The music industry, like all of entertainment, is hyper-fixated on youth culture. The younger the emerging superstar is, the more prodigious their talent must be. However, this emphasis can often overshadow the significant contributions of seasoned artists who have persevered through the ebbs and flows of the industry. These artists bring a wealth of experience, resilience, and artistry honed over years of dedication. Their longevity speaks volumes about their talent and adaptability in an industry known for its fickleness.
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Celebrating timeless icons acknowledges the enduring impact established musicians have made on the musical landscape and the paths they’ve paved for others. While supporting emerging talent is vital, it’s equally important to honor and uplift those who continue to make significant contributions. Their voices, stories, and artistry deserve recognition and appreciation.
In the acting world, many successful actresses over the age of 50 are at the top of their game, but musicians of the same age often miss out on awards and props due to the prevalence of young talent!
So, we want highlight and pay homage to the achievements of women over 50 who are continuing their reign as sensational musicians, including Tracy Chapman, Shania Twain, Barbra Streisand, and Mariah Carey, who affirm the value of experience and longevity in an industry often fixated on youth.
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Tracy Chapman
Image Credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy Renowned American singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman stole the spotlight at the 2024 Grammy Awards with a show-stopping performance that left audiences buzzing. Making a surprise appearance alongside country artist Luke Combs, Chapman delivered a spine-tingling rendition of her iconic 1988 hit, “Fast Car,” igniting a wave of screams and tears.
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Jennifer Lopez
Image Credit: Gilbert Flores/WWD via Getty Images With an electrifying performance at 2020’s Super Bowl halftime show, in Versace bodysuits no less, JLo redefined what a woman can do at 50 (if you have the drive, the time, and the means, that is).
Continuing to carve out her path, in 2024, Jennifer Lopez released a 3 part multi-media series including her movie, The Greatest Love Story Never Told and album, This Is Me…Now.
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Joni Mitchell
Image Credit: Brian Friedman/Variety/Penske Media via Getty Images The Lady of The Canyon made the comeback of all comebacks in the summer of 2022 when she surprised attendees by taking the stage at the Newport Folk Festival only 7 years after suffering a near-fatal brain aneurysm.
Since then she’s been feted by the Kennedy Center Honors, The Gershwin Prize, and The Grammys.
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Mariah Carey
Image Credit: Mark Von Holden/Billboard via Getty Images Those piercing whistle notes, the whispers, the belts – with a five-octave vocal range, there is nothing Mariah Carey can’t sing.
With 19 Billboard Hot 100 #1 singles (the most by a solo artist, second only to The Beatles) her pop-R&B sensibilities have made her one of the biggest names in music. And dahhhling, she is the undisputed Queen of Christmas thanks to her perennial chart-topper, “All I Want For Christmas Is You.”
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Dolly Parton
Image Credit: Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty Images Living legend, and universally acknowledged as the world’s most amazing human, Dolly Parton has been making music for over 60 years.
Always advocating for kids, animals, and women, Dolly is a beacon of light who spreads joy wherever she goes. Her 2023 album, Rockstar, which was her 49th solo album, found her collaborating with famous rock musicians like Ann Wilson, Rob Halford, and the two surviving Beatles, Paul McCartney and Ringo Star.
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Shania Twain
Image Credit: Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty Images Shania Twain is the world’s best-selling female country music artist, having sold over 85 million albums. Whether she’s singing an anthem to female empowerment, a touching love song, or on stage with Harry Styles at Coachella, you know you’re going to be singing along. Her most recent album was 2023’s Queen of Me.
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Susanna Hoffs
Image Credit: Chris Polk/WWD/Penske Media via Getty Images That infamous flick of the eye made her the object of affection for a generation of boys and girls. The grit and glamour she brought to The Bangles made her an MTV star. The songs she sang and wrote made her a phenomenon.
Hoffs recently released her first novel, This Bird Has Flown, and a cover of a cover made famous by Tracy Ullman, “They Don’t Know”.
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Celine Dion
Image Credit: Swan Gallet/WWD/Penske Media via Getty Images Known as The Queen of the Power Ballads, Celine Dion is a force of nature. She may sing about “The Power of Love” but it’s the power of her voice that has made her an icon.
So inspiring are her vocals that the soundtrack to a rom-com was devoted to them (Love Again which featured five new songs and six previously released hits) and an uproarious Off-Broadway musical, Titanique, which tells the story of the blockbuster film Titanic through her songs.
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Diana Ross
Image Credit: Swan Gallet/WWD/Penske Media via Getty Images She’s The Boss, Miss Ross! Trailblazing Diana Ross, who led Motown’s most successful act, The Supremes, has done it all.
It’s hard to imagine the existence of any girl group without the model she set forth in the ‘60s and she’s still a superstar, touring internationally and drawing crowds of all ages.
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Kylie Minogue
Image Credit: Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty Images Kylie Minogue is the highest-selling female Australian artist of all time. She has reinvented herself time and time again, each incarnation only widening her fan base – and her reign as the queen of modern disco seems unstoppable, as evidenced by her 2023 global smash “Padam Padam.”
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Janet Jackson
Image Credit: Gilbert Flores/WWD via Getty Images Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019, Janet Jackson has spent her life in the spotlight, performing first with her famous brothers, moving onto celebrated TV sitcoms, and then embarking on an unparalleled solo music career. Her songs and innovative dance moves have excited and inspired legions of fans who flocked to her 2024 tour.
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Stevie Nicks
Image Credit: Rob Latour/Variety/Penske Media via Getty Images Whether she’s fronting Fleetwood Mac or performing from her deep solo catalog, it is undeniable that Stevie Nicks is a living and breathing mythical being.
Admired by today’s biggest stars including Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, and Beyoncé, Stevie is still bewitching audiences around the world.
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Cher
Image Credit: Swan Gallet/WWD via Getty Images “Do you believe in life after love?” Do you believe in the power of Cher? This legend has done it all – she’s been half of an iconic pop duo, hosted a TV variety show, starred in films, released hit after hit, and even guested as herself on a memorable episode of Will and Grace.
She’s been recognized by The Academy Awards, The Grammys, The Kennedy Center, The Golden Globes, The People’s Choice, and The Emmys to name a few.
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Sheryl Crow
Image Credit: Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty Images Singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow incorporates elements of rock, pop, country, folk, and blues into her songs which give voice to every woman’s life – the highs, the lows, and the middles.
In 2024, she released an exciting rendition of Peter Gabriel’s “Digging In The Dirt,” featuring a captivating duet with the aforementioned artist himself.
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Debbie Harry
Image Credit: Gilbert Flores/WWD via Getty Images As the lead singer for the seminal pop-punk band Blondie for 50 years, the timeless charm and glamour of Debbie Harry can be seen in the looks and sounds of Gwen Stefani, The Killers, Lady Gaga, and more.
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Gwen Stefani
Image Credit: Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty Images Gwen Stefani is the frontwoman and co-founder of ska-pop-rock band No Doubt, a multi-platinum selling solo artist, fashion designer, a judge on The Voice, and the better half of Blake Shelton, with whom she’s recorded her latest single, “Purple Irises.”
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Madonna
Image Credit: Variety via Getty Images Detroit-born and New York made, The Material Girl seemed destined to break the mold again and again.
Her 2021 single, “Popular,” (with The Weeknd and Playboi Carti) has been streamed 700 million times. Showing no signs of slowing down, Madonna embarked on an 81-stop tour in 2024, aptly named The Celebration Tour.
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Barbra Streisand
Image Credit: Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images The fact that My Name Is Barbra, her 970-page autobiography, was a bestseller from pre-sale orders shows the staying power of this diva. Her life’s story is compelling in itself but it’s that voice that turns even the biggest stars into utter fangirls (we’re looking at you, Adele).
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Grace Jones
Image Credit: WWD/Penske Media via Getty Images Grace Jones is known for her highly stylized and androgynous appearance, her new-wave post-punk funk music, and her unbelievable hula-hooping skills (on stage she’s been known to maintain the rocking motion for 6+ minutes).
In 2022 she curated the Meltdown Festival in London, where performers and attendees alike were surely “slaves to the rhythm.”
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Chaka Khan
Image Credit: Daniel Zuchnik/Penske Media via Getty Images With a smile that could power the universe, Queen of Funk Chaka Khan has spent over 50 years showing us that “Aint Nobody” does it better than her.
Her unique brand of funk and R&B has been emulated by Prince, Whitney Houston, and Mary J. Blige and you can catch her on Bombay Bicycle Club’s “Tekken 2.”
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Tori Amos
Image Credit: Michael Buckner/Variety/Penske Media via Getty Images Known for her intense, confessional lyrics, playing two pianos simultaneously, and fiery red hair, Tori Amos has given voice to the silent, often painful, questions we hide inside of ourselves.
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Mary J. Blige
Image Credit: Bryan Bedder/WWD via Getty Images The Queen of Hip-Hop Soul, Mary J. Blige, earned her title by winning Grammys, Emmys, American Music Awards, NAACP Image Awards, Billboard Music Awards, and more.
The magic of Mary is how expressing her pain through song is a release for her and for her listeners, that connection is where her true power lies.
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Pat Benatar
Image Credit: Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty Images With a run of undeniable pop-rock hits in the ‘80s, (“Hit Me With Your Best Shot,” “We Belong,” “Love Is A Battlefield”) Pat Benatar cemented her place in music history. Her sound fused arena rock with an operatic voice and it proved to be an unbeatable combo.
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Chrissie Hynde
Image Credit: Gilbert Flores/Billboard via Getty Images As a founding member, lead vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter of the rock band The Pretenders, Chrissie Hynde has always been cool, and she continues to be admired by today’s biggest rockers.
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Melissa Etheridge
Image Credit: Gilbert Flores/Billboard via Getty Images With a smoky voice akin to Janis Joplin’s, Melissa Etheridge burst onto the scene in the late 80s with folk-rock songs that became anthems for gay and lesbian pride.
A groundbreaker in the truest sense, she’s used her music and her platform to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, breast cancer, the environment, and drug addiction. In 2023 she brought her songs and her stories to the stage with My Window on Broadway.
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Liz Phair
Image Credit: Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images Her 1993 debut album, Exile in Guyville, was an ambitious track-for-track response to The Rolling Stones’s Exile on Main Street. It was a critical and commercial smash that ruled the airwaves of alternative and college radio in the 90s.