Rolling Stone List of 200 Greatest Singers List Crowns Aretha Franklin as the GOAT

The Queen of Soul is the Queen of Rolling Stones Top 200 Greatest Singers of All Time list.

Aretha Franklin, who passed away in 2018, possessed a voice that was “A force of nature. A work of genius. A gift from the heavens,” the magazine wrote.

“Aretha Franklin’s voice is all that and more, which is why she remains the unchallenged Queen, years after her final bow,” it continued.

Whitney Houston, came in second with Sam Cooke at three, followed by  Billie Holiday at four and Mariah Carey at five.

Rounding out the top 10 are Ray Charles at six, Stevie Wonder at seven, Beyoncé at eight, Otis Redding at nine and Al Green at 10.

Just missing the top 10 was Little Richard at number 11, John Lennon at number 12, Patsy Cline at number 13, Queen’s Freddie Mercury at number 14, Bob Dylan at number 15, Prince at 16, Elvis Presley at 17, Celia Cruz at 18, Frank Sinatra at 19, and Marvin Gaye at 20.

Paul McCartney made the top 30 at number 26, with Nina Simone at 21 and Adele at 22 and Smokey Robinson at 23. Newly inducted Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Dolly Parton made the list at 27. Luther Vandross and David Bowie just missed top 30 at 31 and 32, respectively, with Rod Stewart at 49, Bruce Springsteen at 77, Journey’s Steve Perry at 82. George Michael at 62, and Elton John at 100, The Who’s Roger Daltrey at 109 and Ozzy Osbourne at 112. Lower on the list is Guns N’ Roses front man Axl Rose at 134, Bono at 140, and Bob Seger at 181.

Controversial omissions on the list include Celine Dion and Annie Lennox.