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Home › Entertainment

wOw Music | 11/14/2008 8:15 am

Barbra Streisand Headlines Top Ten List Of States' Best-Selling Female Musicians

You’ll never guess which ten women have sold the most records in the United States …

Photo Essay

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We all know women rock, but these ladies really rock. From Barbra Streisand to Whitney Houston, we’ve tracked down the top ten female musicians who have sold the most records in the United States. Think you know who’s made it? You’d be surprised …
Read more about: Barbra Streisand, Britney Spears, Celine Dion, Entertainment, Linda Ronstadt, Madonna, Maria Carey, Music, News, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, The Dixie Chicks, Whitney Houston

36 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

Kryssi K
I totally forgot about Brightman! She’s good. But the problem I have with her is that her voice is almost TOO trained - there’s rarely any emotion/passion in her performances. Still, I can’t think of anyone else in the business with a voice quite like that (How many octaves CAN she hit? When she does the opera, I get goosebumps everywhere!)…and she’s been at it for quite a while anyway. Tina Turner (with whom I share a birthday!!!) was another blatant omission. I didn’t bother - if they couldn’t even get Cher on the list, come on… You know what? Come to think of it, what about Cyndi Lauper? I always thought she had a much more free-spirited personality and FAR SUPERIOR vocal range than Madonna…
By Kryssi K on 11/15/2008 3:59 pm
Vicki M
I can’t believe Cher isn’t on that list. Cher is the best of the best . I’d love to see Barbara but her tickets are unaffordable to some people. I took my granddaughter to see Briteny and I was impressed with her. She’s quite a showgirl.
By Vicki M on 11/15/2008 12:44 pm
Donna H
Loreena McKennit
By Donna H on 11/16/2008 6:14 am
Kryssi K
Excellent! And now I feel inclined to suggest ENYA - all her albums are stunningly gorgeous.
By Kryssi K on 11/16/2008 6:06 pm
Melanie Waldrop
Yes Aretha—THE QUEEN of SOUL—would have to be on my list also, as well as Cyndi Lauper, Annie Lennox (she is divine…), Patti Smith, Debbie Harry…and how could I forget Chrissy Hinde—a woman who can rock with the best of them and ALSO write a beautiful song dedicated to her children (I’ll Stand By You)…she is as full of chutzpah as she is of talent! I simply love her!!! Also, Carol King and Carly Simon both deserve their props as both singers and song writers!
By Melanie Waldrop on 11/16/2008 12:55 pm
Kryssi K
I believe I’ll Stand By You was mostly written by someone else, actually. The song she wrote specifically for her first-born was “Show Me” - one of my favs. But yes, Chrissie is the quintessential Rockr Grl. I had the privilege of catching the Pretenders on their 2003 tour in LA - front row, almost center - very entertaining, rockin’ show (turned out that particular gig was filmed for their live DVD “Loose in LA” - I am, pathetically, in a lot of shots LOL). She knows how to rock AND roll with the boys. Damn fine musician, and not bad to look at either. ;-) The same (and then some) goes for Patti, I imagine, but unfortunately I have yet to witness her untouchable presence live in concert.
By Kryssi K on 11/16/2008 6:14 pm
robyn robinett
love the mention of the lead singer from ‘texas’. i LOVE that band! they were my traveling compatriots the 2 years i spent in australia. are they still around?
By robyn robinett on 11/16/2008 1:48 pm
Kryssi K
Robyn! Yes I believe Texas are still around - their most recent album was 2006’s “Red Book” (EXCELLENT), but lately Sharleen has been focusing on her solo album (“Melody” - the entire album is in that blah 60s doo-wop style that’s gotten way too damn popular again thanks to the likes of Winehouse and Duffy). But as far as I know, the band is still technically together. She’s got a great set of pipes, eh? It’s stunning how phenomenally popular they are in the UK, yet hardly anyone here in the States has a clue who Texas are. What a shame - Shar has the looks, the talent, and the attitude for Star Quality! Sigh.
By Kryssi K on 11/16/2008 6:04 pm
Nadine Grippa
I’m in this wowOwow site. So cool, love it. You’re excatly right, I had not hear from Tracy Chapman.. Where she ? I do missed Tracy Chapman. Hope she comeback ! I still have tape cassette of Tracy Chapman from 1980’s with my first girlfriend gave me to have it. I had not get new Tracy Chapman DVD yet. Have you heard any new DVD of Tracy Chapman new song yet.
By Nadine Grippa on 11/16/2008 1:53 pm
Flo Cross
This is to respond to merrell g. Melanie did a remix of Beautiful People on her 2005 “Old Bitch Warrior” album (do we still call them albums?)…It’s quite stirring. I was so inspired by Melanie all those years ago that I taught myself guitar. Then, when I rediscovered her, I bought an iPod so I could download her music. And we can peek at her performances via YouTube. How times have changed! And she has just gotten better…Thanks for bringing back good memories.
By Flo Cross on 11/17/2008 11:57 am
Melanie Waldrop
OMG! I realized I didn’t mention k.d. lang!!! I saw her last month in Birmingham—her voice is exquisite!
By Melanie Waldrop on 11/17/2008 5:02 pm
Mugsy Peabody
Barbra Streisand doesn’t “rock,” she rules!
By Mugsy Peabody on 11/17/2008 11:51 pm
Tammie Powell
Love so many of your picks, especially Annie Lennox, Tracy Chapman, and Tina Turner. Permit me to offer a new one to the list: the incredibly talented Eva Cassidy, who is no longer with us but whose music is so moving.
By Tammie Powell on 11/18/2008 8:21 am
Anne Griffin
I don’t know record sales or poles these people were gathered from but this definately in not correct. According to all record/album/cd/ sales Janet Jackson leads this list. She has sold over 100 million records in her lifetime. Whitney Houston is a extremely close second followed by Mariah Carey. I live in a little country like the Bahamas I even I know that. This also seem like a racial bias kind of list. So Editor, I think you need to revisit this list thing and post the correct winners. Thank you
By Anne Griffin on 11/18/2008 4:29 pm
Dona Howlett
Streisand is at the top of my list. I remember seeing her the first time on Television on a Judy Garland special. Judy was great also. We are so lucky with all the electronic gadgets we have to listen to our music. I can remember saving my money to buy old 78’s and 45’s when I was in High School. Opera hasn’t been mentioned…………I loved Beverly Sills.
By Dona Howlett on 11/20/2008 12:55 am
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