Ranking the top 100 vocalists of all time is no easy feat. From Patti Smith to Adele to Whitney Houston, the musical talent across the decades is immeasurable.
Lucky for music lovers, Consequence did the hard work of 100 greatest vocalists.
“There are singers, and there are vocalists. The best vocalists don’t rest on natural gifts, but instead use their creativity and vision to push their instruments where no one else could go,” the outlet explained.
To compile their rankings, Consequence polled over 50 musicians, including Randy Blythe, Mike Patton, and Linda Perry.
So who landed in the No. 1 spot…Queen’s Freddie Mercury, of course.
Beating out Robert Plant, Marvin Gaye, Whitney Houston and Aretha Franklin — who all also landed in the top 5, the “Bohemian Rhapsody” artist is still reaching new heights nearly 35 years after his death.
“I love Queen, I love Freddie Mercury’s voice. I love how expressive he is. Freddy holds a particularly special place in my heart,” Blue Medusa’s Alissa White-Gluz said. “My mother was very pregnant with me when that 1985 live aid concert happened and she watched it. And I think I was listening as well at that point. And maybe that inspired me from within the womb.”
Mercury — born Farrokh Bulsara in 1946 — was known for his flamboyant stage persona and fashion. The rocker was diagnosed with AIDS in 1987, though he did not publicly announce his diagnosis until 1991. He was just 45 years old when he died on November 24, 1991.
Though he never earned a Grammy Award throughout his decades-long career, Mercury and the band were honored posthumously with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
This story was originally published by Parade on May 1, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.