s also contributed to 13 top-ten albums. Her imprint and impact on rock and roll are massive. She’s had a hit in 1975 and in 2003, and nearly everywhere.
Like so many other women mentioned, vocally, she is one of a kind. There is no mistaking Nicks' voice. Her voice is contradictory - smooth and soothing, yet raspy, at times. She doesn’t have the big, belting, powerhouse voice usually associated with rock singers, but there is enough force behind it to make a point if she wants to, as is evident in live versions of “Silver Springs.”
She also had her own fashion, flowing dresses, and a flower child vibe. These things are part of the package that makes Nicks such a rock diva. Her legacy to rock and roll is undeniable, and she’s an all-time great.
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