Most Successful Rock Bands Fronted by Female Singers

These female singers continue to shatter rock music's glass ceiling.

Women have been at the forefront of rock since its humble beginnings. They have defied stereotypes and captivated audiences with their powerful voices, jaw-dropping performances and groundbreaking contributions to the genre.

From the teen rebelliousness of the Runaways to the quintessential California vibe of Fleetwood Mac, these female singers and their bands continue to redefine the boundaries of rock ‘n’ roll. We ranked these female-led bands based on their success, which includes record sales as well as influence on the music industry as a whole.

15. The Runaways

Bingley Hall Birmingham Brumrock '76 The Runaways

David Johnson / Wikimedia Commons

Year formed: 1975

From: Los Angeles, California

Record sales: 165,000

Songs: “Cherry Bomb,” “Queens of Noise”

Bottom Line: The Runaways

Discogs

Members of the Runways were about 15 years old when they first formed in Los Angeles in the mid-1970s with help from their abrasive and arrogant manager and producer Kim Fowley.

While they never sold millions and weren’t together for very long, their blend of punk and hard rock influenced many a band that came after. After the Runaways, guitarists Joan Jett and Lita Ford went on to have very successful music careers and still play today.

14. Patti Smith Group

Jeff Christensen / AP Photo

Year formed: 1973

From: New York, New York

Record sales: 407,000

Songs: “Because the Night,” “Gloria”

Bottom Line: Patti Smith Group

Klaus Hiltscher / Wikimedia Commons

The Patti Smith Group, fronted by iconic singer-songwriter Patti Smith, was another band that was an important part of the early punk scene in New York.

Known for her raw, poetic lyrics and passionate performances, Smith quickly established herself as a groundbreaking artist with a fiercely independent spirit and has continued in this manner as a solo artist. She still performs, but she’s also now an author, having written books about her early days in New York. One of them, “Just Kids,” is about her relationship with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, to whom she remained close until his 1989 death.

13. Big Brother and the Holding Company

Albert B. Grossman / Wikimedia Commons

Year formed: 1965

From: San Francisco, California

Record sales: 1 million+ (with Janis Joplin)

Songs: “Ball and Chain,” “Summertime,” “Piece of My Heart”

Bottom Line: Big Brother and the Holding Company

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Big Brother and the Holding Company have been together on and off since 1965, but they’ve never seen the success they had when none other than the legendary Janis Joplin was their lead singer.

While Joplin’s time with the band was extremely short (from 1966 to 1968), their second album, “Cheap Thrills,” recorded with her, is considered a psychedelic masterpiece. It reached the top of the Billboard charts, and “Rolling Stone” ranked it as one of its 500 greatest albums of all time.

12. Hole

AlikKeplicz / AP Photo

Year formed: 1989

From: Los Angeles, California

Record sales: 2.6 million

Songs: “Doll Parts,” “Violet,” “Celebrity Skin”

Bottom Line: Hole

Evan Agostini / AP Photo

Courtney Love has been a polarizing figure for decades, but there’s no denying she released at least one iconic album with her band, Hole.

Known for their raw and cathartic blend of grunge, punk and alternative rock, the band’s first LP, “Pretty on the Inside,” didn’t sell much when it was released in 1990, but it was a favorite of the British and American alternative press.

However, it was the band’s breakthrough album, “Live Through This,” that helped them gain attention worldwide. There was a rumor that Love’s then-husband, Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain, who died by suicide a week before “Live Through This” was released, wrote much of the album, but this claim has been disputed by band members and producers ever since.

11. Joan Jett and the Blackhearts

Chris Pizzello / AP Photo

Year formed: 1980

From: Los Angeles, California

Record sales: 2.75 million

Songs: “Bad Reputation,” “Light of Day,” “I Hate Myself for Loving You”

Bottom Line: Joan Jett and the Blackhearts

Barry Brecheisen / AP Photo

Following the Runaways’ break up, Joan Jett formed Joan and the Blackhearts and continued personifying the rebellious rock ‘n’ roll attitude of her former band. Their breakthrough hit, a unique rendition of “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” released in 1981, became a Gen-X anthem and solidified Jett’s place in rock history.

The band is still touring, and their new EP, “Mindsets,” was released in June 2023.

10. Jefferson Airplane

AP Photo

Year formed: 1965

From: San Francisco, California

Record sales: 4.6 million

Songs: “White Rabbit,” “Somebody to Love”

Bottom Line: Jefferson Airplane

Jefferson Airplane singer Grace Slick is shown in Hollywood, Calif., 1970

George Brich / AP Photo

Believe it or not, singer Grace Slick was not the first female vocalist in Jefferson Airplane. That honor goes to Signe Anderson, who left the group to raise a family in 1966. A year later, the band’s breakthrough LP, “Surrealistic Pillow,” brought them commercial success via the powerful vocals of Grace Slick.

In the 1970s and early 1980s, Jefferson Airplane continued as Jefferson Starship with other band members, but Slick remained and contributed to more hit songs, including “Miracles” and “We Built This City.” She retired from music in 1990 and is now an artist.

9. The Pretenders

Ohconfucius / Wikimedia Commons

Year formed: 1978

From: London, England

Record sales: 6.4 million

Songs: “Brass in Pocket,” “Back on the Chain Gang,” “I’ll Stand by You”

Bottom Line: The Pretenders

AP Photo

The Pretenders burst onto the scene with their seminal self-titled debut in 1980. The band delivered a string of chart-topping hits and showcased frontwoman Chrissie Hynde’s sultry yet edgy vocals. However, by 1982, that success seemed as if it were to be short-lived, as two members of the band, James Honeyman Scott and Pete Farndon, died within a few months of each other.

Undeterred, Hynde and drummer Martin Chambers regrouped and continued to pump out hits through the 1980s and 1990s and still tour today.

8. The Bangles

Bangles, Debbi Peterson, Vicki Peterson, Susanna Hoffs

Michael Prengler / AP Photo

Year formed: 1981

From: Los Angeles, California

Record sales: 6.8 million

Songs: “Walk Like an Egyptian,” “Manic Monday,” “Eternal Flame”

Bottom Line: The Bangles

Michael Prengler / AP Photo

This influential all-female rock band was a friendly competitor to the Go-Go’s, but their sound was less new wave and more Beatles-influenced.

The Bangles were known for their jangly guitars and catchy, power-pop hooks. Led by Susanna Hoffs’ distinctive voice, the band was both nostalgic and contemporary, incorporating elements of 1960s melodies while adding their own modern (at the time) twist. And if you didn’t already know, “Manic Monday” was written by none other than Prince!

7. The Go-Go’s

Doug Pizac / AP Photo

Year formed: 1978

From: Los Angeles, California

Record sales: 7 million

Songs: “Our Lips Are Sealed,” “We Got the Beat”

Bottom Line: The Go-Go’s

Jeff Daly / AP Photo

The Go-Go’s emerged from the L.A. punk scene of the late 1970s. By the time of their debut with “Beauty and the Beat” in 1981, their sound had become more polished pop and new wave. Their catchy hooks and melodic harmonies quickly caught on, and the band skyrocketed to success. They were the first all-female band who wrote their own songs and played their own instruments to top the charts.

The Go-Go’s were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2021.

6. Paramore

Jason Decrow / AP Photo

Year formed: 2004

From: Franklin, Tennessee

Record sales: 7.1 million

Songs: “Misery Business,” “Still Into You” “This Is Why”

Bottom Line: Paramore

Rick Scuteri / AP Photo

Paramore is a three-piece band consisting of Hayley Williams on vocals, Taylor York on guitar, and Zac Farro on drums. A mix of pop-punk, emo and alternative, the band has released six albums — their most recent, “This Is Why,” came out in February 2023.

The band is currently opening for Taylor Swift and have courted controversy with their politics, coming out against Florida governor Ron DeSantis while playing shows in the state. In fact, Representative Maxwell Frost joined the band onstage at the time, and the clip went viral. He also sang a few bars of “Misery Business.”

5. Florence + the Machine

Chris Pizzello / AP Photo

Year formed: 2007

From: London, England

Record sales: 8 million

Songs: “Dog Days Are Over,” “You’ve Got the Love”

Bottom Line: Florence + the Machine

Rob Grabowski / AP Photo

Florence + the Machine’s main members are Florence Welch (vocals), Isabella Summers (keyboards), Rob Ackroyd (guitar) and Tom Monger (harp). Known primarily for their massive hit, “Dog Days Are Over,” the band has five studio albums, with the most recent being “Dance Fever,” released in 2022.

Welch is a charismatic frontwoman known for her powerful vocals and theatrical stage presence. Most recently, “Dogs Days Are Over” was featured in the finale of “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” and left an emotional impact on Florence — the video of her crying while watching it has gone viral on TikTok.

She said of the experience: “Thank you so much for all the love for this moment. The superhero-obsessed little girl in me can’t believe it happened.”

4. No Doubt

Joan Leong / AP Photo

Year formed: 1986

From: Anaheim, California

Record sales: 33 million

Songs: “Don’t Speak,” “Just a Girl,” “Spiderwebs”

Bottom Line: No Doubt

Katy Winn / AP Photo

Gwen Stefani was originally No Doubt’s backing vocalist — the band was started by her brother Eric and John Spence, the group’s then-lead singer. Spence died by suicide in 1987, just a few days before No Doubt was to play a showcase for industry bigwigs. They disbanded for several weeks, and when they regrouped, it was decided that Gwen should take over as frontwoman.

The band’s third album, “Tragic Kingdom,” propelled them to global success, as it showcased Stefani’s powerful vocals and the band’s infectious energy, particularly during live shows. No Doubt became one of the biggest bands of the 1990s and introduced Ska to a wider audience. While Stefani has since gone solo and has been involved with other projects, fans still clamor for a No Doubt reunion, and she says, “Anything can happen.”

3. Heart

AP Photo

Year formed: 1973

From: Seattle, Washington

Record sales: 35 million

Songs: “Barracuda,” “Magic Man,” “Alone”

Bottom Line: Heart

Jordan Strauss / AP Photo

Lead by sisters Ann Wilson (vocals) and Nancy Wilson (guitar), Heart’s blend of hard rock, folk and pop has been resonating with listeners since the 1970s. That’s because Heart dared to go where few women have ever gone — into the classic-rock pantheon. Notable fans include Eminem, Lil Wayne, G-Eazy and Nas (who have sampled Heart’s songs) as well as Céline Dion, Fergie and Halestorm (who have covered the band outright).

Ann Wilson’s vocals are so powerful she made Led Zeppelin vocalist Robert Plant cry while covering “Stairway to Heaven” at the Kennedy Center Honors in 2012.

2. Blondie

AP Photo / Press Association

Year formed: 1974

From: New York, New York

Record sales: 40 million

Songs: “Heart of Glass,” “Call Me,” “One Way or Another”

Bottom Line: Blondie

Evan Agostini / AP Photo

Formed by Debbie Harry and Chris Stein, Blondie was an integral band in New York punk’s first wave, but they were so much more than one-chord wonders. Seamlessly blending elements of power pop, new wave and rock and led by the charismatic Harry, Blondie captivated audiences worldwide with their infectious energy and catchy melodies.

Blondie’s 1979 hit, “Rapture,” was the first single to top the U.S. charts featuring rap vocals. Nearly 50 years on, they continue to play to a new generation of fans — their most recent appearance was at Coachella 2023.

1. Fleetwood Mac

AP Photo

Year formed: 1967

From: London, England/Los Angeles, California

Record sales: 120 million

Songs: “Go Your Own Way,” “Dreams,” “Rhiannon,” “Sara,” “Tusk”

Bottom Line: Fleetwood Mac

Andy Paradise / AP Photo

This biggest female-fronted band on this list did not always have women members. In fact, Fleetwood Mac initially formed as an all-male, blues-rock band. It wasn’t until the mid-1970s — when the band changed direction to melodic rock and pop with the addition of Stevie Nicks, Christine McVie and Lindsey Buckingham — that they achieved unprecedented success.

Albums like “Rumours” and “Tusk” produced massive hits that still resonate with audiences today, despite the often fractured personal dynamics within the group. (But let’s face it — that friction made for many a timeless classic!)

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