Stevie Wonder has been named the greatest R&B artist ever in Billboard’s new ranking.
The list celebrates icons and modern stars whose music shaped generations of soulful expression.
Iconic American singer and songwriter, Stevie Wonder, has been crowned the greatest R&B artist of all time by Billboard. This recognition came as the renowned music publication released its list of “The 75 Best R&B Artists of All Time.”
Billboard explained that its rankings were determined by several criteria, including vocal ability, the quality and breadth of the artist’s discography, career longevity, accolades and industry impact, as well as their cultural and generational influence.
At the top of the list is Stevie Wonder, whose legendary contributions to soul and R&B music span over six decades. Following closely behind are music powerhouses Aretha Franklin at No. 2, Michael Jackson at No. 3, Beyoncé at No. 4, and Whitney Houston at No. 5.
The rest of the top 10 includes:
- James Brown (6)
- Prince (7)
- Mariah Carey (8)
- R. Kelly (9)
- Marvin Gaye (10)
Other notable names within the top 20 include Ray Charles (11), Usher (12), Sam Cooke (13), Curtis Mayfield (14), Isaac Hayes (15), Mary J. Blige (16), Janet Jackson (17), Al Green (18), Smokey Robinson (19), and Otis Redding (20).
Contemporary and modern R&B artists were also recognized on the extensive list. Chris Brown appears at No. 26, Erykah Badu at No. 28, Diana Ross at No. 29, Alicia Keys at No. 33, Babyface at No. 35, Toni Braxton at No. 36, and Frank Ocean at No. 37.
Other fan-favorite artists such as Brandy (41), SZA (44), Rihanna (46), The Weeknd (47), Lauryn Hill (48), and John Legend (50) also made the prestigious ranking.
The list has sparked widespread discussion among music lovers, with many applauding Billboard for honoring artists whose work has helped define the R&B genre across generations.
