The United Kingdom is well known for producing artists who have achieved great success and made a name for themselves and their country. However, you may not know that Great Britain has some of the finest female singers in the world. If that is the case, then this list is for you.
Featuring the 25 Best & Most Popular British female singers, who have dominated the music charts globally with their unique styles and captivating voices.
Adele
Adele is a British singer-songwriter who rose to fame with her soulful, emotive voice and confessional songwriting style.
She was born in Tottenham, London, England, in 1988 and began singing at a young age.
Adele’s debut album, “19,” was released in 2008 and included the hit singles “Chasing Pavements” and “Hometown Glory.” The album was a critical and commercial success, earning Adele several Grammy Awards and launching her into international stardom. Adele’s subsequent albums, “21” and “25,” were also huge successes, with both albums breaking sales records and earning numerous awards.
Adele is known for her powerful voice and emotional performances, and has become one of the most successful and influential artists of her generation.
Dua Lipa
Dua Lipa is a British singer and songwriter who rose to fame in the mid-2010s with her mix of pop and electronic influences.
She was born in London in 1995 and began singing and writing music at a young age. Lipa’s debut album, “Dua Lipa,” was released in 2017 and included the hit singles “New Rules,” “IDGAF,” and “Be the One.”
The album was a critical and commercial success, and helped to establish Lipa as a prominent figure in the British music scene.
Lipa’s subsequent album, “Future Nostalgia,” was also a critical and commercial success, and spawned the hit singles “Don’t Start Now,” “Levitating,” and “Hallucinate.”
Lipa is known for her powerful, emotive voice and her ability to connect with her audience through her music, and has become one of the most successful and influential British singers of her generation.
Anne-Marie
Anne-Marie is a British singer and songwriter who rose to fame in the mid-2010s with her mix of pop, R&B, and electronic influences.
She was born in Essex, England in 1991 and began singing and writing music at a young age. Anne-Marie’s debut album, “Speak Your Mind,” was released in 2018 and included the hit singles “2002,” “Friends,” and “Rockabye.”
The album was a critical and commercial success, and helped to establish Anne-Marie as a prominent figure in the British music scene.
Anne-Marie’s subsequent singles, including “Ciao Adios,” “Alarm,” and “Perfect,” have also been successful, and she has won several awards and accolades throughout her career.
Anne-Marie is known for her powerful, emotive voice and her ability to connect with her audience through her music, and has become one of the most successful and influential British singers of her generation.
Ella Mai
Ella Mai is a British singer and songwriter who rose to fame in the mid-2010s with her mix of R&B, pop, and soul influences.
She was born in London, England in 1994 and began singing and writing music at a young age.
Mai’s debut album, “Ella Mai,” was released in 2018 and included the hit singles “Boo’d Up” and “Trip.” The album was a critical and commercial success, and helped to establish Mai as a prominent figure in the music industry.
Mai’s subsequent album, “Ella Mai,” was also well-received and spawned the hit singles “Shot Clock” and “Not Another Love Song.”
Mai is known for her powerful, emotive voice and her ability to connect with her audience through her music, and has become one of the most successful and influential singers of her generation.
Charli XCX
Charli XCX is the stage name of English singer and songwriter Charlotte Aitchison.
She is known for her mix of pop, electronic, and hip hop influences, as well as her catchy, energetic style.
Aitchison began performing as Charli XCX in the late 2000s, and her debut album, “True Romance,” was released in 2013.
The album included the hit singles “I Love It” and “SuperLove,” and helped to establish Charli XCX as a prominent figure in the music industry.
Charli XCX’s subsequent albums, “Sucker,” “Charli,” and “How I’m Feeling Now,” have also received critical acclaim and spawned several hit singles, including “Boom Clap,” “Break the Rules,” and “Boys.”
Charli XCX is known for her energetic stage presence and her ability to connect with her audience through her music, and has become one of the most successful and influential singers of her generation.
Rita Ora
Rita Ora is a British singer and songwriter who rose to fame in the late 2010s with her mix of pop, dance, and R&B influences.
She was born in Pristina, Kosovo, in 1990 and moved to London with her family at a young age. Ora’s debut album, “Ora,” was released in 2012 and included the hit singles “R.I.P.” and “How We Do (Party).”
The album was a critical and commercial success, and helped to establish Ora as a prominent figure in the British music scene. Ora’s subsequent albums, “Phoenix” and “High on Love,” have also been successful, and she has won several awards and accolades throughout her career.
Ora is known for her energetic stage presence and her ability to connect with her audience through her music, and has become one of the most successful and influential British singers of her generation.
Ellie Goulding
Ellie Goulding is a British singer and songwriter who rose to fame in the late 2000s with her mix of electronic, pop, and folk influences.
She was born in Hereford, England in 1986 and began singing and writing music at a young age. Goulding’s debut album, “Lights,” was released in 2010 and included the hit singles “Starry Eyed” and “Guns and Horses.” The album was a critical and commercial success, and helped to establish Goulding as a prominent figure in the British music scene.
Goulding’s subsequent albums, “Halcyon” and “Delirium,” also received critical acclaim and spawned several hit singles, including “Burn,” “Love Me Like You Do,” and “Something in the Way You Move.”
Goulding is known for her powerful, emotive voice and her ability to connect with her audience through her music, and has become one of the most successful and influential British singers of her generation.
Jessie Ware
Jessica Lois Ware, an English singer, songwriter, and podcaster, was born on October 15, 1984.
She rose to prominence with her debut album, “Devotion” (2012), which reached number five on the UK Albums Chart and featured the single “Wildest Moments.” Her subsequent albums, “Tough Love” (2014) and “Glasshouse” (2017), also charted in the UK. In 2020, she shifted to a disco-influenced sound with “What’s Your Pleasure?”, earning critical acclaim and peaking at number three in the UK.
Her latest album, “That! Feels Good!” (2023), also reached number three in the UK and charted in the US. Ware co-hosts the popular Table Manners podcast with her mother, Lennie, and has received seven Brit Awards nominations, including Best New Artist and four for British Female Solo Artist, as well as two Mercury Prize nominations.
Raye
Anaïs Oluwatoyin Estelle Marinho, known as Arlo Parks, is an English singer and songwriter of Nigerian, Chadian, and French descent.
Born on August 9, 2000, in Hammersmith, West London, she was raised speaking French before English and educated at Latymer Upper School.
Parks’ debut album, “Collapsed in Sunbeams” (2021), received critical acclaim, peaked at number three on the UK Albums Chart, and won the 2021 Mercury Prize for Best Album. It also earned her Brit Award nominations for Album of the Year, Best New Artist, and Best British Female Solo Artist.
Olivia Dean
Olivia Lauryn Dean, an English neo-soul singer, was born on March 14, 1999, in the London Borough of Haringey to an English father and a Jamaican-Guyanese mother.
Raised in Highams Park, she experienced being mixed-race while growing up.
Dean’s musical journey began with musical theatre and a gospel choir, eventually leading her to the BRIT School. She gained early attention as a backing vocalist for Rudimental and released her debut EP in 2019. Her first studio album, “Messy” (2023), followed five EPs. Dean was named Amazon Music’s Breakthrough Artist of the Year in 2021 and BBC Music Introducing Artist of the Year in 2023.
Little Simz
Simbiatu “Simbi” Abisola Abiola Ajikawo, known as Little Simz, is a British rapper, singer, and actress of Yoruba ethnicity, born on February 23, 1994, in Islington, London.
Raised on a council estate, she began her music career at St Mary’s Youth Club. She gained prominence with her first three albums: “A Curious Tale of Trials + Persons” (2015), “Stillness in Wonderland” (2016), and “Grey Area” (2019), with the latter winning Ivor Novello and NME Awards and being shortlisted for the Mercury Prize.
Her critically acclaimed fourth album, “Sometimes I Might Be Introvert” (2021), won the 2022 Mercury Prize and the Brit Award for Best New Artist. Her fifth album, “No Thank You” (2022), continued her streak of acclaim. Additionally, she has acted in the Netflix series “Top Boy.”
Arlo Parks
Anaïs Oluwatoyin Estelle Marinho, known professionally as Arlo Parks, is an English singer and songwriter of Nigerian, Chadian, and French descent.
Born on August 9, 2000, in Hammersmith, West London, she was educated at Latymer Upper School. Parks’ debut album, “Collapsed in Sunbeams” (2021), received critical acclaim, peaked at number three on the UK Albums Chart, and won the 2021 Mercury Prize for Best Album. It also earned her nominations for Album of the Year, Best New Artist, and Best British Female Solo Artist at the 2021 Brit Awards.
Amy Winehouse
Amy Winehouse was a British singer and songwriter who was known for her powerful, emotive voice and her mix of jazz, soul, and R&B influences. She was born in London in 1983 and began singing and writing music at a young age.
Winehouse’s debut album, “Frank,” was released in 2003 and was a critical and commercial success, earning her several awards and accolades. Her follow-up album, “Back to Black,” released in 2006, was an even greater success, spawning the hit singles “Rehab,” “You Know I’m No Good,” and “Back to Black.” Winehouse’s music was known for its honesty and authenticity, and she was widely praised for her vocal abilities and songwriting talent.
However, Winehouse struggled with personal issues, including addiction, and she died of accidental alcohol poisoning in 2011 at the age of 27.
Despite her untimely death, Winehouse’s music has continued to be popular and influential, and she is remembered as one of the greatest and most distinctive artists of her generation.
Lily Allen
Lily Allen is a British singer, songwriter, and actress who rose to fame in the mid-2000s with her mix of pop, ska, and reggae influences.
She was born in London in 1985 and began singing and writing music at a young age.
Allen’s debut album, “Alright, Still,” was released in 2006 and included the hit singles “Smile” and “LDN.” The album was a critical and commercial success, and helped to establish Allen as a prominent figure in the British music scene. Allen’s subsequent albums, “It’s Not Me, It’s You” and “Sheezus,” also received critical acclaim and spawned several hit singles, including “The Fear” and “Hard Out Here.”
In addition to her music career, Allen has also appeared in several films and television shows and has written a memoir. She is known for her sharp wit and outspoken personality, and has become one of the most influential and controversial figures in the British entertainment industry.
Leona Lewis
Leona Lewis is a British singer and songwriter who rose to fame in the mid-2000s after winning the third series of the British television talent show “The X Factor.”
She was born in London in 1985 and began singing at a young age. Lewis’s debut album, “Spirit,” was released in 2007 and included the hit single “Bleeding Love,” which became a global phenomenon and helped to establish Lewis as one of the biggest new pop stars of the decade.
Lewis’s subsequent albums, “Echo” and “I Am,” also received critical acclaim and spawned several hit singles, including “Happy,” “Run,” and “Collide.”
Lewis is known for her powerful, emotive voice and her ability to connect with her audience through her music. She has won numerous awards and accolades throughout her career and has become one of the most successful and influential British singers of her generation.
Florence Welch
Florence Welch is a British singer and songwriter who is best known as the frontwoman of the indie rock band Florence + the Machine.
She was born in London in 1986 and began singing and writing music at a young age. Florence + the Machine’s debut album, “Lungs,” was released in 2009 and included the hit singles “Dog Days Are Over” and “Kiss with a Fist.” The album was a critical and commercial success, and helped to establish the band as one of the most promising new acts in the British music scene. Florence + the Machine’s subsequent albums, “Ceremonials,” “How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful,” and “High As Hope,” also received critical acclaim and spawned several hit singles, including “Shake It Out,” “What Kind of Man,” and “Hunger.”
Welch is known for her powerful, emotive voice and her energetic, dynamic stage presence, and has become one of the most influential and popular British singers of her generation.
Paloma Faith
Paloma Faith is a British singer, songwriter, and actress who is known for her eclectic mix of pop, soul, and jazz influences.
She was born in London in 1981 and began singing and writing music at a young age. Faith’s debut album, “Do You Want the Truth or Something Beautiful?” was released in 2009 and included the hit singles “Stone Cold Sober” and “New York.” The album was a critical and commercial success, and helped to establish Faith as a prominent figure in the British music scene.
Faith’s subsequent albums, “Fall to Grace,” “A Perfect Contradiction,” and “The Architect,” also received critical acclaim and spawned several hit singles, including “Can’t Rely on You,” “Only Love Can Hurt Like This,” and “Guilty.”
Faith is known for her powerful, soulful voice and her ability to connect with her audience through her music, and has become one of the most successful and influential British singers of her generation.
Kate Bush
Kate Bush is a British singer, songwriter, and record producer who is known for her innovative and eclectic mix of rock, folk, and electronic influences.
She was born in Bexleyheath, England in 1958 and began singing and writing music at a young age. Bush’s debut album, “The Kick Inside,” was released in 1978 and included the hit singles “Wuthering Heights” and “The Man with the Child in His Eyes.”
The album was a critical and commercial success, and helped to establish Bush as a pioneering and influential figure in the British music scene. Bush’s subsequent albums, including “Hounds of Love,” “The Sensual World,” and “Aerial,” also received critical acclaim and spawned several hit singles, including “Running Up That Hill,” “King of the Mountain,” and “Babooshka.”
Bush is known for her powerful, emotive voice and her ability to connect with her audience through her music, and has become one of the most successful and influential British singers of her generation.
Jess Glynne
Jess Glynne is a British singer and songwriter who rose to fame in the mid-2010s with her mix of pop, soul, and electronic influences.
She was born in Hampstead, London, England in 1989 and began singing and writing music at a young age. Glynne’s debut album, “I Cry When I Laugh,” was released in 2015 and included the hit singles “Hold My Hand” and “Don’t Be So Hard on Yourself.”
The album was a critical and commercial success, and helped to establish Glynne as a prominent figure in the British music scene. Glynne’s subsequent albums, “Always in Between” and “Talk,” also received critical acclaim and spawned several hit singles, including “I’ll Be There,” “All I Am,” and “One Touch.”
Glynne is known for her powerful, emotive voice and her ability to connect with her audience through her music, and has become one of the most successful and influential British singers of her generation.
Laura Marling
Laura Marling is a British singer and songwriter who is known for her indie folk and Americana influences.
She was born in Eversley, England in 1990 and began singing and writing music at a young age.
Marling’s debut album, “Alas, I Cannot Swim,” was released in 2008 and was a critical and commercial success, earning her several awards and accolades.
Marling’s subsequent albums, “I Speak Because I Can,” “A Creature I Don’t Know,” “Once I Was an Eagle,” and “Semper Femina,” have also received critical acclaim and spawned several hit singles, including “Ghosts,” “Sophia,” and “Rambling Man.”
Marling is known for her powerful, emotive voice and her ability to connect with her audience through her music, and has become one of the most successful and influential British singers of her generation.
Emeli Sandé
Emeli Sandé is a British singer and songwriter who is known for her mix of soul, R&B, and pop influences.
She was born in Sunderland, England in 1987 and began singing and writing music at a young age.
Sandé’s debut album, “Our Version of Events,” was released in 2012 and included the hit singles “Heaven,” “Next to Me,” and “My Kind of Love.”
The album was a critical and commercial success, and helped to establish Sandé as a prominent figure in the British music scene. Sandé’s subsequent album, “Long Live the Angels,” was also well-received and spawned the hit singles “Hurts” and “Highs & Lows.”
Sandé is known for her powerful, emotive voice and her ability to connect with her audience through her music, and has become one of the most successful and influential British singers of her generation.
Marina and the Diamonds
Marina and the Diamonds is the stage name of Welsh singer and songwriter Marina Diamandis.
She is known for her mix of pop, indie, and electronic influences, as well as her distinctive and unconventional style.
Diamandis began performing as Marina and the Diamonds in the late 2000s, and her debut album, “The Family Jewels,” was released in 2010.
The album included the hit singles “Hollywood” and “I Am Not a Robot,” and helped to establish Marina and the Diamonds as a prominent figure in the British music scene. Marina and the Diamonds’ subsequent albums, “Electra Heart” and “Froot,” were also well-received and spawned several hit singles, including “Primadonna,” “How to Be a Heartbreaker,” and “Bubblegum Bitch.”
Marina and the Diamonds is known for her powerful, emotive voice and her ability to connect with her audience through her music, and has become one of the most successful and influential British singers of her generation.
Birdy
Birdy is the stage name of English singer and songwriter Jasmine van den Bogaerde.
She is known for her mix of indie, folk, and pop influences, as well as her powerful, emotive voice.
Van den Bogaerde began performing as Birdy at a young age, and her debut album, “Birdy,” was released in 2011. The album included the hit single “Skinny Love,” which helped to establish Birdy as a prominent figure in the music industry.
Birdy’s subsequent albums, “Fire Within,” “Beautiful Lies,” and “Young Heart,” have also received critical acclaim and spawned several hit singles, including “People Help the People,” “Wings,” and “Wild Horses.”
Birdy is known for her ability to connect with her audience through her music, and has become one of the most successful and influential singers of her generation.
Ella Henderson
Ella Henderson is a British singer and songwriter who rose to fame in the early 2010s after appearing on the ninth series of the British television talent show “The X Factor.”
She was born in Tetney, England in 1996 and began singing and writing music at a young age. Henderson’s debut album, “Chapter One,” was released in 2014 and included the hit singles “Ghost” and “Glow.”
The album was a critical and commercial success, and helped to establish Henderson as a prominent figure in the British music scene.
Henderson’s subsequent album, “Glorious,” was also well-received and spawned the hit singles “Yours” and “Mirror Man.”
Henderson is known for her powerful, emotive voice and her ability to connect with her audience through her music, and has become one of the most successful and influential British singers of her generation.
Kate Nash
Kate Nash is a British singer and songwriter who rose to fame in the late 2000s with her mix of pop, punk, and indie influences.
She was born in Harrow, England in 1987 and began singing and writing music at a young age. Nash’s debut album, “Made of Bricks,” was released in 2007 and included the hit singles “Foundations” and “Mouthwash.”
The album was a critical and commercial success, and helped to establish Nash as a prominent figure in the British music scene. Nash’s subsequent albums, “My Best Friend Is You” and “Girl Talk,” were also well-received and spawned several hit singles, including “Do-Wah-Doo,” “Nicest Thing,” and “OMYGOD!”
Nash is known for her powerful, emotive voice and her ability to connect with her audience through her music, and has become one of the most successful and influential British singers of her generation.
