36 Best Latin Female Singers of All Time (2026 List)

The best Latin female singers of all time include legends like Celia Cruz, Selena Quintanilla and Mercedes Sosa, pop icons like Shakira, Thalía and Gloria Estefan, and today’s biggest stars like Karol G, Rosalía and Ángela Aguilar. This guide to the best Latina singers of all time covers 36 famous Latin female singers across salsa, Tejano, Latin pop, regional Mexican, reggaeton and more. For each one you’ll find who she is, why she matters, her signature song and the best album to start with.

Who Counts as a Latin Female Singer?

In this list, a Latin female singer is a woman whose career is built in Latin music: Latin American artists, US Latina artists, and artists from Spain and Brazil who record mainly in Spanish or Portuguese for Latin audiences. Laura Pausini is the one exception, because her Spanish-language albums made her a Latin music star.

That’s why some famous names with Latin heritage aren’t on the main list. Mariah Carey and Selena Gomez are huge pop stars, but their careers are built mostly in English-language pop. Selena Gomez’s 2021 Spanish-language EP Revelación is worth a listen, though, if you want to hear that side of her.

The words “Latina,” “Latin” and “Hispanic” are often used interchangeably, and Spanish-language music is only part of the story. Here, “Latin” describes the music, and “Latina” describes women of Latin American heritage. Rosalía (Spain) and Anitta (Brazil) are included because they’re central to the Latin music scene today.

How We Chose the Best Latin Female Singers

Every singer on this list was chosen for four reasons: her influence on Latin music, her awards and chart records, how long her career has lasted or is likely to last, and how much she shaped her genre. Popularity alone wasn’t enough; each artist had to leave a mark.

We also looked at Billboard’s 2025 ranking of the greatest female Latin pop artists, which put Shakira first, as one reference point, not the final word. Our list reaches beyond pop into salsa, folk, regional Mexican, reggaeton and Brazilian music, so it’s broader than any single chart.

The singers are grouped by genre, not by country, so you can find the sound you love. Within each section, they’re listed roughly by era, not ranked against each other. Comparing Celia Cruz with Karol G is like comparing two different sports. Both are the best at what they do.

The Best Latin Female Singers at a Glance

Singer	Country	Genre	Era	Start with
Celia Cruz	Cuba	Salsa	1950s–2003	“La Vida Es un Carnaval”
Selena Quintanilla	United States (Mexican-American)	Tejano, Latin pop	1980s–1995	“Como la Flor”
Mercedes Sosa	Argentina	Folk, nueva canción	1960s–2009	“Gracias a la Vida”
Gloria Estefan	Cuba / United States	Latin pop	1980s–today	“Conga”
Rocío Dúrcal	Spain	Rancheras, ballads	1970s–2006	“Amor Eterno”
Chavela Vargas	Costa Rica / Mexico	Rancheras	1950s–2012	“La Llorona”
Jenni Rivera	United States (Mexican-American)	Banda	1990s–2012	“Inolvidable”
Elis Regina	Brazil	MPB, bossa nova	1960s–1982	“Águas de Março”
Shakira	Colombia	Latin pop, rock	1990s–today	“Hips Don’t Lie”
Thalía	Mexico	Latin pop	1980s–today	“Piel Morena”
Jennifer Lopez	United States (Puerto Rican)	Pop, Latin pop	1999–today	“Qué Hiciste”
Paulina Rubio	Mexico	Latin pop	1990s–today	“Y Yo Sigo Aquí”
Gloria Trevi	Mexico	Pop rock	1990s–today	“Pelo Suelto”
Laura Pausini	Italy	Pop ballads	1990s–today	“Se Fue”
Christina Aguilera	United States (Ecuadorian)	Pop, Latin pop	1999–today	“Pero Me Acuerdo de Ti”
Ana Gabriel	Mexico	Ballads, rancheras	1980s–today	“Quién Como Tú”
Olga Tañón	Puerto Rico	Merengue, pop	1990s–today	“Basta Ya”
La India	Puerto Rico / New York	Salsa	1990s–today	“Ese Hombre”
Ángela Aguilar	United States / Mexico	Regional Mexican	2010s–today	“En Realidad”
Lila Downs	Mexico	Folk, roots	1990s–today	“La Cumbia del Mole”
Julieta Venegas	Mexico	Pop, alternative	1990s–today	“Me Voy”
Natalia Lafourcade	Mexico	Folk pop	2000s–today	“Hasta la Raíz”
Ivy Queen	Puerto Rico	Reggaeton	1990s–today	“Quiero Bailar”
Karol G	Colombia	Reggaeton, urbano	2010s–today	“Tusa”
Becky G	United States (Mexican-American)	Urbano, pop	2010s–today	“Mayores”
Natti Natasha	Dominican Republic	Reggaeton	2010s–today	“Criminal”
Rosalía	Spain	Flamenco pop, experimental	2017–today	“Malamente”
Anitta	Brazil	Funk, pop	2010s–today	“Envolver”
Kali Uchis	United States (Colombian)	R&B, Latin pop	2010s–today	“Telepatía”
Young Miko	Puerto Rico	Urbano	2020s–today	“Classy 101”
Emilia	Argentina	Latin pop	2020s–today	“GTA.mp3”
Tini	Argentina	Latin pop	2010s–today	“Miénteme”
Aitana	Spain	Pop	2017–today	“Teléfono”
Danna Paola	Mexico	Pop	2000s–today	“Tenemos Que Hablar”
Kenia Os	Mexico	Pop, urbano	2020s–today	“Malas Decisiones”
Sofía Reyes	Mexico	Pop, urbano	2010s–today	“1, 2, 3”

Legends: The Women Who Built Latin Music

These are the voices that defined entire genres. If you’re new to Latin music, start here.

1. Celia Cruz

Celia Cruz is the Queen of Salsa and one of the most important Latin singers of all time. Born in Havana, Cuba, in 1925, she rose to fame with the orchestra La Sonora Matancera before leaving Cuba in 1960 and building a second career in the United States.

In the 1970s she joined the Fania label, and her powerful voice and joyful cry of “¡Azúcar!” became the sound of salsa around the world. She kept recording for more than five decades and won multiple Grammy and Latin Grammy Awards.

Her late-career hit “La Vida Es un Carnaval” (1998) became an anthem of hope that’s still sung at parties and celebrations everywhere. Celia Cruz died in 2003, but no salsa singer since has matched her influence.

Start with: “La Vida Es un Carnaval” · Album: Mi Vida Es Cantar (1998)

Watch: “La Vida Es un Carnaval”

2. Selena Quintanilla

Selena Quintanilla is the Queen of Tejano music. Born in Lake Jackson, Texas, in 1971 to a Mexican-American family, she started singing as a child with her family’s band, Selena y Los Dinos, and grew into the biggest star Tejano music had ever seen.

Her album Live! won the Grammy for Best Mexican/American Album in 1994, and Amor Prohibido (1994) became one of the best-selling Latin albums of its time. Songs like “Como la Flor” and “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom” mixed cumbia, pop and Tejano in a way that felt brand new.

Selena was killed in March 1995, just before her 24th birthday. Months later, her album Dreaming of You debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, the first mostly Spanish-language album to do so. Her music and story still inspire new generations of Latina artists.

Start with: “Como la Flor” · Album: Amor Prohibido (1994)

Watch: “Como la Flor”

3. Mercedes Sosa

Mercedes Sosa, known as “La Negra,” was the voice of Argentine folk music and the nueva canción movement. Born in Tucumán, Argentina, in 1935, she sang songs about everyday people, freedom and Latin American identity.

Her version of Violeta Parra’s “Gracias a la Vida” is one of the most famous Spanish-language songs ever recorded. She also made “Alfonsina y el Mar” and “Sólo le Pido a Dios” into classics that are still taught and sung across Latin America.

She received the Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004 and kept recording until her death in 2009. Her deep alto voice and quiet power make her a must for anyone who wants to understand Latin music beyond the charts.

Start with: “Gracias a la Vida”

Watch: “Gracias a la Vida”

4. Gloria Estefan

Gloria Estefan brought Latin rhythms into mainstream American pop. Born in Havana, Cuba, in 1957 and raised in Miami, she became the lead singer of Miami Sound Machine, whose hits “Conga,” “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You” and “Anything for You” filled radio in the 1980s and made her one of the decade’s defining female pop singers.

A Cuban-American trailblazer, she later released the 1993 Spanish-language album Mi Tierra, a love letter to Cuban music, won a Grammy and became one of the best-selling Spanish-language albums of its era. She has won three Grammy Awards and is widely reported to have sold more than 100 million records.

Gloria Estefan has received the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Kennedy Center Honors, and she’s still recording and performing today. Without her, the Latin pop crossover of the late 1990s might never have happened.

Start with: “Conga” · Album: Mi Tierra (1993)

Watch: “Conga”

5. Rocío Dúrcal

Rocío Dúrcal was a Spanish singer who became one of the most loved voices in Mexican music. Born in Madrid in 1944, she started as a child actress and singer in Spain before her career took a new turn in the late 1970s.

Her albums of rancheras written by Juan Gabriel made her a superstar across Mexico and Latin America. “Amor Eterno,” a song about losing a loved one, is still played at memorials and family gatherings, and “Costumbres” and “La Gata Bajo la Lluvia” remain classics.

Known as the “Queen of Rancheras” to many fans, she showed that great music crosses borders. Rocío Dúrcal died in 2006 and received a posthumous Billboard Latin Music Award in 2007.

Start with: “Amor Eterno” · Album: Canta a Juan Gabriel (1977)

Watch: “Amor Eterno”

6. Chavela Vargas

Chavela Vargas sang Mexican rancheras like nobody else: slowly, quietly and with enormous feeling. Born in Costa Rica in 1919, she moved to Mexico as a teenager and became one of the country’s most original voices.

Instead of the big mariachi sound, she often sang with just a guitar, turning songs like “La Llorona,” “Macorina” and “Piensa en Mí” into raw, personal stories. Her music found a new international audience in the 1990s, when she returned to the stage after years away.

Chavela Vargas performed into her 90s and died in 2012 at 93. Her influence can be heard in today’s singer-songwriters, including Natalia Lafourcade.

Start with: “La Llorona”

Watch: “La Llorona”

7. Jenni Rivera

Jenni Rivera, “La Diva de la Banda,” was the most successful woman in banda music, a genre long dominated by men. Born in Long Beach, California, in 1969 to Mexican parents, she sang about real life: heartbreak, family, money and independence.

Songs like “Inolvidable,” “Ovarios” and “La Gran Señora” made her a hero to millions of fans, especially women who saw their own stories in her music. She was also a TV personality and businesswoman.

Jenni Rivera died in a plane crash in Mexico in December 2012, at the height of her fame. Her music still streams strongly today, and her success opened doors for the women now leading regional Mexican music.

Start with: “Inolvidable” · Album: La Gran Señora (2009)

Watch: “Inolvidable”

8. Elis Regina

Elis Regina is considered by many to be the greatest Brazilian singer of all time. Born in Porto Alegre in 1945, she became the leading voice of MPB (Música Popular Brasileira) in the 1960s and 1970s.

Her 1974 album Elis & Tom, recorded with bossa nova legend Antônio Carlos Jobim, includes the famous duet “Águas de Março,” one of the best-loved songs in Brazilian music. “Como Nossos Pais” became an anthem for a generation.

She died in 1982 at just 36, but her expressive, technically brilliant voice still sets the standard for Brazilian singers. She sang in Portuguese, so she’s a perfect bridge into Brazil’s side of Latin music.

Start with: “Águas de Março” · Album: Elis & Tom (1974)

Watch: “Águas de Março”

Latin Pop Icons

These singers turned Latin pop into a global force, from telenovela stars to stadium headliners, and several rank among the most famous pop singers of all time. For more from this world, see GetMuzeek’s list of the top 25 Shakira Latin songs.

9. Shakira

Shakira is the most successful Latin female artist of her generation, and Billboard named her No. 1 on its 2025 list of the greatest female Latin pop artists of all time. Born in Barranquilla, Colombia, in 1977, she broke through with her 1995 album Pies Descalzos, which made her a star across Latin America.

Her first English-language album, Laundry Service (2001), turned her into a global name with “Whenever, Wherever.” Later hits like “Hips Don’t Lie,” “La Tortura” and the World Cup anthem “Waka Waka” kept her at the top for two decades.

In 2023, “BZRP Music Sessions, Vol. 53” with Bizarrap broke streaming records, and her 2024 album Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran won the Grammy for Best Latin Pop Album. She co-headlined the 2020 Super Bowl halftime show with Jennifer Lopez and has won four Grammys and more than a dozen Latin Grammys. Through her Pies Descalzos Foundation, she also supports education for children in Colombia.

Start with: “Hips Don’t Lie” · Album: Pies Descalzos (1995)

Watch: “Hips Don’t Lie”

10. Thalía

Thalía is often called the Queen of Latin Pop. Born in Mexico City in 1971, she started her career as a child and rose to fame in the 1980s with the youth pop group Timbiriche.

In the 1990s she became one of the biggest stars in Latin America through telenovelas like María la del Barrio, which were watched in dozens of countries. At the same time, her solo albums produced hits like “Piel Morena,” “Amor a la Mexicana” and “Arrasando.”

With more than four decades in entertainment, Thalía has kept reinventing herself, from 1990s dance pop to duets and social media hits. Her mix of music and acting made her one of Mexico’s most recognizable artists worldwide.

Start with: “Piel Morena” · Album: Amor a la Mexicana (1997)

Watch: “Piel Morena”

11. Jennifer Lopez

Jennifer Lopez helped lead the Latin pop boom of 1999. Born in the Bronx, New York, in 1969 to Puerto Rican parents, she first became famous as an actress, including her breakout role playing Selena in the 1997 biopic.

Her debut album On the 6 (1999) featured the Spanish-language hit “No Me Ames” with Marc Anthony and the anthem “Let’s Get Loud.” In 2007 she released Como Ama una Mujer, a full Spanish-language album with the hit “Qué Hiciste.”

J.Lo co-headlined the 2020 Super Bowl halftime show with Shakira, a landmark moment for Latin music on the biggest stage in American TV. Her career across music, film and business made her one of the most famous Latinas in the world.

Start with: “Qué Hiciste” · Album: Como Ama una Mujer (2007)

Watch: “Qué Hiciste”

12. Paulina Rubio

Paulina Rubio, the “Golden Girl” of Latin pop, is another star who began in Timbiriche. Born in Mexico City in 1971, she launched her solo career in the early 1990s and became one of the defining Latin pop voices of the 2000s.

Her 2000 album Paulina was a massive success, with hits like “Y Yo Sigo Aquí” and “Lo Haré por Ti.” She followed it with the crossover single “Don’t Say Goodbye” and the Spanish hit “Ni Una Sola Palabra” (2006).

Her upbeat, dance-friendly sound helped shape the Latin pop of the early 2000s. She also became a familiar face to TV audiences as a coach on talent shows in Spain, Mexico and the United States.

Start with: “Y Yo Sigo Aquí” · Album: Paulina (2000)

Watch: “Y Yo Sigo Aquí”

13. Gloria Trevi

Gloria Trevi is Mexico’s rebel of pop rock. Born in Monterrey in 1968, she burst onto the scene in 1989 with a wild, outspoken style that broke the rules for women in Mexican pop at the time.

Her early hits “Pelo Suelto” and “Dr. Psiquiatra” became generational anthems, and her comeback in the 2000s brought new hits like “Todos Me Miran,” which became a favorite at Pride celebrations.

Decades later, she’s still filling arenas across Mexico and the United States. Her energy and bold lyrics paved the way for many of today’s outspoken Latina pop stars.

Start with: “Pelo Suelto” · Album: Tu Ángel de la Guarda (1991)

Watch: “Pelo Suelto”

14. Laura Pausini

Laura Pausini is Italian, but she’s one of the biggest names in Spanish-language pop. Born in Italy in 1974, she recorded Spanish versions of her albums from the start of her career, and songs like “Se Fue” and “La Soledad” became huge hits across Latin America.

In 2006 she won the Grammy for Best Latin Pop Album for Escucha, and in 2021 she won a Golden Globe for the song “Io sì (Seen).” In 2023, the Latin Recording Academy named her Person of the Year, the first Italian artist to receive the honor.

Her powerful ballads and emotional delivery make her a favorite for anyone who loves big Latin pop love songs.

Start with: “Se Fue” · Album: Escucha (2004)

Watch: “Se Fue”

15. Christina Aguilera

Christina Aguilera, born in Staten Island, New York, in 1980 to an Ecuadorian father, is one of the most powerful pop voices of her generation. After her 1999 debut made her a global star with “Genie in a Bottle,” she proudly embraced her Latin roots.

Her 2000 Spanish-language album Mi Reflejo won the Latin Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Album, with Spanish versions of her hits and the ballad “Pero Me Acuerdo de Ti.” She returned to Spanish in 2022 with the album Aguilera.

Her wide vocal range and soulful runs influenced a whole generation of singers. If you know her only from English pop, her Spanish albums show a different side of her talent.

Start with: “Pero Me Acuerdo de Ti” · Album: Mi Reflejo (2000)

Watch: “Pero Me Acuerdo de Ti”

16. Ana Gabriel

Ana Gabriel is one of Mexico’s greatest singer-songwriters, known for her deep, husky voice and heartbreaking ballads. Born in Sinaloa in 1955, she became a star in the late 1980s.

Her songs “Quién Como Tú,” “Simplemente Amigos” and “Evidencias” are classics of Latin romantic music, and she has also recorded rancheras and mariachi albums. She has had many top 10 hits on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart.

She writes much of her own music, which gives her songs a personal honesty that fans connect with deeply. Decades into her career, she still tours to sold-out crowds.

Start with: “Quién Como Tú” · Album: Quién Como Tú (1989)

Watch: “Quién Como Tú”

Salsa and Tropical Queens

These singers carried on Celia Cruz’s legacy in salsa and merengue. If you love dance music, check out GetMuzeek’s best Latin dance songs.

17. Olga Tañón

Olga Tañón, “La Mujer de Fuego,” is Puerto Rico’s queen of merengue. Born in Santurce in 1967, she started with all-female merengue groups before launching her solo career in the early 1990s.

Her energetic merengue hits, with many albums on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart, made her a fixture on tropical radio, and she later moved into pop ballads with “Basta Ya,” written by Marco Antonio Solís. The song, about a woman leaving a painful relationship, became one of her signature hits.

She has won multiple Grammy and Latin Grammy Awards and has one of the strongest records of any woman on Billboard’s Tropical Airplay chart. Her live shows are famous for their energy.

Start with: “Basta Ya” · Album: Nuevos Senderos (1996)

Watch: “Basta Ya”

18. La India

La India, the “Princess of Salsa,” brought a New York edge to tropical music. Born in Puerto Rico and raised in the Bronx, she started in the city’s house and freestyle scene before turning to salsa in the 1990s.

Her album Dicen Que Soy (1994) included “Ese Hombre,” a fiery salsa hit, and her duet with Marc Anthony, “Vivir lo Nuestro,” became a romantic classic. She’s bilingual on record, singing in Spanish and English, and moves between salsa, dance and pop.

With her bold voice and strong stage presence, La India is one of the leading women in salsa since Celia Cruz.

Start with: “Ese Hombre” · Album: Dicen Que Soy (1994)

Watch: “Ese Hombre”

Regional Mexican and Roots Voices

19. Ángela Aguilar

Ángela Aguilar is the leading young voice of regional Mexican music. Born in Los Angeles in 2003 into the famous Aguilar music family, she grew up singing mariachi and rancheras on stage with her father, Pepe Aguilar.

Her strong, clear voice and respect for tradition, from mariachi to the classic bolero, made her a star while still a teenager. Songs like “En Realidad” and “Qué Agonía” with Yuridia brought classic Mexican sounds to a new generation, and she received Billboard’s Women in Music Breakthrough Award in 2025.

She’s one of the main reasons mariachi and ranchera music are reaching younger fans today.

Start with: “En Realidad” · Album: Bajo el Cielo Morado (2022)

Watch: “En Realidad”

20. Lila Downs

Lila Downs blends Mexican folk traditions with jazz, cumbia and world music. Born in Oaxaca to a Mixtec mother and an American father, she sings in Spanish, English and Indigenous languages.

Her songs, like “La Cumbia del Mole” and “Zapata Se Queda,” celebrate Mexican culture, migration and Indigenous identity. She also sang on the soundtrack of the 2002 film Frida, which brought her music to a global audience.

She has won Grammy and Latin Grammy Awards, and her live shows are a colorful celebration of Mexican music history.

Start with: “La Cumbia del Mole” · Album: Pecados y Milagros (2011)

Watch: “La Cumbia del Mole”

Singer-Songwriters

21. Julieta Venegas

Julieta Venegas is one of Latin music’s most respected singer-songwriters. Born in Long Beach, California, in 1970 and raised in Tijuana, Mexico, she’s known for her accordion, her warm voice and her honest, simple lyrics.

Her 2006 album Limón y Sal was a huge success across Latin America, with the hits “Me Voy” and “Eres Para Mí.” She has won Grammy and Latin Grammy Awards and is admired for writing her own music.

If you like thoughtful pop with a folk touch, or Latin alternative music in general, she’s the perfect place to start.

Start with: “Me Voy” · Album: Limón y Sal (2006)

Watch: “Me Voy”

22. Natalia Lafourcade

Natalia Lafourcade is one of Mexico’s most celebrated modern artists. Born in Mexico City in 1984, she started in pop and grew into a songwriter who honors Latin American folk traditions.

Her song “Hasta la Raíz” (2015) became a modern classic about identity and home. Her Musas albums revisited classic Latin American songs, and she has won many Latin Grammy Awards along the way.

Her gentle voice and love of traditional music make her a link between legends like Chavela Vargas and today’s young listeners.

Start with: “Hasta la Raíz” · Album: Hasta la Raíz (2015)

Watch: “Hasta la Raíz”

Reggaeton and Urbano Stars

Reggaeton and urbano now lead Latin music, and these women helped make sure it wasn’t only a men’s genre. For more urban sounds, see GetMuzeek’s guide to the best Latino rappers.

23. Ivy Queen

Ivy Queen is the Queen of Reggaeton. Born in Puerto Rico in 1972, she was one of the only women in the early reggaeton scene of the 1990s and refused to be pushed aside.

Her 2003 hit “Quiero Bailar” became a classic of mid-2000s Latin rap and reggaeton. The song is about dancing on her own terms, and it made clear that women in reggaeton deserve respect. Her deep, strong voice and sharp lyrics set her apart from everyone else in the genre.

Every female reggaeton star today owes something to Ivy Queen, who opened the door when the genre was almost all male.

Start with: “Quiero Bailar” · Album: Diva (2003)

Watch: “Quiero Bailar”

24. Karol G

Karol G is the biggest female star in reggaeton today. Born in Medellín, Colombia, in 1991, she spent years working her way up before breaking through in the late 2010s.

Her 2019 hit “Tusa” with Nicki Minaj became a global anthem. Her 2023 album Mañana Será Bonito became the first all-Spanish-language album by a woman to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, and it won the Latin Grammy for Album of the Year. Hits like “Provenza,” “TQG” with Shakira and “MAMIII” with Becky G keep her at the top of the charts.

Her world tour behind the album broke records, and she’s one of the most-streamed Latin artists in the world.

Start with: “Tusa” · Album: Mañana Será Bonito (2023)

Watch: “Tusa”

25. Becky G

Becky G started out recording English-language pop as a teenager before finding her biggest success in Spanish. Born in Inglewood, California, in 1997 to a Mexican-American family, she switched to Latin music in the mid-2010s.

Her hits “Mayores” with Bad Bunny and “Sin Pijama” with Natti Natasha became huge reggaeton successes. Her 2022 collaboration with Karol G, “MAMIII,” became one of the biggest Latin songs of the year. She later released Esquinas (2023), a tribute to the regional Mexican music she grew up with.

She’s also known for using her platform to support Latino communities and young women.

Start with: “Mayores” · Album: Mala Santa (2019)

Watch: “Mayores”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59X6Toq0ka8

26. Natti Natasha

Natti Natasha is one of the leading women in reggaeton. Born in the Dominican Republic in 1986, she broke through with “Criminal” (2017), her hit with Ozuna, which became one of the most-watched Latin music videos of its time.

Her duet “Sin Pijama” with Becky G was another massive hit, and her solo songs like “La Mejor Versión de Mí” show a more personal side. She mixes reggaeton with bachata and pop.

Her success helped prove that female reggaeton artists could lead the charts on their own.

Start with: “Criminal” · Album: IlumiNATTI (2019)

Watch: “Criminal”

Global Crossover Stars

27. Rosalía

Rosalía is the most original Latin music artist of her generation. Born in Catalonia, Spain, in 1992, she trained in flamenco and then reinvented it with pop, R&B and electronic sounds.

Her 2018 album El Mal Querer, with the hit “Malamente,” won the Latin Grammy for Album of the Year, and Motomami (2022) won the same award again. She’s also won a Grammy, and her songs with Bad Bunny, The Weeknd and Tokischa reached fans around the world.

Rosalía shows how traditional music can be completely modern. Each album sounds totally different from the last.

Start with: “Malamente” · Album: El Mal Querer (2018)

Watch: “Malamente”

28. Anitta

Anitta is Brazil’s biggest pop star and one of the few artists who sings in Portuguese, Spanish and English. Born in Rio de Janeiro in 1993, she rose from Brazilian funk to global pop.

Her 2022 song “Envolver” reached No. 1 on Spotify’s global chart, a historic moment for a Brazilian artist. She also earned a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist, bringing Brazilian funk to a worldwide audience.

Anitta is proof that Latin music includes Brazil, and that Portuguese-language pop can top the world’s charts.

Start with: “Envolver” · Album: Versions of Me (2022)

Watch: “Envolver”

Rising Latin Female Singers to Watch in 2026

These rising stars are shaping the sound of Latin music now. Their careers are shorter, but they’re already leaving a mark, and they show how many Latin women in music are leading the charts today.

29. Kali Uchis

Kali Uchis was born in Virginia and raised partly in Colombia. She mixes R&B, soul and Latin pop. Her song “Telepatía” (2020) became a surprise global hit, and her 2024 Spanish-language album Orquídeas showed her deep connection to Latin music.

Start with: “Telepatía” · Album: Sin Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios) (2020)

Watch: “Telepatía”

30. Young Miko

Young Miko is a Puerto Rican rapper and singer who quickly became one of urbano’s most exciting new names. Her hit “Classy 101” with Feid (2023), full of Spanglish wordplay, made her a household name, and her laid-back flow has brought fresh energy to Latin trap and reggaeton.

Start with: “Classy 101”

Watch: “Classy 101”

31. Emilia

Emilia is an Argentine pop star whose album .MP3 (2023) brought back the sound of 1990s and 2000s pop with a Latin twist. Songs like “GTA.mp3” and “La_Original.mp3” with Tini made her one of Argentina’s biggest new artists, and she’s played sold-out shows in Argentina and Spain.

Start with: “GTA.mp3” · Album: .MP3 (2023)

Watch: “GTA.mp3”

32. Tini

Tini first became famous as the star of the Disney Channel series Violetta, then built a strong pop career of her own. Her hit “Miénteme” with María Becerra (2021) was one of Argentina’s biggest songs, and she’s a leading voice of the new Argentine pop wave.

Start with: “Miénteme”

Watch: “Miénteme”

33. Aitana

Aitana became famous after finishing second on Spain’s Operación Triunfo in 2017. Her hit “Teléfono” made her a star, and her 2023 album Alpha mixed Y2K pop and electro-pop with Latin pop hooks.

Start with: “Teléfono” · Album: Alpha (2023)

Watch: “Teléfono”

34. Danna Paola

Danna Paola grew up on Mexican TV and reached a global audience through the Netflix series Élite. Her album K.O. (2020) earned a Latin Grammy nomination, and songs like “Tenemos Que Hablar” show her taking control of her own sound.

Start with: “Tenemos Que Hablar” · Album: K.O. (2020)

Watch: “Tenemos Que Hablar”

35. Kenia Os

Kenia Os went from social media creator to one of Mexico’s most-streamed pop artists. Her album K23 (2023) included the viral hit “Malas Decisiones,” and she keeps experimenting with house, drum and bass and urbano sounds.

Start with: “Malas Decisiones” · Album: K23 (2023)

Watch: “Malas Decisiones”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4qf1zz8Xzo

36. Sofía Reyes

Sofía Reyes broke through with “1, 2, 3” (2018), a cumbia-reggaeton hit featuring Jason Derulo and De La Ghetto. Her album Milamores (2022) explored hyperpop and wellness-inspired sounds, making her one of Latin pop’s most adventurous artists.

Start with: “1, 2, 3” · Album: Milamores (2022)

Watch: “1, 2, 3”

More Latin Female Singers to Know

• Belinda: a Spanish-Mexican pop star whose 2000s album Utopía made her a teen icon, now blending pop with corridos tumbados.
• Nathy Peluso: an Argentine-Spanish artist mixing salsa, rap and R&B, known for her bold performances.
• GALE: a Puerto Rican songwriter-turned-artist whose album Lo Que No Te Dije (2023) mixes pop-punk, house and reggaeton.
• Mariangela: a Mexican-American singer-songwriter reviving Latin pop rock with her album Sensible.
• Daymé Arocena: a Cuban singer blending Afro-Cuban music, jazz and soul.
• Mon Laferte: a Chilean singer-songwriter and painter whose dramatic ballads have won several Latin Grammys.

A 15-Song Latin Female Legends Playlist

Want a quick way to hear the range of Latin female voices? Play these 15 hit songs in order, one from each top Latina singer’s best era:

1. “La Vida Es un Carnaval,” Celia Cruz
2. “Como la Flor,” Selena
3. “Gracias a la Vida,” Mercedes Sosa
4. “Conga,” Gloria Estefan
5. “Amor Eterno,” Rocío Dúrcal
6. “La Llorona,” Chavela Vargas
7. “Águas de Março,” Elis Regina and Tom Jobim
8. “Hips Don’t Lie,” Shakira
9. “Piel Morena,” Thalía
10. “Basta Ya,” Olga Tañón
11. “Quiero Bailar,” Ivy Queen
12. “Hasta la Raíz,” Natalia Lafourcade
13. “Malamente,” Rosalía
14. “Tusa,” Karol G
15. “En Realidad,” Ángela Aguilar

Looking for more Latin music? Check out GetMuzeek’s best Latin party songs, the most popular Latin rock songs and the most popular Latin male singers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the best Latin female singer of all time?

There’s no single answer, but Celia Cruz, Selena Quintanilla and Shakira are the names most often at the top. Billboard ranked Shakira No. 1 on its 2025 list of the greatest female Latin pop artists. Celia Cruz is widely seen as the greatest salsa singer ever.

Who is the Queen of Latin Pop?

Thalía is most often called the Queen of Latin Pop, and Gloria Estefan sometimes shares the title for bringing Latin pop to mainstream audiences in the 1980s.

Who is the Queen of Salsa?

Celia Cruz is the Queen of Salsa. Her career lasted more than five decades, and her catchphrase “¡Azúcar!” is still known around the world.

Who is the Queen of Reggaeton?

Ivy Queen is known as the Queen of Reggaeton. She was one of the first women to succeed in the genre, and her hit “Quiero Bailar” (2003) is a classic.

Who is the best-selling Latin female artist?

Shakira and Gloria Estefan are among the best-selling Latin female artists of all time. Each is widely reported to have sold well over 80 million records worldwide.

Who are the most popular Latin female singers right now?

In 2026, the biggest names include Karol G, Shakira, Rosalía, Becky G, Ángela Aguilar, Anitta, Kali Uchis and Young Miko.

Is Selena Gomez a Latin singer?

Selena Gomez is a Mexican-American pop star, but most of her music is English-language pop. She released a Spanish-language EP, Revelación, in 2021. She’s sometimes confused with Selena Quintanilla, the Queen of Tejano music, who died in 1995.

Who is the most famous Mexican female singer?

Selena Quintanilla, a Mexican-American Tejano star, and Thalía are often named as the most famous. Other Mexican icons include Paulina Rubio, Gloria Trevi, Ana Gabriel and Natalia Lafourcade.