10 Best Female Solo Artist

The 10 best female solo artists are all those chicks who remind the world from time to time that, yes, women do have a small place in the world of music after all. These are the artists who also inspire young girls to remember that women are not just to be stereotyped as homemakers--they can also dress scantily and sing sexually charged songs.

1. Madonna. Not to be confused with The Virgin Mary, Madonna is the best female solo artist because of how many records she has persuaded people to buy across the world. She's right up there with the greats like Queen and The Beatles. She is also the picture of longevity, having been at it for decades.
2. Mariah Carey. She deserves the second spot on this list of the best female solo artists because of her voice. Strong and with a wide vocal range, Carey can go from high-pitched shrieks to more normal singing in just a second or two. If there's a voice that can break glass, then it's hers for sure.
3. Whitney Houston. While her career has been marked at times by substance abuse and domestic problems (Bobby Brown!!!), Whitney Houston takes the third spot due to her memorable hits. Whether it's her pigeon-holed stint on "The Bodyguard" soundtrack or her string of hits across the 80s, Houston is synonymous with hit-making.
4. Cher. Another oldie (quite old, actually) but a goodie, Cher is another female solo artist who has just withstood the test of time. Though she may be around for what seems like forever, it's paid off for her: She is one of the highest-selling female artists of all time. Now if only her acting "skills" were on par with her singing career!
5. Carrie Underwood. Carrie Underwood takes the fifth spot on this list of the best female solo artists on account of her success in country music. Even after springing up on the scene only a few years ago, Underwood is already one of the biggest sellers in all of country music.
6. Beyonce. Beyonce is another female solo artist who thinks she's a diva, but she's still young enough to have to wait awhile before deserving that title. Still, whether with Destiny's Child or on her own, she constantly sells out shows. Her marriage to Jay-Z likely doesn't hurt her career either.
7. Britney Spears. Even when she's not leaving the house with no underwear on (va-jay-jay alert!!) or being committed to the nut house, Britney Spears still has made an impact--if you're a teenager, that is. While her star power and her selling potential as a female artist may have faded from her late 90s heyday, she's been making a comeback of late.
8. Barbara Streisand. Barbara Streisand shows that you don't have to be fresh or creative to reinvent yourself every so often to have a solid career. Streisand has been doing the same thing since the 60s, and she is still considered one of the best female solo artists in the US.
9. Kesha. Kesha might be new on the scene, but she sure understands about the music industry and how entering it is primarily an act of material aspiration. After all, the dollar sign she uses to spell her name is really unique and all. While she's been accused of doing nothing more than using asinine effects on her vocals when she records her tracks, millions of teen girl fans (the most sophisticated and rational of all demographics on Earth) still buy her music up.
10. Katy Perry. Nothing says silly lyrics and sexually charged music like Katy Perry, which is why she's so popular with teen girls, of course! Her music is so carefree because she sings about the stuff that matters in life, like sex and losing your virginity and streaking naked across the street.