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Given that women have to jump through many hurdles to be successful in the music business, it is necessary to honor those who have made an impact on the industry. It is even more important to recognize the successful women in male-dominated genres like rock. The difficulty and 'glass ceiling' women face in this genre leads to an even further underrepresentation. However, despite the obstacles, women are among some of the best rockstars of all time. They have made music that has stood the test of time, and that people will be listening to for years to come. Rock and roll demands passion, and these women have used that passion to leave their mark on the genre.
8 The Ronettes
This early rock group is known best for songs like "Be My Baby" and "Walking in the Rain". They even opened for the Beatles in the 60s. Having made over $15,000 in record sales and being recently inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, these ladies are solidified as being some of the best rockstars in history.
7 Tina Turner
This female rockstar had a voice so powerful that you could hear it from a mile away. Having sold over 200 million records worldwide, she is considered to be one of the best-selling artists of all time, in general. Her most popular songs include "The Best" and "What's Love Got To Do With It". Her musical style influences current rock and roll artists, and her legacy continues to revere her success.
6 Donna Summer
This rockstar's career was one for the books. She broke out of her disco-pop shell to become one of the best rockstars ever. Popular songs of hers include "Hot Stuff" and "Working the Midnight Shift". Her records were always hits, and she sold over 130 million of them. Despite not being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, she is still regarded as one of the most influential and most successful rockstars of all time.
5 Janis Joplin
The talent of Janis Joplin is unmatched to this day. Her success is represented by over 18.5 million record sales. Her popular songs like "Piece of My Heart" and "Move Over" all have a great rock and roll flavor that people still enjoy to this day. Her unfortunate death mirrored that of many rockstars due to her heavy substance abuse. Despite this tragic loss, Joplin is revered as an artist that set standards for the genre of rock and roll.
4 Heart
This female rock band was made up of two sisters: Nancy and Ann Wilson. They have been credited with opening doors and opportunities for female rockstars. With popular songs like "Barracuda" and "Stairway to Heaven", there is no wonder why they have over 35 million record sales. The influence that Heart has on rock today is clear, and these women can be considered some of the best that have ever been.
3 Blondie
Deborah Harry was the face of this influential and successful rock band. Popular in the 80s, this band had hit songs like "Heart of Glass" and "Call Me". Modern rockstars, like Miley Cyrus, even pay homage to their music through their covers of the songs. Blondie is still listened to today, and they have made over 40 million record sales. It is exciting to see their music come back into the mainstream because their sound really is timeless.
2 Alanis Morissette
This rock and roll star hit her peak in the 90s and is still popular today. Everyone knows their songs "You Oughta Know" and "Hand In My Pocket". Morissette has one of the most recognizable voices out of any rockstar ever. Her sound is so unique. She made music that resonated with women everywhere, and this made her highly successful. With over 60 million in record sales, and with that number still climbing, this Canadian-American rocker can go down in history as one of the best ever.
1 Madonna
No one could ever forget Madonna as being one of the best and most successful rock stars of all time. She is revered by the Rolling Stones. Despite her induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame being unpopular, anyone who has seen her perform cannot deny that Madonna channels the passion required to be a great rock star. Hit songs like "Lucky Star" and "Material Girl", along with over 300 million record sales, Madonna has every right to be regarded as one of the best rockstars of all time.