Top 10 Famous Canadian Female Singers You Need to Know
Canada is known for its diverse music scene, producing some of the most talented and successful musicians in the world. From rock to pop to country, Canadian artists have dominated the charts and gained international recognition. Among these talented artists are some amazing female vocalists who have captivated audiences with their powerhouse voices and heartfelt lyrics. In this blog post, we will take a look at the top 10 famous Canadian female singers you need to know.
Celine Dion – Famous canadian female singers
Born in Charlemagne, Quebec, Celine Dion rose to fame in the 1990s and has become one of the best-selling artists of all time. With her powerful vocals and emotional ballads, she has won numerous awards including 5 Grammy Awards and 2 Oscars. Her most iconic song, “My Heart Will Go On” from the movie Titanic, became a global phenomenon and solidified her status as a household name.
Early Career and Success with “The Power of Love”
Celine Dion started singing at a young age, performing with her siblings in their family’s piano bar. At the age of 12, she wrote and recorded her first song with the help of her mother and brother. She released her first French album in 1981, but it wasn’t until 1990 that she gained international success with her English album “Unison”. This album included her first top 10 hit, “Where Does My Heart Beat Now”, and established her as a rising star.
In 1993, Celine released her third English album, “The Colour of My Love”, which featured her signature song “The Power of Love”. The song reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and became her first multi-platinum single. This album also included her duet with Peabo Bryson for the Disney movie Beauty and the Beast, which won an Oscar and a Grammy.
Worldwide Success with “Falling Into You” and “Let’s Talk About Love”
Celine’s fourth English album, “Falling Into You”, was released in 1996 and became her best-selling album to date. It featured the hit singles “Because You Loved Me” and “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now”. The album won two Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year, and solidified Celine as a global superstar.
In 1998, she released “Let’s Talk About Love” which included her iconic duet with Barbra Streisand, “Tell Him”. The album also featured her smash hit “My Heart Will Go On”, which was the theme song for the award-winning movie Titanic. The song topped charts all over the world and earned Celine another Grammy and an Oscar for Best Original Song. To this day, it remains one of the best-selling singles of all time.
Shania Twain
Known as the “Queen of Country Pop”, Shania Twain has sold over 100 million records worldwide and is the best-selling female country artist of all time. With her catchy melodies and unique blend of country and pop, she has become a musical icon and paved the way for future female artists in the genre.
Early Career and Breakthrough Success with “The Woman in Me”
Born and raised in Ontario, Shania Twain discovered her love for music at a young age and started performing in local bars and clubs. In 1993, she released her debut album “Shania Twain”, but it wasn’t until her second album, “The Woman in Me”, that she gained widespread success. The album featured her signature song “Any Man of Mine” and topped the country charts for weeks.
Worldwide Success with “Come On Over” and “Up!”
Shania’s third album, “Come On Over”, became a cultural phenomenon and solidified her status as a global superstar. It became the best-selling country album of all time and featured hit singles such as “You’re Still the One” and “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!”. The album also crossed over to the pop charts, making Shania Twain one of the first country artists to achieve mainstream success.
In 2002, she released her fourth album “Up!”, which debuted at number one on both the country and pop charts. The album included her hit single “I’m Gonna Getcha Good!” and showcased Shania’s growth as an artist with its diverse range of musical styles.
Alanis Morissette
Alanis Morissette burst onto the music scene in the 1990s with her raw and emotional lyrics that spoke to a generation. She has sold over 75 million records worldwide and is known for her powerful vocals and unique blend of alternative rock and pop.
Early Career and Breakthrough Success with “Jagged Little Pill”
Born in Ottawa, Alanis started her music career as a child actress before releasing two unsuccessful pop albums in her teens. In 1995, she released her third album “Jagged Little Pill”, which became a massive success and launched her into stardom. The album featured the hit songs “You Oughta Know” and “Ironic” and won 5 Grammy Awards including Album of the Year.
Continued Success with “Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie” and “Under Rug Swept”
Alanis’ follow-up album “Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie” was released in 1998 and again showcased her raw and honest songwriting. The album still achieved commercial success, but not to the same extent as “Jagged Little Pill”. In 2002, she released “Under Rug Swept”, which featured the hit single “Hands Clean” and earned her another Grammy nomination.
Avril Lavigne
Avril Lavigne burst onto the music scene in the early 2000s with her punk-pop style and rebellious attitude. She has sold over 40 million records worldwide and is known for her catchy anthems and relatable lyrics.
Early Career and Success with “Let Go”
Born in Ontario, Avril started singing at a young age and wrote her first song at 12 years old. In 2002, she released her debut album “Let Go” featuring her smash hit single “Complicated”. The album became a huge success, with Avril becoming the youngest female solo artist to have a number one album at the time.
Continued Success with “Under My Skin” and “The Best Damn Thing”
Avril’s second album “Under My Skin” was released in 2004 and showcased a more mature sound. The album featured the hit singles “My Happy Ending” and “Don’t Tell Me” and solidified her status as a pop-punk princess. In 2007, she released her third album “The Best Damn Thing” which included the chart-topping hits “Girlfriend” and “When You’re Gone”.
Nelly Furtado
Born in British Columbia, Nelly Furtado rose to fame in the early 2000s with her unique blend of pop, RB, and folk. She has sold over 40 million records worldwide and won numerous awards including a Grammy and multiple Juno Awards.
Early Career and Breakthrough Success with “Whoa, Nelly!”
Nelly Furtado started singing at the age of 4 and by 16 had formed her own trip-hop group. In 2000, she released her debut album “Whoa, Nelly!” which featured her hit single “I’m Like a Bird”. The song became an international success and earned her a Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.
Continued Success with “Folklore” and “Loose”
In 2003, Nelly released her second album “Folklore” which showcased her diverse musical influences. The album received critical acclaim but did not achieve the same commercial success as her debut. In 2006, she released her third album “Loose” which featured the hit singles “Promiscuous” and “Say It Right”. The album became her most successful to date and solidified her status as a pop icon.
Joni Mitchell
Known as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Joni Mitchell has been a major influence on many artists with her poetic lyrics and unique blend of folk and jazz. She has won multiple Grammy Awards and is often referred to as the “Queen of Folk”.
Early Career and Success with “Blue”
Born in Alberta, Joni Mitchell started singing and playing guitar at a young age and performed in local coffeehouses. In 1968, she released her debut album “Song to a Seagull” which received critical acclaim but did not gain widespread success. It wasn’t until her fourth album “Blue” in 1971 that she gained recognition as an iconic musician. The album included her signature song “Big Yellow Taxi” and established her as a major force in the industry.
Worldwide Success with “Court and Spark” and “Mingus”
Joni’s sixth album “Court and Spark” was released in 1974 and became her most commercially successful album to date. It featured her hit singles “Help Me” and “Free Man in Paris” and solidified her status as a mainstream artist. In 1979, she released “Mingus”, a collaboration with legendary jazz musician Charles Mingus. The album received mixed reviews but showed Joni’s versatility as an artist.
Sarah McLachlan
Known for her angelic voice and heartfelt lyrics, Sarah McLachlan has become one of the most successful female musicians in Canadian history. She has sold over 40 million records worldwide and is known for her emotional ballads and support for various charitable causes.
Early Career and Success with “Fumbling Towards Ecstasy”
Born and raised in Nova Scotia, Sarah started her music career in the late 1980s and released her debut album “Touch” in 1988. In 1991, she released “Solace” which gained her more recognition, but it was her third album “Fumbling Towards Ecstasy” that launched her into stardom. The album featured her hit single “Possession” and earned her a Juno Award for Album of the Year.
Continued Success with “Surfacing” and “Afterglow”
Sarah’s fourth album “Surfacing” was released in 1997 and became her best-selling album to date. It included her hit songs “Building a Mystery” and “Angel” and won two Grammy Awards, including Best Pop Vocal Performance for “I Will Remember You”. In 2003, she released “Afterglow” which featured the hit single “Fallen” and showcased her growth as an artist.
Anne Murray
Anne Murray is known as one of the first Canadian artists to achieve international success, paving the way for future musicians from Canada. With her smooth vocals and country-pop sound, she has sold over 55 million records worldwide and won multiple awards, including four Grammys.
Early Career and Success with “Snowbird”
Born in Nova Scotia, Anne Murray started singing at a young age and became a regular on Canadian television in the late 1960s. In 1970, she released her debut album “What About Me” which spawned her first hit single “Snowbird”. The song became a major success and launched her into stardom.
Worldwide Success with “You Needed Me” and “A Little Good News”
In 1978, Anne released the album “Let’s Keep It That Way” which included her hit single “You Needed Me”. The song topped charts all over the world and earned her a Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. In 1983, she released “A Little Good News” which won her another Grammy and solidified her status as one of Canada’s most successful artists.
Alessia Cara
At just 19 years old, Alessia Cara has become one of the youngest Canadian artists to achieve mainstream success. With her soulful vocals and relatable lyrics, she has captured the hearts of audiences all over the world and won numerous awards, including a Grammy.
Early Career and Breakthrough Success with “Know-It-All”
Born in Ontario, Alessia started posting covers on YouTube before signing with Def Jam Recordings in 2014. In 2015, she released her debut single “Here” which became a major hit and introduced her unique sound to the world. She released her first album “Know-It-All” in 2015, featuring the hit singles “Scars to Your Beautiful” and “Wild Things”.\
Continued Success with “The Pains of Growing”
In 2018, Alessia released her second album “The Pains of Growing” which showcased her growth as an artist and songwriter. The album included the hit single “Growing Pains” and earned her a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist.
Carly Rae Jepsen
Carly Rae Jepsen gained international fame with her mega-hit “Call Me Maybe” in 2012 and has continued to produce catchy pop songs that have dominated the charts. She has sold over 20 million records worldwide and won multiple awards, including three Juno Awards.
Early Career and Breakthrough Success with “Kiss”
Born in British Columbia, Carly started performing at a young age and rose to fame after competing on Canadian Idol in 2007. In 2012, she released her second album “Kiss” which featured the hit single “Call Me Maybe”. The song became a global sensation and earned Carly two Grammy nominations.
Continued Success with “Emotion” and “Dedicated”
In 2015, Carly released her third album “Emotion” which received critical acclaim and solidified her status as a pop artist to watch. The album included the hits “I Really Like You” and “Run Away With Me”. In 2019, she released “Dedicated”, which showcased her growth as an artist and songwriter.
Conclusion
The music industry in Canada has produced some of the most successful and talented artists in the world, and these ten female singers are no exception. From Celine Dion’s iconic ballads to Shania Twain’s country-pop anthems, these women have captured the hearts of audiences all over the world and continue to inspire future generations of musicians. So the next time you turn on your favorite playlist, take a moment to appreciate these amazing Canadian female singers and their contributions to the world of music.
