Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys is one of the most revered musicians of our time. She is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and philanthropist. She was trained to play the classical piano, started composing songs at the age of 12, and got her contract with Columbia records by age 15.
We could even say that she’s a musical genius, but maybe we’re getting ahead of ourselves. What we can confirm is that Ms. Keys has an IQ of 154, which wasn’t much of a surprise, given her musical achievements.
Lady Gaga
Known by her stage name, Lady Gaga, this artist is a singer, songwriter, and actress. She is widely recognized for her wild fashion and provocative work. Getting her start performing in school plays and at open mics around NYC, Lady Gaga attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, before dropping out to pursue her music career full time.
Gaga soon began writing songs for Sony/ATV Music Publishing. That is where Akon got her a deal with Interscope Records and his own label, KonLive Distribution. She became a household name the following year, with her album, The Fame. She has sold over 27 million albums and 146 million singles, which makes lady Gaga one of the best-selling music artists of all time.
Stevie Nicks
"At the ripe and totally young age of 70," as Ms. Nicks puts it, she became the first woman inducted twice into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. This time the rock icon entered the reverent Hall as a soloist. Fleetwood Mac was enshrined in 1998. Between the two, Stevie Nicks and Mac have over 40 chart-topping singles. Stevie Nicks is one of the best-selling musical acts ever.
She may be rock and roll royalty, but she looks just like an enchanted fairy goddess on stage. Her 1975 song "Landslide" continues to be one of the most popularly covered songs in rock. Stevie wrote the song with her guitar while watching the snow falling in Aspen. It took her about five minutes.
Annie Lennox
Sweet dreams are made of Annie Lennox's voice and people who say anything else are simply lying. Lennox is known as the lead singer in the band Eurythmics but she has a prolific career as a solo artist too.
She is greatly appreciated worldwide, but this England native is even more appreciated in her homeland. Who needs an Oscar and four Grammys when the late Queen Elizabeth herself asked that you come to perform at Buckingham Palace?
Etta James
Etta James rose from rags to riches. Her mother gave birth to her when she was only 14 years old, and little Etta (who went by Jamesetta at the time) was raised in foster care. She began singing as a child at church, and it wasn't long until people saw her potential.
During her decades-long career, James has released 29 studio albums, won three Grammys, been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and of course, gave us the dreamlike song “At Last.”