Women have always been instrumental in shaping both music and culture. Today, countless powerful women are leaving their mark on music—and, by extension, society and culture—that creating a comprehensive list of the most influential female musicians of the 21st century feels like a monumental task.
From Beyoncé constantly redefining the essence of a strong, independent woman to Taylor Swift advocating for girls and women everywhere, to Rihanna showcasing what it means to be an empowered and unapologetically confident woman, numerous women in music are currently reshaping the industry and challenging societal expectations. In this article, we highlight six of the most powerful female artists of all time and their achievements in recent years.
Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift ranks as the world’s fifth most powerful woman on Forbes’ annual list. Achieving her highest position, the “Tim McGraw” crooner is the top musician on the list. She is outpaced only by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (No. 1), European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde (No. 2), U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris (No. 3), and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (No. 4).
Forbes highlighted Swift’s billionaire status, estimating her net worth at $1.1 billion, including $500 million from royalties and touring, $500 million from her music catalogue, and around $125 million in real estate. The publication also credited her “Taylor’s Version” re-recordings and the massive success of her Eras Tour for her ranking.
Notably, at 35, Swift is the first musician to achieve this level of influence solely based on her songs and performances.
Dolly Parton
There’s hardly anyone in the world who dislikes Dolly Parton! With her stunning voice, warm smile, and heartwarming acts of kindness, Dolly has captured the hearts of generations of music fans.
A member of both the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame, she brings an authentic and uplifting presence to everything she does. She holds the record for the longest span of number-one hits by a female artist on the Top Country Albums Chart and is also the Guinness World Record holder for the most studio albums released by a female country singer (65!).
Raised in poverty in a one-room cabin in the Tennessee woods without electricity or running water, Dolly has risen to become a global force for good and a passionate advocate for various causes. She’s unafraid to use her voice to bring about positive change.
Since 1995, her Imagination Library has gifted over 229 million books to more than 2.8 million children under the age of 5. During the pandemic, she also helped fund the Moderna vaccine and even worked as an uncredited producer on the empowering TV show “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”. Dolly’s remarkable life, philanthropy, and advocacy are truly inspiring.
Ms. Lauryn Hill
Widely regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time, Ms. Lauryn Hill has made a profound impact on music. As a member of the hip-hop group The Fugees and later as a solo artist, Hill’s unique blend of hip-hop, R&B, and soul has left an enduring influence on the industry. Her 1998 multiplatinum album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill received critical acclaim and became a cultural landmark.
The first hip-hop album to win the Grammy for Album of the Year, Hill’s solo debut remains highly regarded today. In 1999, she was nominated for 10 Grammys, winning five—including Best New Artist—making her the first woman to claim that many awards in a single night. Her lyrics delve into topics like identity, family, community, spirituality, heartache, and motherhood. Beyond her musical influence, Hill founded the Refugee Project, an organization dedicated to helping underprivileged children.
Rihanna
Though Rihanna hasn’t released a new album since 2016, her 2023 halftime show at the big game became the most-watched ever. In 2022, she made history as the youngest self-made female billionaire and the first billionaire from Barbados. With her unique mix of R&B, pop, and Caribbean influences, Rihanna remains one of the most influential female musicians of her generation. She is also a powerful advocate for social and political causes, speaking out on issues like LGBTQ+ rights and racism.
Beyond her music career, Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty line and Savage x Fenty lingerie brand have earned widespread admiration. Fenty Beauty, in particular, is celebrated for its inclusive range of products catering to a variety of skin tones. Rihanna continues to shine bright like a diamond, inspiring other women to do the same.
Madonna
Whether you love her or not, one thing is undeniable: Madonna has mastered the art of overcoming any obstacles in her way. No one has done more than her to champion self-determination for women in music.
Alongside a few others, she paved the way for women in the industry to be taken seriously, far beyond a focus on looks and youth. In 1978, she left Michigan for New York with just $35, eventually finding her way into bands as a backing singer and dancer.
After signing with Sire Records as a solo artist, Madonna quickly broke into the club scene before becoming a mainstream sensation with the hit single “Holiday.” As a trendsetter, she was ahead of the curve, writing her material and embracing new technologies and visual elements popular in the 1980s.
Madonna never sticks to one direction—whether with her music, style, acting, writing, or filmmaking. She pushes boundaries and often embraces controversy, always valuing creativity and financial independence. Her creation of Maverick Records, as well as a groundbreaking $120 million deal with Live Nation, reshaped the financial landscape for 21st-century artists. This Material Girl knows how to get things done.
Beyoncé
Talk about exceptional consistency: “Queen Bey” has been in the music industry since 1990, and it’s not just her longevity that’s impressive—it’s her ability to consistently release hit albums and singles that resonate with the trends and the times.
From her early solo success to exploring genres like house music and country, Beyoncé has continued to excel even after more than three decades in the business. After leaving Destiny’s Child to embark on her solo career, she found immediate success.
As music evolves, so does Beyoncé, always staying at the top of her game. She’s also widely regarded as one of the greatest live performers, with her energetic dancing and powerful voice electrifying crowds, which explains why she has garnered an immense following over the years.
Her accomplishments extend beyond music. Her recent film, Mufasa: The Lion King, has received international acclaim and set impressive box office records, surpassing $600 million globally as of January 23. This film is the third 2024 Disney release to gross more than $600 million and the seventh overall.
From her debut album, “Dangerously in Love” (2003), to her 2024 release, “Cowboy Carter”, Beyoncé’s discography is filled with tracks that are lyrically profound, melodically captivating, and irresistibly danceable. With over 200 million records sold worldwide and more than 20 songs at the top of the Billboard Hot 100, Beyoncé stands as one of the greatest, if not the most successful, female artists in history.
At the 47th Grammy Awards, she earned five nominations, winning Best Contemporary R&B Album, cementing her status as one of the genre’s leading voices.
Her already concluded “Renaissance World Tour” marked her ninth concert tour and became her highest-grossing to date. In support of her 2022 album Renaissance, the tour featured 56 shows, and it concluded with Beyonce tickets making an astonishing $579 million in box office revenue.
This places it among the top 10 highest-grossing music tours ever, between The Rolling Stones’ “A Bigger Bang Tour” and Guns N’ Roses’ “Not in This Lifetime… Tour.”
Live Nation reported that the tour sold an impressive 2.7 million tickets across 39 cities, captivating audiences worldwide throughout the summer and early fall.
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