Can you pick the greatest singers of all time? Rolling Stone is certainly taking a shot at it. The magazine has just published its list of the “200 Greatest Singers Of All Time.” The list's goal is to honor singers that can “remake the world just by opening their mouths.” Rolling Stone made sure to include a disclaimer: that the list is of the greatest singers, not the greatest voices. “Talent is impressive,” they write. “Genius is transcendent.”
Names that made the wide-ranging list include current stars Kelly Clarkson and SZA, soul and blues singers Barry White and Howlin’ Wolf while also featuring country stars Willie Nelson and Chris Stapleton and rockers like Steve Perry.
Some other rockers on the list are: Ronnie James Dio, Michael Stipe, Bono, Axl Rose, Neil Young, Rob Halford, Ozzy Osbourne, and Eddie Vedder.
Landing in the top three are Sam Cooke, Whitney Houston and Aretha Franklin.
When discussing the criteria that helped them create the list, Rolling Stone admitted “originality, influence, the depth of an artist’s catalog, and the breadth of their musical legacy” were the most important qualities.
You can see the full list here.