For lovers of husky voices: Female singers in Western music
From a slightly hoarse, smoky, soothing tone to a powerful voice that might make you think for a moment, “Is that a male vocalist?,” husky female vocals radiate a wide range of charms.
Many of my vocal training students admire husky voices as well.
This time, I’ve selected recommended works by female artists in Western music who showcase such captivating husky singing.
Some tracks are chosen from my perspective as a vocal producer, so I believe they’ll be helpful references for female singers with husky voices.
However!! No matter how wonderful a husky voice is, please never intentionally damage your own voice to get it, okay? I truly mean it—please be careful.
- [Western Music] A Recommendation of the Lady of Soul: Wonderful Female Soul Singers
- [Cool Female Vocals] The World’s Coolest Female Singers [2025]
- I Want to Be Healed from the Heart: Recommended Western Ballads Sung by Female Vocalists
- A male Western music vocal artist with an appealing husky voice
- Female Western music artists who are good singers
- [Western Music] Female vocalists known for their beautiful voices
- Still Shining! Recommended Female Singers of 1980s Western Music
- Captivating female jazz singers who illuminate the history of jazz. Recommended jazz vocals from around the world.
- Foreign female singers' commercial songs: CM/commercial/popular song ranking [2025]
- [1970s] Recommended Nostalgic Western Music: Female Singers
- Beautiful high notes that feel so good! Classic Western songs where you can fully enjoy high-tone vocals.
- Introducing artists with whisper vocals
- Classic R&B songs recommended for women
For lovers of husky voices: Female Western music singers (41–50)
Need U BadJazmine Sullivan
This is Jazmine Sullivan, an R&B singer from Philadelphia.
Her smooth, soulful vocals captivate the ears of many R&B fans! Her signature song “Need U Bad” is a heartbreaking love song that cries out in pain.
If you love R&B, you won’t regret adding it to your playlist!
For Lovers of Husky Voices: Female Singers in Western Music (51–60)
PressCardi B
Cardi B, a breakout female rapper who burst onto the hip-hop scene in the late 2010s, has made waves with her bold personality and outrageous behavior and remarks, earning a reputation as a scandal-stirring figure.
Yet her talent as a musician is undeniable.
Her debut album, Invasion of Privacy, released in 2018, topped the U.
S.
charts despite her newcomer status and won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album—the first time a woman had received the honor.
With a Hispanic father and a Caribbean mother, her uniquely husky voice and straightforward lyrics sometimes draw criticism, but she exudes a strength that shrugs off such detractors.
Even if you don’t usually listen to rap, this is the perfect chance to give her a try!
Baby It’s Cold OutsideNorah Jones
Debuting as a new-generation jazz singer, Norah Jones’s 2002 debut album, Come Away with Me, became an instant smash hit, achieving an astonishing global sales figure of over 27 million copies.
Unbound by jazz alone, she draws on a wide range of musical influences—pop, rock, country—and continues to work energetically not only as a solo artist but also as part of many projects and bands.
Her greatest charm, of course, is her refined, sweet, and deeply husky voice.
It never grows tiring to listen to, and it’s easy to see why it’s said to have exceptional soothing effects.
If you’re not into jazz and haven’t yet experienced Norah Jones’s voice, now’s the perfect time!
LifeDes’ree
With rich, resonant low tones and a soaring vocal, she sets listeners’ hearts free.
If you like husky voices, I recommend the British singer-songwriter Des’ree.
Born and raised in London, she was taught reggae, calypso, and jazz from a young age by her mother, who is from Guyana.
Influenced by that, she came to develop a captivating voice—expansive and relaxing to those who listen.
In particular, the song “Life” makes you feel as if you can live with a heart set free.
Back From The DeadElizabeth “Lzzy” Hale（Halestorm）
The vocalist with a powerhouse voice that can rival any male singer is Lzzy Hale of Halestorm.
Halestorm is an American hard rock band formed in 1997 by the Hale siblings—Lzzy and her brother Arejay on drums.
Lzzy’s roaring, howl-like vocals while she thrashes on the guitar are absolutely electrifying.
Their song “Back From The Dead,” themed around mental survival, is a soul-shaking anthem—Lzzy’s cry of life will leave you trembling.
Edge Of A Broken HeartJanet Patricia Gardner（VIXEN)
Do you know the band that was called the female Bon Jovi? Vixen is a band that delivers catchy rock tunes with a husky, powerful voice reminiscent of Bon Jovi.
Many people were captivated by their high-impact performances paired with flashy style.
One of their signature songs is Edge of a Broken Heart.
Sung with a husky high tone, it’s a track whose fresh yet wistful melody is truly moving.
Wildest DreamsTaylor Swift
She might not give off a particularly husky impression, but Taylor Swift actually has a husky voice! Taylor, a singer-songwriter from Canada, combines supermodel-level beauty with adorable charm, and her ever-expanding catalog of expressive songs makes her incredibly captivating.
While she’s often associated with cute tracks, she also sings songs like “Wildest Dreams” that blend sensuality with a touch of sadness.
Every side of her is truly enchanting!