They make music with instruments they were born with - their voices. Gifted vocalists have entertained audiences across musical genres from the tour de force arias of Luciano Pavarotti to the classic crooning of Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett to the soulful vocals of artists like Aretha Franklin and Mahalia Jackson. With their powerful lyricism, singers like Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson and Bruce Springsteen became poet laureates of American music while artists including Joan Baez and Joe Strummer used their voices to prompt social change while they entertained. Rockers from Elvis Presley to The Beatles to Kurt Cobain helped define their generations through their songs while icons like Michael Jackson, Cher and Whitney Houston shaped pop culture with their larger-than-life voices and personas. See these and more famous singers who have struck a chord in musical history.
Singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey took the world by storm with her 'Video Games.' Since then she's built up a body of work that features languid, melancholic tunes and fascinating videos.
Maren Morris is an American country singer and songwriter, who won her first Grammy in 2017 for her hit single, "My Church."
Julianne Hough is a professional American dancer, actress and country music singer, best known for being on the reality competition show 'Dancing With the Stars.'
Sutton Foster rose to fame as a Tony Award-winning stage actress in 'Thoroughly Modern Millie' and 'Anything Goes,' before finding success on TV in 'Younger.'
Country star Thomas Rhett is known for songs like 'Marry Me' and 'Die a Happy Man.' His third album, 'Life Changes,' which found inspiration in his personal life, topped the charts upon its release in 2017.
Kanye West is a Grammy Award-winning rapper and record producer and fashion designer. Outspoken and prone to controversy, he became additional celebrity fodder with his marriage to Kim Kardashian.
Bob Dylan revamped the 1929 hit love song ‘She’s Funny That Way’ with same-sex pronouns for a new 6-song EP, ‘Universal Love: Wedding Songs Reimagined.’ The album, Funded by MGM, is meant to be inclusive of LGBT couples and features Kesha among other artists.
Carrie Underwood revealed that she suffered three miscarriages within the past two years. “Why on Earth do I keep getting pregnant if I can’t have a kid? Like, what is this? Shut the door. Like, do something. Either shut the door or let me have a kid," the singer said. She currently pregnant with her second child.
Happy 37th birthday, Beyoncé! In honor of #BeyDay, the singer's mother paid tribute to her famous daughter on Instagram: "Happy Birthday to the nicest, owner of the most beautiful, generous, loving hearts ever!!!! Brilliant too! Always thinking, planning, analyzing, strategizing, how you can make everything you touch better!"
Christopher Stapleton is an award-winning American singer-songwriter who wrote multiple hits for many country/rock/pop musicians before stepping into the limelight himself with his smash debut album, 'Traveller,' in 2015.
Mavis Staples is best known for her extensive gospel career with the Staples Singers.
Richard Starkey, better known as Ringo Starr, has become the second member of The Beatles to be knighted, after Sir Paul McCartney. Ringo, who was honored for “services to music,” said, “It means recognition for the things we've done. I was really pleased to accept this."
With hits such as "Vision of Love" and "I Don't Wanna Cry," pop diva Mariah Carey holds the record for most No. 1 debuts in Billboard Hot 100 history.
Lindsey Buckingham is out of Fleetwood Mac and will not join the band’s upcoming tour. The singer-guitarist joined with then-girlfriend Stevie Nicks in 1974. He'll be replaced by Neil Finn of Crowded House and Mike Campbell of Tom Petty's Heartbreakers.
Russell Crowe held an auction of personal artifacts in Australia to celebrate his near-finalized divorce to Danielle Spencer. The actor netted roughly $2.8 million USD for movie memorabilia, diamond jewelry, artwork, sports collectibles and a dinosaur skull sold to him by Leo DiCaprio.
Singer Justin Timberlake got his start on 'The New Mickey Mouse Club' and made it big with boy band *NSYNC, before becoming a solo singer and actor.
Kenny Rogers has cancelled the remaining performances of his 2018 farewell tour due to “a series of health challenges." Doctors fully expect the country star to recover but recommended he cancel performances through the end of the year to focus on getting better.