What a great question! There are so many great gals in music. I like the oldies, so Olivia Newton John, Linda Ronstadt, Shania Twain. Remember Lesley Gore and a one hit wonder Marcie Blane (Bobby's Girl). Also, Barbara Striesand, Martha Reeves, Jo Stafford and Judy Garland. Just to mention a few.
Sarah Vaughn
Ella Fitzgerald
Judy Garland
Nancy Wilson
Edie Gorme
Etta Jones
Dinah Washington
Ann Burton
Betty Carter
Billie Holiday
June Christy
Marilyn Monroe
Nanci Griffith
Joanie Sommers
Marlene Ver Plank
Sue Raney
Diane Reeves
Nancy Lamott
Blossom Darie
Doris Day
Mariella Freni
Anna Netrebko
Leontyne Price
Joan Sutherlund
Victoria de Angeles
Renata Tebaldi
Grace Slick
Julia Fordham
Diana Ross
Norah Jones
Patsy Cline
Traci Chapman
getting tired here, there are countless others, I like em all.
Bob,
You have some also I like....Eva Cassidy,can't leave her off.
Yes Eva Cassidy she was great; sad that she left so soon...
There are so many great female singers; from Jazz to Blues, from Folk to Soul, from Classical Opera to Choral...
From way back in the twenties, thirties, forties, fifties up till now.
The list is just too big; it is impossible to love just one as your favorite. Perhaps in the present moment when you are listening, but certainly not over all the years.