VH1 has completed its quest to crown ‘the ultimate diva’ (based on fan votes) by unveiling its list of the 100 greatest women of music history. The survey comes as their second – the first saw acts Aretha Franklin and Tina Turner take the number 1 and 2 spots respectively while acts like Madonna and Billie Holiday filled out the top 10.
With 6 categories – “All Time”, “90s”, “80s”, “Pop”, “Rock”, and “Hip Hop/R&B” – VH1 has introduced a more comprehensive compilation of divas to include, unlike their original survey, more contemporary performers (i.e. Rihanna, Beyonce, Lady Gaga, etc) and base it on achievements in the past 20 years. Sure to get tongues wagging, the list’s first 20 are set for a televised unveil on tonight’s premiere episode of the five night countdown at 10pm Eastern.
If this list is the best they could do, VH1 may have done better unveiling this on April 1st. Find out where your fave fell via the full list below:
100. Pussycat Dolls
99. Demi Lovato
98. Ashanti
97. Grace Potter
96. Mandy Moore
95. Wilson Phillips
94. Colbie Caillat
93. Feist
92. Jordin Sparks
91. Monica
90. Regina Spektor
89. Hillary Scott (Lady Antebellum)
88. SWV
87. Robyn
86. Ingrid Michaelson
85. Faith Evans
84. Avril Lavigne
83. Meg White (The White Stripes)
82. Miley Cyrus
81. Spice Girls
80. Sara Bareilles
79. PJ Harvey
78. Kim Gordon (Sonic Youth)
77. Hayley Williams (Paramore)
76. Leona Lewis
75. Kim Deal (The Breeders, The Pixies)
74. Paula Abdul
73. Dido
72. Brandy
71. Natalie Merchant
70. Macy Gray
69. Courtney Love
68. Indigo Girls
67. M.I.A.
66. Natasha Bedingfield
65. Liz Phair
64. Eve
63. Jill Scott
62. Leann Rimes
61. Shirley Manson (Garbage)
60. Florence + The Machine
59. Destiny’s Child
58. Miranda Lambert
57. Ke$ha
56. Gloria Estefan
55. Fiona Apple
54. Tori Amos
53. Sarah McLachlan
52. En Vogue
51. Nelly Furtado
50. Lauryn Hill
49. Amy Lee (Evanescence)
48. Aaliyah
47. Kylie Minogue
46. Toni Braxton
45. Lil’ Kim
44. Erykah Badu
43. Taylor Swift
42. Melissa Etheridge
41. Jewel
40. Nicki Minaj
39. Dixie Chicks
38. Salt N Pepa
37. Faith Hill
36. Shakira
35. Shania Twain
34. Queen Latifah
33. Norah Jones
32. Fantasia
31. Cher
30. Sade
29. Bjork
28. k.d. Lang
27. Fergie
26. Amy Winehouse
25. Sheryl Crow
24. Jennifer Hudson
23. Carrie Underwood
22. Annie Lennox
21. Celine Dion
20. Rihanna
19. Kelly Clarkson
18. Missy Elliott
17. Katy Perry
16. Jennifer Lopez
15. Alanis Morissette
14. Alicia Keys
13. Gwen Stefani
12. TLC
11. Britney Spears
10. P!nk
09. Mary J. Blige
08. Christina Aguilera
07. Janet Jackson
06. Whitney Houston
05. Adele
04. Lady Gaga
03. Beyoncé
02. Mariah Carey
01. Madonna
In related news, as the world continues to mourn the loss of ‘The Voice’ Whitney Houston, this showing will set off what has been announced as a weeklong tribute to the fallen singer. Much like CNN, OWN, and other channels, VH1 will honor Houston with a slew of shows including tonight’s “VH1 News Special –‘Whitney Houston: Death of a Diva’” at 9:30P eastern and Thursday, Feb 16th’s “VH1 News Presents Whitney Houston’s Greatest Moments” at 11pm. The tributes will accompanys VH1’s promise to continuously rotate the divas iconic videos on its main network and sister channels.