10 Best Frontwomen In Rock Music History

Why She's Here: A mystical spirit with a legendary husky voice, Stevie Nicks powered Fleetwood Mac to superstardom in the latter half of the 1970s. She floated around the stage in flowing garbs, hypnotizing listeners with her minimalistic, deliberate movements. And when she took the lead vocals on a Fleetwood Mac song, a combination of raw sweetness and languid fatigue with the world had the power to break anyone down into tears.

Nicks' real strength as a frontwoman, though, lay in her ability to harmonize effortlessly with Christine McVie and Lindsey Buckingham, creating a folksy, sunny blend of voices that provided the backbone for the band's sound. Nicks achieved enormous critical and commercial acclaim outside of Fleetwood Mac, particularly on her 1981 solo debut Bella Donna, but her songwriting and her vocal work were at their peak within the band. 1977's Rumours established her as an iconic figure for any female singers with folk, rock, or country aspirations.

Highlight: There are many to choose from, but Nicks' 1975 song "Landslide" stands as one of the most beautiful musical poems of all time. She reaches into the lower depths of her vocal register to communicate the self-doubt that pervades the song, her trademark rasp emphasizing the painful honesty of the lyrics.