Flip through the slideshow below for a look at the all-time great voices in music, ranging from R&B icons to opera stars, pop chanteuses and everyone in between.
From the soulful notes of jazz to the powerhouse performances of rock and the melodies of indie pop, female singers have left an incredible mark on music history.
Hair metal — that dreaded colloquialism for the commercial, party-hearty hard rock that dominated the airwaves in the '80s — is known for its hotshot guitar players and over-the-top showmanship.