# List of contraltos in non-classical music

The contralto singing voice has a vocal range that lies between the F below "middle C" (F3) to two Fs above middle C (F5) and is the lowest type of female voice. In the lower and upper extremes, some contralto voices can sing from two Bs below middle C (B2) to two B♭s above middle C (B♭5).
The term contralto was developed in relation to classical and operatic voices, where the classification is based not merely on the singer's vocal range but also on the tessitura and timbre of the voice. For classical and operatic singers, their voice type determines the roles they will sing and is a primary method of categorization. In classical music, a "pure" contralto is considered the rarest type of female voice. In non-classical music, singers are primarily defined by their genre and their gender, not their vocal range. When the terms soprano, mezzo-soprano, contralto, tenor, baritone, and bass are used as descriptors of non-classical voices, they are applied more loosely than they would be to those of classical singers and generally refer only to the singer's perceived vocal range. Contemporarily, the informal term alto is sometimes used interchangeably with contralto.
The following is a list of singers in country, popular music, jazz, and musical theatre who have been described as contraltos.

## List of names

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| Name | Lifespan | Nationality | Associated act(s) |
| Abra | 1990– | American | |
| Sade Adu | 1959– | Nigerian-British | Sade |
| Dianna Agron | 1986– | American | Glee cast |
| Karen Akers | 1945– | American | |
| Yemi Alade | 1989– | Nigerian | |
| Bobbie Allen | | American | |
| Christina Amphlett | 1959–2013 | Australian | Divinyls |
| Emma Anderson | 1967– | British | Lush |
| Ernestine Anderson | 1928–2016 | American | |
| Signe Anderson | 1941–2016 | American | Jefferson Airplane |
| Inez Andrews | 1929–2012 | American | |
| Anggun | 1974– | Indonesian | |
| Diana Ankudinova | 2003– | Russian | |
| Laurie Antonioli | 1958– | American | |
| Fiona Apple | 1977– | American | |
| India Arie | 1975– | American | |
| Joan Armatrading | 1950– | British | |
| Daymé Arocena | 1992– | Cuban | |
| Emilie Autumn | 1979– | American | |
| Nadezhda Babkina | 1950– | Russian | |
| Nina Badrić | 1972– | Croatian | |
| Anita Baker | 1958– | American | Chapter 8 |
| LaVern Baker | 1929–1997 | American | |
| Jill Barber | 1980– | Canadian | |
| Courtney Barnett | 1987– | Australian | |
| Stacy Barthe | 1985– | American | |
| Shirley Bassey | 1937– | Welsh | |
| Annette Beard | 1943– | American | Martha and the Vandellas |
| Linn Berggren | 1970– | Swedish | Ace of Base |
| Diane Birch | 1983– | American | |
| Beverly Bivens | 1946– | American | We Five |
| Emily Blunt | 1983– | British | |
| Ann Boleyn | 1960– | American | |
| Brandy | 1979– | American | |
| Toni Braxton | 1967– | American | The Braxtons |
| Ruth Brown | 1928–2006 | American | |
| Carla Bruni | 1967– | Italian-French | |
| Concha Buika | 1972– | Spanish | |
| Alexandra Burke | 1988– | English | |
| Julie Byrne | 1990– | American | |
| Colbie Caillat | 1985– | American | Gone West |
| Anna Calvi | 1980– | English | |
| Caitlin Canty | 1982– | American | |
| Brandi Carlile | 1981– | American | |
| Ana Carolina | 1974– | Brazilian | |
| Karen Carpenter | 1950–1983 | American | The Carpenters |
| Vikki Carr | 1962– | Mexican-American | |
| Neko Case | 1970– | American | The New Pornographers |
| Rosanne Cash | 1955– | American | |
| Tracy Chapman | 1964– | American | |
| Cher | 1946– | American | Sonny & Cher |
| Neneh Cherry | 1964– | Swedish | The SlitsRip Rig + PanicCirKusNew Age Steppers |
| Julie Christmas | 1975– | American | Made Out of BabiesBattle of Mice |
| Gabriella Cilmi | 1991– | Australian | |
| Emilia Clarke | 1986– | English | |
| Patsy Cline | 1932–1963 | American | |
| Rosemary Clooney | 1928–2002 | American | |
| Dorothy Love Coates | 1928–2002 | American | |
| Alexis Cole | 1976– | American | |
| Shawn Colvin | 1956– | American | |
| Rita Coolidge | 1945- | American | |
| Charlotte Cornfield | 1988/1989– | Canadian | |
| Bethany Cosentino | 1986– | American | Best Coast |
| Latice Crawford | 1982– | American | |
| Celia Cruz | 1925–2003 | Cuban | Sonora MatanceraFania All-Stars |
| Sharon Cuneta | 1966– | Filipino | |
| Lucy Dacus | 1995– | American | Boygenius |
| Lauren Daigle | 1991– | American | North Point Worship |
| Brody Dalle | 1979– | Australian | The DistillersSpinnerette |
| Jessica Darrow | 1995– | Cuban-American | |
| Andra Day | 1984– | American | |
| Doris Day | 1922–2019 | American | |
| Kim Deal | 1961– | American | The BreedersPixies |
| Lana Del Rey | 1985– | American | |
| Brigitte DeMeyer | | American | |
| Kristin Diable | 1986/1987– | American | |
| Marlene Dietrich | 1901–1992 | German | |
| Ani DiFranco | 1970– | American | |
| Stefflon Don | 1991– | British | |
| Lila Downs | 1968– | Mexican | |
| Corinne Drewery | 1959– | English | Swing Out Sister |
| Andrea Echeverri | 1965– | Colombian | Aterciopelados |
| Ana Egge | 1976– | Canadian-American | |
| Eliane Elias | 1960– | Brazilian | Steps Ahead |
| Cass Elliot | 1941–1974 | American | The Mamas and the Papas |
| Missy Elliott | 1971– | American | SistaSwing Mob |
| Noga Erez | 1989– | Israeli | |
| Gloria Estefan | 1957– | Cuban-American | Miami Sound Machine |
| Bridget Everett | 1972– | American | |
| Cesária Évora | 1941–2011 | Cape Verdean | Bau |
| Siobhan Fahey | 1958– | Irish | BananaramaShakespears Sister |
| Mary Fahl | 1958– | American | October Project |
| Maria Farantouri | 1947– | Greek | |
| Alice Faye | 1915–1998 | American | |
| Ruth Fernández | 1919–2012 | Puerto Rican | |
| Sky Ferreira | 1992– | American | |
| Melanie Fiona | 1983– | Canadian | X-Quisite |
| Carrie Fisher | 1956–2016 | American | |
| Roberta Flack | 1937–2025 | American | |
| Mary Ford | 1924–1977 | American | Les Paul and Mary Ford |
| Julia Fordham | 1962– | English | |
| Anne Francine | 1917–1999 | American | |
| Stacy Francis | 1979– | American | Ex Girlfriend |
| Jane Froman | 1907–1980 | American | |
| Shannon Funchess | 1971/1972– | American | Light Asylum |
| Lady Gaga | 1986– | American | |
| Roberta Gambarini | 1972– | Italian | |
| Merrill Garbus | 1979– | American | Tune-Yards |
| Judy Garland | 1922–1969 | American | |
| Sara Gazarek | 1982– | American | |
| Bobbie Gentry | 1942– | American | |
| Lisa Gerrard | 1961– | Australian | Dead Can Dance |
| Beth Gibbons | 1965– | British | Portishead |
| Ronnie Gilbert | 1926–2015 | American | The Weavers |
| Alice Glass | 1988– | Canadian | Crystal Castles |
| Jess Glynne | 1989– | English | |
| Kim Gordon | 1953– | American | Sonic YouthBody/Head |
| Macy Gray | 1967– | American | |
| Grenique | 1975– | American | |
| Alejandra Guzman | 1968– | Mexican | |
| Danielle Haim | 1989– | American | Haim |
| Toni Halliday | 1964– | British | Curve |
| Rosalie "Rosie" Hamlin | 1945–2017 | American | Rosie and the Originals |
| Ann Harada | 1964– | American | |
| Aldous Harding | 1990– | New Zealand | |
| Jessica Harp | 1982– | American | The Wreckers |
| Beth Hart | 1972– | American | |
| Polly Jean "PJ" Harvey | 1969– | British | The Desert Sessions |
| Lalah Hathaway | 1968– | American | |
| Nona Hendryx | 1944– | American | Labelle |
| Gwyneth Herbert | 1981– | British | |
| Jessica Hernandez | 1987– | American | Jessica Hernandez & the Deltas |
| Faith Hill | 1967– | American | |
| Lauryn Hill | 1975– | American | Fugees |
| Alison Hinds | 1970– | Barbadian | Square One |
| Billie Holiday | 1915–1959 | American | |
| Julia Holter | 1984– | American | |
| Lena Horne | 1917–2010 | American | |
| Nicole Hummel | 1989– | American | Zola Jesus |
| Jana Hunter | | American | Lower Dens |
| Phyllis Hyman | 1949–1995 | American | |
| Chrissie Hynde | 1951– | American | The Pretenders |
| Markéta Irglová | 1988– | Czech | The Swell Season |
| Mahalia Jackson | 1911–1972 | American | |
| Wanda Jackson | 1937– | American | |
| Etta James | 1938–2012 | American | |
| Sarah Jarosz | 1991– | American | I'm with Her |
| Scarlett Johansson | 1984– | American | |
| Le'Andria Johnson | 1983– | American | |
| Tamara Johnson-George | 1971– | American | SWV |
| Ada Jones | 1873–1922 | English-American | |
| Grace Jones | 1948– | Jamaican | |
| Norah Jones | 1979– | American | The Little WilliesPuss n Boots |
| Samara Joy | 1999– | American | |
| Wynonna Judd | 1964– | American | The Judds |
| Barb Jungr | 1954– | British | |
| Patricia Kaas | 1966– | French | |
| Trish Keenan | 1968–2011 | British | Broadcast |
| Alicia Keys | 1981– | American | |
| Chaka Khan | 1953– | American | Rufus |
| Carole King | 1942– | American | |
| Morgana King | 1930–2018 | American | |
| Gladys Knight | 1944– | American | Gladys Knight & the Pips |
| Kandia Kouyaté | 1959– | Malian | |
| Diana Krall | 1964– | Canadian | |
| Umm Kulthum | 1904–1975 | Egyptian | |
| Grace Lynn Kung | 1987– | Canadian | |
| Dayna Kurtz | | American | |
| Ladyhawke | 1979– | New Zealand | Two Lane BlacktopTeenager |
| Queen Latifah | 1970– | American | Flavor UnitNative Tongues |
| Bettye LaVette | 1946– | American | |
| Laufey | 1999– | Icelandic | |
| Amanda Lear | 1939 or 1941 or 1946 or 1950– | French | |
| Maysa Leak | 1966– | American | Incognito |
| Peggy Lee | 1920–2002 | American | |
| Victoria Legrand | 1981– | French-American | Beach House |
| Marie-Nicole Lemieux | 1975– | Canadian | |
| Annie Lennox | 1954– | Scottish | The TouristsEurythmics |
| Jenny Lewis | 1976– | American | Rilo Kiley |
| Lhasa | 1972–2010 | American-Canadian | |
| Julie London | 1926–2000 | American | |
| Courtney Love | 1964– | American | Hole |
| Khánh Ly | 1945– | Vietnamese-American | |
| Shelby Lynne | 1968– | American | |
| Amy Macdonald | 1987– | Scottish | |
| Romy Madley Croft | 1989– | English | The xx |
| Audra Mae | 1984– | American | |
| Clare Maguire | 1988– | British | |
| Shirley Manson | 1966– | Scottish | GarbageAngelfishGoodbye Mr Mackenzie |
| Mavie Marcos | 1978– | Papuan-American | Andain |
| Teairra Marí | 1987– | American | |
| Mariza | 1973– | Portuguese | |
| Laura Marling | 1990– | British | Noah and the Whale |
| Chan Marshall | 1972– | American | Cat Power |
| Dorothy Martin | 1986– | American | Dorothy |
| Heather Masse | | American | The Wailin' Jennys |
| Mattiel | | American | |
| Elisabeth "Lissie" Maurus | 1982– | American | |
| Imelda May | 1974– | Irish | |
| Andrea McArdle | 1963– | American | |
| Gwen McCrae | 1943–2025 | American | |
| Earl-Jean McCrea | 1942– | American | The Cookies |
| Anne McCue | | American | |
| Jenna McDougall | 1992– | Australian | Tonight Alive |
| Reba McEntire | 1955– | American | |
| Lori McKenna | 1968– | American | |
| Éabha McMahon | 1990– | Irish | Celtic Woman |
| Shannon McNally | 1973– | American | |
| Katharine McPhee | 1984– | American | |
| Carmen McRae | 1922–1994 | American | |
| Christine McVie | 1943–2022 | British | Fleetwood Mac |
| Natalie Merchant | 1963– | American | 10,000 Maniacs |
| Natalie Mering | 1988– | American | Weyes Blood |
| Sophie Milman | 1983– | Russian | |
| Nicki Minaj | 1982– | Trinidadian-American | |
| Joni Mitchell | 1943– | Canadian | |
| Mitski | 1990- | American | |
| Pamela Morgan | 1957– | Canadian | Figgy Duff |
| Maren Morris | 1990– | American | The Highwomen |
| Sarah Jane Morris | 1959– | English | |
| Alison Mosshart | 1978– | American | The KillsThe Dead WeatherDiscount |
| Ana Moura | 1979– | Portuguese | |
| Alison Moyet | 1961– | English | YazooThe Screamin' Ab DabsThe Vandals |
| Anita Mui | 1963–2003 | Hong Kong | |
| Samantha Mumba | 1983– | Irish | |
| Róisín Murphy | 1973– | Irish | Moloko |
| Anne Murray | 1945– | Canadian | |
| Akina Nakamori | 1965– | Japanese | |
| Johnette Napolitano | 1957– | American | Concrete Blonde |
| N'Dambi | 1970– | American | |
| Meshell Ndegeocello | 1968– | German-American | |
| Jennifer Nettles | 1974– | American | Sugarland |
| Scout Niblett | 1973– | British | |
| Stevie Nicks | 1948– | American | Fleetwood Mac |
| Nico | 1938–1988 | German | The Velvet Underground |
| Molly Nilsson | 1984/1985– | Swedish | |
| Anita O'Day | 1919–2006 | American | |
| Agnes Obel | 1980– | Danish | |
| Odetta | 1930–2008 | American | |
| Angel Olsen | 1987– | American | |
| Susan O'Neill | 1990– | Irish | |
| Jessica Origliasso | 1984– | Australian | The Veronicas |
| Beth Orton | 1970– | English | |
| Patti Page | 1927–2013 | American | |
| Amanda Palmer | 1976– | American | The Dresden DollsEvelyn Evelyn8in8Grand Theft Orchestra |
| Katy Perry | 1984– | American | |
| Madeleine Peyroux | 1974– | American | The Lost Wandering Blues and Jazz Band |
| Pink | 1979– | American | You+MeChoiceBasic Instinct |
| Ruth Pointer | 1946– | American | The Pointer Sisters |
| Omara Portuondo | 1930– | Cuban | |
| Patty Pravo | 1948– | Italian | |
| Kelly Price | 1973– | American | |
| Rachael Price | 1985– | Australian-American | Lake Street Dive |
| Lauren Pritchard | 1987– | American | |
| Ivy Queen | 1972– | Puerto Rican | |
| Ma Rainey | 1886–1939 | American | The Rabbit's Foot Company |
| Zoë Randell | | Australian | Luluc |
| Lynda Randle | 1962– | American | |
| Dianne Reeves | 1956– | American | |
| Martha Reeves | 1941– | American | Martha and the VandellasThe Fascinations |
| Ellen Reid | 1966– | Canadian | Crash Test Dummies |
| Hannah Reid | 1989– | English | London Grammar |
| Debbie Reynolds | 1932–2016 | American | |
| Happy Rhodes | 1965– | American | |
| Kim Richey | 1956– | American | |
| LaTavia Roberson | 1981– | American | Destiny's Child |
| Sharon Robinson | 1958– | American | |
| Maggie Roche | 1951–2017 | American | The Roches |
| Jasmine Rodgers | 1976– | English | Bôa |
| Rumer | 1979– | British | |
| Debby Ryan | 1993– | American | The Never Ending |
| Lætitia Sadier | 1968– | French | StereolabMonadeMcCarthy |
| Melanie Safka | 1947– | American | |
| Aicelle Santos | 1985– | Filipino | La Diva |
| Cristina Scabbia | 1972– | Italian | Lacuna CoilRezophonic |
| Hillary Scott | 1986– | American | Lady A |
| Alynda Segarra | 1986 or 1987– | American | Hurray for the Riff Raff |
| Shakira | 1977– | Colombian | |
| Helen Shapiro | 1946– | British | |
| Ashton Shepherd | 1986– | American | |
| Fatin Shidqia | 1996– | Indonesian | |
| Dinah Shore | 1917–1994 | American | |
| Janis Siegel | 1952– | American | The Manhattan Transfer |
| Carly Simon | 1945– | American | The Simon SistersElephant's Memory |
| Nina Simone | 1933–2003 | American | |
| Nancy Sinatra | 1940– | American | |
| Siouxsie Sioux | 1957– | English | Siouxsie and the BansheesThe Creatures |
| Bria Skonberg | 1983– | Canadian | |
| Grace Slick | 1939– | American | Jefferson AirplaneJefferson StarshipStarshipGreat Society |
| Carol Sloane | 1937–2023 | American | |
| Bessie Smith | 1894–1937 | American | |
| Kate Smith | 1907–1986 | American | |
| Keely Smith | 1928–2017 | American | |
| Mamie Smith | 1891–1946 | American | |
| Patti Smith | 1946– | American | Patti Smith Group |
| Carly Smithson | 1983– | Irish | We Are the Fallen |
| Phoebe Snow | 1950–2011 | American | Sisters of Glory |
| Mercedes Sosa | 1935–2009 | Argentine | |
| Tessa Souter | 1956– | English | |
| Sharleen Spiteri | 1967– | Scottish | Texas |
| Kandace Springs | 1989– | American | |
| Mary Stallings | 1939– | American | |
| Lisa Stansfield | 1966– | British | Blue Zone |
| Mavis Staples | 1939– | American | The Staple Singers |
| Star Anna | 1985– | American | Star Anna and the Laughing Dogs |
| Lennon Stella | 1999– | Canadian | Lennon & Maisy |
| Joss Stone | 1987– | British | SuperHeavy |
| Jazmine Sullivan | 1987– | American | |
| Tierney Sutton | 1963– | American | |
| SZA | 1989– or 1990– | American | |
| Teyana Taylor | 1990– or 1991– | American | |
| Zola Taylor | 1938–2007 | American | The Platters |
| Susan Tedeschi | 1970– | American | Tedeschi Trucks Band |
| Toni Tennille | 1940– | American | Captain & Tennille |
| Tracey Thorn | 1962– | English | Everything but the GirlMarine Girls |
| Teri Thornton | 1934–2000 | American | |
| Lệ Thu | 1943–2021 | Vietnamese | |
| Tanita Tikaram | 1969– | German-British | |
| Mary Timony | 1970– | American | HeliumAutoclaveWild FlagEx Hex |
| Meghan Trainor | 1993– | American | |
| Mary Travers | 1936–2009 | American | Peter, Paul and Mary |
| Gloria Trevi | 1968– | Mexican | |
| Tanya Tucker | 1958– | American | |
| KT Tunstall | 1975– | Scottish | |
| Paola Turci | 1964– | Italian | |
| Tina Turner | 1939–2023 | American | Ike & Tina Turner |
| Shania Twain | 1965– | Canadian | |
| Bonnie Tyler | 1951– | Welsh | |
| Kali Uchis | 1993– or 1994– | Colombian-American | |
| Grace VanderWaal | 2004– | American | |
| Sharon Van Etten | 1981– | American | |
| Sarah Vaughan | 1924–1990 | American | |
| Suzanne Vega | 1959– | American | |
| Mariska Veres | 1947–2006 | Dutch | Shocking Blue |
| Kristine W | 1962– | American | |
| Sloan Wainwright | 1957– | American | |
| Albertina Walker | 1929–2010 | American | Sisters of GloryThe Caravans |
| Emily Warren | 1992– | American | |
| Tionne Watkins | 1970– | American | TLC |
| Barrett Wilbert Weed | 1988– | American | |
| Florence Welch | 1986– | English | Florence and the Machine |
| Mae West | 1893–1980 | American | |
| Paula West | 1959– | American | |
| Cheryl Wheeler | 1951– | American | |
| Trixie Whitley | 1987– | Belgian | Black Dub |
| Kaya Wilkins | 1990– | Norwegian-American | |
| Holly Williams | 1981– | American | |
| Carnie Wilson | 1968– | American | Wilson Phillips |
| Cassandra Wilson | 1955– | American | M-Base |
| Charlotte Day Wilson | 1993– | Canadian | |
| CeCe Winans | 1964– | American | BeBe & CeCe Winans |
| Amy Winehouse | 1983–2011 | English | |
| Lizz Wright | 1980– | American | |
| Rachael Yamagata | 1977– | American | |
| Timi Yuro | 1940–2004 | American | |
| Irina Zabiyaka | 1982- | Russian | |
| Renée Zellweger | 1969– | American | |