Who Was THE Female Voice of the ‘90s?

Nostalgia warning! This list is going to bring up a few memories (of school dances, car sing-alongs, and breakups). When it comes to the “good ol’ days,” there’s nothing like the 1990s – the decade of boy bands, Walkmans, and baggy jeans. But forget all that fun stuff for a moment. Let’s focus on the ladies of the ‘90s, particularly the singers.

Madonna / Whitney Houston / Mariah Carey / Natalie Imbruglia.
Source: Getty Images

These are the gals we sang along to, whether we liked the song or not. These women rocked their way into the ‘90s and either stuck around (like Gwen Stefani) or went AWOL (like Bjork). Now, if you don’t mind, we’re going to get right into it.

(Any and all hate comments can be directed to our complaints department. Just kidding.)

45. Linda Perry

Biggest Hit: What’s Up?
Net Worth: $18 million

Linda Perry was the lead singer and songwriter of 4 Non Blondes, an all-girl group whose biggest song was What’s Up? In 1995, Linda started her solo career, focusing mainly on being a songwriter. Her voice is killer, but she decided to let other pop stars sing her lyrics. She wrote songs for high-profile artists including Pink, Christina Aguilera, and Gwen Stefani.

Linda Perry then / Linda Perry now.
Photo by Gie Knaeps/Getty Images

Age: 56

What’s She Up to Now?

She’s still writing songs. In 2020, she co-wrote the song A Beautiful Noise with seven other female songwriters (Alicia Keys, Brandi Carlile, Brandy Clark, Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna, Hailey Whitters and Ruby Amanfu) which was performed by Alicia Keys and Brandi Carlile. The purpose was to inspire people to vote in the 2020 presidential election.

44. Mya

Biggest Hit: Ghetto Superstar (That Is What You Are)
Net Worth: $4 million

Mya released her debut album in 1998, with the hit singles It’s All About Me, Movin’ On and My First Night With You. Her songs with Blackstreet, G and Take Me There, made her even more famous. Then Ghetto Superstar came out and it was game on.

Mya then / Mya now.
Photo by Ron Galella, Ron Galella Collection, Getty Images / Frazer Harrison, Getty Images

Age: 42

What’s She Up to Now?

In 2020, Mya released two singles, You Got Me, Part II and Space & Time. She’s making music, but she spends a lot of her time with her own nonprofit, The Mya Arts & Tech Foundation, working with disadvantaged youth.

43. Erykah Badu

Biggest Hit: On and On
Net Worth: $10 million

Erykah Badu was dubbed the “Queen of Neo soul.” Her real name, though, is Erica Abi Wright. She goes down as one of the most influential female solo artists of the ‘90s since she combined R&B, ‘80s hip hop and ‘70s soul into this new, refreshing sound.

Erykah Badu then / Erykah Badu now.
Photo by Vinnie Zuffante, Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images / Jerod Harris, Getty Images

Age: 50

What’s She Up to Now?

She’s still singing. In August 2020, during the lockdowns, she contributed to the live streamed recording of Bilal’s EP VOYAGE-19, which was created remotely. The proceeds went to musicians in financial hardship resulting from the pandemic.

42. Meredith Brooks

Biggest Hit: B*tch
Net Worth: $10 million

Meredith Brooks burst onto the music scene in 1997 with B*tch from her debut album, Blurring the Edges. She got a Grammy, was named “Best Vocal Performance” and all that, but her following albums just didn’t make the cut.

Meredith Brooks then / Meredith Brooks now.
Photo by Gie Knaeps, Getty Images / Source: YouTube

Age: 63

What’s She Up to Now?

In the early 2000s, she started producing. She produced Jennifer Love Hewitt’s debut album, BareNaked. Fun fact: Her song Shine is the theme music for the Dr. Phil Show. She then delved into children’s music. She’s not making music anymore (which surprises no one).

41. Joan Osborne

Biggest Hit: One of Us
Net Worth: $5 million

Remember when, in 1995, Joan Osborne brought God to the masses in her hit, One of Us? The song reached multiplatinum status and had everyone singing the song in the shower, the car, the kitchen. It just never got out of our heads.

Joan Osborne then / Joan Osborne now.
Photo by Ron Galella, Ron Galella Collection, Getty Images / Paul Bergen, Redferns, Getty Images

Age: 59

What’s She Up to Now?

Osborne has released many albums and is still being praised for them. Her latest album, Trouble and Strife, came out in 2020. Is she still singing about God? (I wouldn’t know; I don’t listen to her music.)

40. The (Dixie) Chicks

Biggest Hit: Wide Open Spaces
Net Worth: $50 million each

The Dixie Chicks successfully brought country sound into the mainstream, which is no easy feat. They hit big in 1998 with There’s Your Trouble and Wide-Open Spaces.

The Dixie Chicks then / The Dixie Chicks now.
Photo by Jeffrey Mayer, WireImage, Getty Images / Mark Sullivan, WireImage, Getty Images

Age: Natalie, 47, Emily, 49, Martie, 52

What Are They Up to Now?

Well, for one, they’re no longer called the Dixie Chicks; they go as just the Chicks now (as of 2020). They said they dropped the word “Dixie” because it references the Confederacy and their support of American slavery. The women said they picked “that stupid name” as teenagers.

39. En Vogue

Biggest Hit: My Lovin’ (You’re Never Gonna Get It)
Net Worth: $18 million combined

The R&B/pop group started out in 1989, and their second album, Funky Divas, went multi-platinum. With it, they introduced us to My Lovin’ (You’re Never Gonna Get It), a major hit, and Giving Something He Can Feel. The group was all over the awards circuit.

En Vogue then / En Vogue now.
Photo by Fryderyk Gabowicz, picture alliance, Getty Images / Kevin Mazur, BBMA2020, Getty Images.

Age: Terry, 58, Dawn, 53, Cynthia, 60, Maxine, 59

What Are They Up to Now?

Yes, they’re still together and making music, but the lineup has changed. Terry Ellis and Cindy Herron, two original members, are still around. But Dawn Robinson left as early as 1997, and Maxine Jones left in 2001.

38. Robyn

Biggest Hit: Do You Know (What It Takes)
Net Worth: $10 million

The Swedish pop star made us all bob our heads up and down in 1997 with the release of Do You Know (What It Takes), from her debut album, Robyn Is Here. She eventually took a hiatus in the mid-2000s.

Robyn then / Robyn now.
Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd., Ron Galella Collection, Getty Images / Craig Barritt, WireImage, Getty Images

Age: 42

What’s She Up to Now?

Robyn is still at it. Her 2010 hit Dancing on My Own might even be bigger than her ‘90s hit single. NPR called Robyn “The 21st Century’s Pop Oracle” and The New York Times dubbed her “Pop’s Glittery Rebel.”

37. Shirley Manson

Biggest Hit: Stupid Girl
Net Worth: $16 million

The frontwoman of the iconic ‘90s grunge band Garbage, Shirley Manson was adored for not just her voice but her rebellious nature and fashion style. She joined Garbage in 1994, making hits like Stupid Girl and Only Happy When It Rains – both being their most loved songs to date.

Shirley Manson then / Shirley Manson now.
Photo by Niels van Iperen, Getty Images / Hutton Supancic, Getty Images

Age: 55

What’s She Up to Now?

She’s gone solo but is also still making music and touring with Garbage. In June 2021, the group released their seventh album, No Gods, No Masters.

36. Sinéad O’Connor

Biggest Hit: Nothing Compares 2 U
Net Worth: $1.5 million

Sinead O’Connor might just be one of the most controversial and distinctive female singers of the ‘90s. She has one of the most unique voices in history. To say that she has been outspoken would be the understatement of the year.

Sinéad O’Connor then / Sinéad O’Connor now.
Photo by Nick Wall, Mirrorpix, Getty Images / Lindsey Best for the Washington Post, Getty Images

Age: 55

What’s She Up to Now?

In 2021, her memoir Rememberings was released, which gives a real look into the wild life she has led, including being “held hostage” by Prince in his home. In November 2020, she announced that she was embarking on a one-year rehabilitation program to treat her addiction and trauma.

35. Paula Cole

Biggest Hit: I Don’t Wanna Wait
Net Worth: $6 million

If you don’t remember Paula Cole’s hit single, I Don’t Want to Wait, then you just weren’t around in the ‘90s. Of course, the song was the theme of your favorite teen drama, Dawson’s Creek (it’s a guilty pleasure for most of us). Cole had a big hit even before that: Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?

Paula Cole then / Paula Cole now.
Photo by Steve Eichner, Getty Images / Alison Buck, WireImage, Getty Images

Age: 53

What’s She Up to Now?

Her latest album is 2021’s American Quilt. Cole dealt with some music streaming issues with the Dawson’s Creek theme song. Of course, it always boils down to money.

34. Jann Arden

Biggest Hit: Insensitive
Net Worth: $10 million

The Canadian singer Jann could be heard everywhere – from the mall speaker to your car radio – in the ‘90s. Fun fact: It was Arden’s song, Run Like Mad, that was originally picked for the Dawson’s Creek theme song.

Jann Arden then / Jann Arden now.
Photo by Ron Bull, Toronto Star, Getty Images / George Pimentel, Getty Images

Age: 59

What’s She Up to Now?

Arden has released multiple albums since the ‘90s and toured with Michael Bublé for a while. In 2018, she became a celebrity judge on CTV’s The Launch. She’s also been acting, including in a comedy series based on a “fictionalized version” of her own life.

33. c

Biggest Hit: No Me Queda Más

Dubbed the “Queen of Tejano Music,” Selena was a tragic case of how such popularity can lead to the end of one’s life. He 1994 breakthrough album, Amor Prohibido, is why people compared her to Madonna. Well, more like the “Mexican Madonna.”

Selena performs on stage / Selena holds her Grammy Award.
Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images

But her career and life were cut short in 1995 when she was shot and killed by her business associate, Yolanda Saldívar. Selena made history as the first-ever Hispanic artist to debut at No.1 on the Billboard charts.

32. Kylie Minogue

Biggest Hit: Can’t Get You Outta My Mind
Net Worth: $120 million

Once called the “Princess of Pop,” Minogue was an Australian who made it big in America. She was both indie and pop. It wasn’t just her music, though – she was also a fashion and style icon.

Kylie Minogue then / Kylie Minogue now.
Photo by Brian Rasic, Getty Images / John Phillips, Getty Images

Age: 53

What’s She Up to Now?

Minogue is still in the music biz, both here and in her home country. One of her recent collaborations was with Dua Lipa. In the mid-2000s, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and doctors have been known to mention the “Kylie effect,” which encourages young women to have regular checkups.

31. Fiona Apple

Biggest Hit: Criminal
Net Worth: $10 million

“I’ve been a bad, bad girl…” The first lyrics of Apple’s 1996 hit Criminal were enough to get people listening. Her debut album, Tidal, went 3x platinum. As it happens with many artists, her following albums just didn’t hit the spot.

Fiona Apple then / Fiona Apple now.
Photo by David Corio, Redferns, Getty Images / Kevin Mazur, Getty Images

Age: 44

What’s She Up to Now?

After an on-stage meltdown in 2000, in combination with her admitted stage fright, she took a hiatus and almost didn’t return to the business. But she came back a few years later with the Grammy-nominated record Extraordinary Machine. Her latest album came out in 2020.

30. Jennifer Lopez

Biggest Hit: If You Had My Love
Net Worth: $400 million

Jennifer Lopez started out as a background dancer and a “Fly Girl” on In Living Color. She then went into acting (she played Selena), and finally into music. Her 1999 debut album, On the 6, which had the single If You Had My Love, brought her into the music industry.

Jennifer Lopez then / Jennifer Lopez now.
Photo by Hayley Madden, Redferns , Getty Images / Steve Granitz, FilmMagic, Getty Imges

Age: 52

What’s She Up to Now?

JLo is all over the place, making money in music, skincare, movies, production – you name it. In mid-2021, she signed a multi-year deal with Netflix. Get ready, folks, for upcoming films and shows through Nuyorican Productions.

29. Brandy

Biggest Hit: The Boy Is Mine
Net Worth: $12 million

Brandy (whose last name is Norwood, by the way) was one of the most successful R&B artists of the ’90s, with her multiple Grammy nominations and a win (along with Monica) for The Boy Is Mine. You probably also remember her role in I Still Know What You Did Last Summer.

Brandy then / Brandy now.
Photo by Matthew Rolston, UPN, Delivered by Online USA, Getty Images / MediaPunch, Bauer-Griffin, GC Images, Getty Images

Age: 42

What’s She Up to Now?

In 2006, she was in a car accident that killed another driver, but she was never arrested or charged with any crime. She went on to make more music and has been a mentor on the 20th season of The Voice.

28. Monica

Biggest Hit: The Boy Is Mine
Net Worth: $8 million

Monia Denise Arnold was up there on the Grammy stage for The Boy Is Mine. She was a successful R&B artist of the day with hits like Angel of Mine and The First Night in 1998.

Monica then / Monica now.
Photo by Harry Langdon, Getty Images / Prince Williams, FilmMagic, Getty Images

Age: 41

What’s She Up to Now?

Monica has also experienced tragedy when her boyfriend committed suicide in front of her. She managed to move on, though, and make more music. She starred in her own reality TV show and was an adviser on The Voice.

27. Mandy Moore

Biggest Hit: Candy
Net Worth: $14 million

Mandy Moore was only 15 when she slapped her bubblegum hit Candy on everyone. But that bubblegum image was manufactured by the record companies. She says she wasn’t into the music at all.

Mandy Moore then / Mandy Moore now.
Photo by Jim Smeal, Ron Galella Collection, Getty Images / Araya Doheny, WireImage, Getty Images

Age: 37

What’s She Up to Now?

Would you say Moore is better at acting than singing? She voiced Rapunzel in the movie Tangled. And it looks like her role in This Is Us has eclipsed her entire ‘90s pop career. And let’s all be thankful for that.

26. Jewel

Biggest Hit: Who Will Save Your Soul
Net Worth: $14 million

Jewel yodeled her way into our hearts with her catchy hits like You Were Meant for Me and Foolish Games. She had one of the best-selling debut albums of all time, going 14x platinum.

Jewel then / Jewel now.
Photo by John Atashian, Getty Images / Steve Jennings, WireImage, Getty Images

Age: 47

What’s She Up to Now?

In the mid-2000s, she stepped away from the pop music scene and went country. She also released children’s albums and did some acting, like her role as June Carter Cash in the Lifetime movie Ring of Fire.

25. Toni Braxton

Biggest Hit: Un-Break My Heart
Net Worth: $10 million

Talking about ‘90s R&B without mentioning Toni Braxton would be a disgrace. She sold over 67 million records worldwide. She started out in the ‘80s with her sisters in a group called The Braxtons.

Toni Braxton then / Tony Braxton now.
Photo by Robin Platzer, IMAGES, Getty Images / Frazer Harrison, Getty Images

Age: 54

What’s She Up to Now?

Braxton has had a long history of money problems, despite her massive success. She first filed for bankruptcy in 1998, being $5 million in debt. She filed again in 2010, this time $50 million in debt. Braxton was clearly more into spending than making. She’s still making music, though, and was recently on The Masked Singer.

24. Sarah McLachlan

Biggest Hit: Angel
Net Worth: $50 million

Sarah McLachlan’s breakout album, Surfacing, came out in 1997, which brought her to America’s awareness (she’s from Canada). McLachlan was a huge advocate for female artists in the ’90s – she founded the all-female festival tour Lillith Fair (which also featured Paula Cole and Lisa Loeb).

Sarah McLachlan then / Sarah McLachlan now.
Photo by SGranitz, WireImage, Getty Images / Isaiah Trickey, Getty Images

Age: 53

What’s She Up to Now?

We can’t forget how McLachlan was the ASPCA spokesperson for those heart-wrenching dog commercials, but people don’t know that she was the singing voice of cowgirl Jessie in Toy Story 2. Of course, the talented artist is still making music.

23. Tracy Chapman

Biggest Hit: Fast Car
Net Worth: $6 million

She was making songs before the ‘90s, but this decade was the one that brought her into the spotlight. Her iconic song Fast Car will forever be played on the best ‘90s alternative lists. The same goes for the track Give Me One Reason.

Tracy Chapman then / Tracy Chapman now.
Photo by Chris Carroll, Corbis, Getty Images / Jerod Harris, Getty Images

Age: 57

What’s She Up to Now?

Chapman has made more music and released several other albums, but she has faded out of the spotlight. In 2018, Chapman sued the rapper Nicki Minaj over copyright infringement for her song Baby Can I Hold You. In January 2021, Minaj paid Chapman $450,000 to avoid the pending trial.

22. Madonna

Biggest Hit: Vogue
Net Worth: $850 million (wowzers)

Madonna was mainly an ‘80s girl, but she was still very much around in the ‘90s (and trying to stay relevant). She broke into the ‘90s with a new look and a new sound. 1998 saw a whole new electronic side to her, with Ray of Light.

Madonna then / Madonna now.
Photo by Michel Linssen, Redferns, Getty Images / Isabel Infantes, PA Images, Getty Images

Age: 63

What’s She Up to Now?

Well, people are speculating if Madonna is, in fact, a billionaire. In 2021, she paid $20 million for The Weeknd’s mansion in California. Also, she recently released Madame X, a documentary film about her life. That should be interesting…

21. Whitney Houston

Biggest Hit: I Will Always Love You

The ‘90s wouldn’t have been the same without the 1992 film The Bodyguard and Houston’s song, I Will Always Love You. She made history in the Guinness World Records as the most awarded female artist of all time, by the way.

Whitney Houston then / Whitney Houston now.
Photo by Jim Smeal, Ron Galella Collection, Getty Images / Stephen Lovekin, Getty Images

May she rest in peace (because her life wasn’t always easy). Houston died in 2012 when she was found unconscious in the bathtub of her hotel room (at the Beverly Hilton Hotel). Disturbingly, her daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown, died in the same exact way just three years later.

20. Celine Dion

Biggest Hit: My Heart Will Go On
Net Worth: $800 million

Really, I could just say “Titanic” and “My Heart Will Go On,” and that could be the end of it. Is any other song (or movie) as iconic? But, of course, Celine Dion had many more songs to wow audiences with.

Celine Dion then / Celine Dion now.
Photo by Ke.Mazur, WireImage, Getty Images / Pascal Le Segretain, Getty Images

Age: 53

What’s She Up to Now?

We all know that Dion went to become Las Vegas’ biggest act, and that she was married to the much older Rene Angelil, but he has since died (in 2016), and she has been seen on the arm of a now much younger man.

19. Missy Elliott

Biggest Hit: Sock It 2 Me
Net Worth: $50 million

Her 1997 album, Supa Dupa Fly, shocked everyone with her rhymes, presence, and production. She pretty much changed the hip hop game, especially for women. Her work with Timbaland made everyone turn up the music when her songs came on.

Missy Elliott then / Missy Elliott now.
Photo by Al Pereira, Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images / EuropaNewswire, Gado, Getty Images

Age: 50

What’s She Up to Now?

She’s always been in the music industry, but less in the forefront. And that’s because, as she revealed in 2011, she’s been dealing with medical issues. She nearly crashed her car because of leg spasms. She’s been doing a lot of music production as well as directing music videos.

18. Aaliyah

Biggest Hit: If Your Girl Only Knew

The “Queen of Urban Pop” or the “Princess of R&B,” Aaliyah Dana Haughton was a promising young artist. She came up in the ‘90s but hit it out of the park in the 2000s. The tragedy is that a girl with such talent met her fate at the age of 22.

A photo of Aaliyah then / R. Kelly stands in court.
Photo by RJ Capak, WireImage, Getty Images / Antonio Perez, Pool, Getty Images

After completing her music video for Rock the Boat, Aaliyah died alongside eight others in a plane crash. The music industry was shaken. It’s also been recently revealed that her marriage to R. Kelly was illegal and that she was pregnant at the time – she was only 15.

17. Mary J. Blige

Biggest Hit: What’s the 411?
Net Worth: $20 million

Mark J. Blige appeared in the early ‘90s when she started working with Puff Daddy (or P Diddy; whatever you wanna call him). What’s the 411? earned her not just a bunch of awards but the title of “Queen of Hip Hop Soul.”

Mary J. Blige then / Mary J. Blige now.
Photo by Evan Agostini, Liaison, Getty Images / Jamie McCarthy, Getty Images

Age: 50

What’s She Up to Now?

Blige has been deep into music and acting. She was on the Jamie Foxx Show as well as in movies like 2017’s Mudbound. She’s scheduled to perform at the 2022 Super Bowl (LVI) Halftime Show with Dr. Dre, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, and Snoop Dogg.

16. Bjork

Biggest Hit: Hyperballad
Net Worth: $45 million

A ‘90s artist list without Bjork would be unfair, even if her music was as weird as hell. Icelandic Björk (which is her real name) began making music in the ‘70s, at the age of 11, but it was only in 1993, when she moved to London, that she made the music we have come to know her for.

Bjork then / Bjork now.
Photo by Dave Tonge, Getty Images / Jamie McCarthy, WireImage, Getty Images

Age: 56

What’s She Up to Now?

Her bizarre style might have accounted for her fame as much as her music. And it looks like she stuck with the gimmick. Her latest performances are as bizarre as those from the ‘90s.

15. Natalie Imbruglia

Biggest Hit: Torn
Net Worth: $14 million

Australian Natalie Imbruglia made a dent, to say the least, with her mega-hit Torn (which is an earworm if I ever heard one). After being considered a one-hit wonder, she moved on to acting in the early 2000s.

Natalie Imbruglia then / Natalie Imbruglia now.
Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd., Ron Galella Collection, Getty Images / Mike Marsland, WireImage, Getty Images

Age: 46

What’s She Up to Now?

She did always stick to music, though. Did you know she was married to Silverchair frontman Daniel Johns for two years? She released some more albums and even wrote some songs with Coldplay’s Chris Martin.

14. Gwen Stefani

Biggest Hit: Don’t Speak
Net Worth: $150 million

The lead singer of No Doubt, Gwen Stefani didn’t just make heads bop; she was also a style icon. The band’s 1995 album, Tragic Kingdom, was one of the biggest albums of the decade. Did you know she was dating bandmate Tony Kanal at the time?

Gwen Stefani then / Gwen Stefani now.
Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd., Ron Galella Collection, Getty Images / Paul Archuleta, Getty Images

Age: 52

What’s She Up to Now?

No doubt, Gwen Stefani was one of the most listened-to voices of the ‘90s. And she’s been around ever since. Now, maybe because she’s married to country star Blake Shelton, her music has changed. But she’ll always be a performer to remember.

13. Courtney Love

Biggest Hit: Celebrity Skin
Net Worth: $100 million

There aren’t many female artists who are despised as much as Courtney Love, the frontwoman of the band Hole. And it has nothing to do with her music (although it sounds more like noise than music). Courtney Michelle Harrison (Courtney Love is a stage name) has forever been blamed in her husband, Kurt Cobain’s death.

Courtney Love then / Courtney Love now.
Photo by Ron Davis, Getty Images / Mike Marsland, WireImage, Getty Images

Age: 57

What’s She Up to Now?

Love has been making music, feuding, and dealing with addiction issues ever since she became famous. Her latest project, as of June 2021, is Bruises of Roses, a video series of her performing cover versions of her favorite songs.

12. Sheryl Crow

Biggest Hit: All I Wanna Do
Net Worth: $70 million

All I wanna do, is have some fun.. I got a feeling, I’m not the only one… (I’m sorry if that will be in your head for the rest of the day). Aside from her super catchy music, she’s made headlines based on her love life (with Eric Clapton, Owen Wilson, Lance Armstrong, etc.).

Sheryl Crow then / Sheryl Crow now.
Photo by Gie Knaeps, Getty Images / Jim Spellman, WireImage, Getty Images

Age: 59

What’s She Up to Now?

Sheryl Crow was one of the hundreds of artists whose material was ruined in the 2008 fire at Universal. She’s been making music here and there, doing some duets with country stars, like Bonnie Raitt.

11. Shania Twain

Biggest Hit: That Don’t Impress Me Much
Net Worth: $400 million

Did you know that her real name is actually Eilleen Regina Edwards? The Canadian-born superstar country singer broke ground in 1997 with the song That Don’t Impress Me Much. Can you just picture the music video with her all-leopard print outfit? What a showstopper…

Shania Twain then / Shania Twain now.
Photo by SGranitz, WireImage, Getty Images / Gabe Ginsberg, Getty Images

Age: 56

What’s She Up to Now?

In the last few years, she’s been busy with her Las Vegas residency. Aside from music, she’s been acting. In 2019, she acted in the film Trading Paint with John Travolta. In 2020, she played the mother of singer Jeremy Camp in the movie I Still Believe.

10. TLC

Biggest Hit: Waterfalls
Net Worth: $8 million (Rozonda) and $1.5 million (Tionne)

Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins and Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes formed the group in 1990, and then brought in Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas to make the group a trio. We can all thank TLC for teaching us what a “scrub” really is.

TLC then / TLC now.
Photo by Tim Roney, Getty Images / Jason LaVeris, FilmMagic, Getty Images

Age: Rozonda, 50, Tionne, 51

What Are They Up to Now?

Lopes died in 2002 in a car crash, so the group took a hiatus for a while before continuing to make music. In June 2021, TLC announced an upcoming CrazySexyCool tour, with Bone Thugs-n-Harmony as the opening act.

9. Destiny’s Child

Biggest Hit: Say My Name
Net Worth: $500 Million (Beyonce), $12 million (Kelly), and $10 million (Michelle)

Before Beyoncé became Queen B, she was part of Destiny’s Child. The girl group was formed in 1990 under a different name – Girl’s Tyme. 1999 was the year they shot into fame, with Bills, Bills, Bills, and Say My Name.

Destiny’s Child then / Destiny’s Child now.
Photo by Jeff Kravitz, FilmMagic, Getty Images / Kevin Mazur, WireImage, Getty Images

Age: Beyonce and Kelly, 40, Michelle, 42

What Are They Up to Now?

We know a lot more about Beyonce than the others. Both Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams have gone on to do solo work, but really, they can’t compete with B.

8. Britney Spears

Biggest Hit: Baby One More Time
Net Worth: $70 million

The biggest song of the ‘90s (technically) might have been Britney’s Baby One More Time, which came out in 1999. Although she was massively successful in the 2000s (more so than in the ‘90s), I added her here as a technicality.

Britney Spears then / Britney Spears now.
Photo by Fryderyk Gabowicz, picture alliance, Getty Images / Steve Granitz, WireImage, Getty Images

Age: 40

What’s She Up to Now?

Where do I even begin with Britney? Let’s just say that “Team Britney” won in the end, putting her estate finally into her own hands. As of late 2021, the judge officially terminated the conservatorship and released mama and papa Spears’ grip on their daughter’s life.

7. Christina Aguilera

Biggest Hit: Genie in a Bottle
Net Worth: $160 million

Like Britney, Christina broke onto the scene in 1999 with Genie in a Bottle. She and Britney have forever been compared (but I think we know who the more talented singer really is).

Christina Aguilera then / Christina Aguilera now.
Photo by Tim Roney, Getty Images / Arturo Holmes, Getty Images

Age: 40

What’s She Up to Now?

Xtina has never stopped making music and has been seen on the small screen with shows like The Voice. She has been engaged to Mathew Rutler since 2014, yet the couple never walked down the aisle.

6. Janet Jackson

Biggest Hit: Empty
Net Worth: $190 million

Her music was great, and a major part of the ‘90s. But Janet Jackson’s ’90s contribution was really her style: crop tops, high-waisted jeans and combat boots. It’s basically the look girls try to master today.

Janet Jackson then / Janet Jackson now.
Photo by KMazur, WireImage, Getty Images / Bruce Glikas, WireImage, Getty Images

Age: 55

What’s She Up to Now?

Jackson went down in history when she negotiated her Virgin Records contract for $80 million, the largest recording deal in history at that time. As a Jackson, music is in her blood. She has never stopped. In early 2021, she announced a two-part documentary called Janet, which is in the making.

5. Spice Girls

Biggest Hit: Wannabe
Net Worth: $40 million (Geri), $450 million (Victoria), $6 million (Mel B), $30 million (Emma), and $30 million (Mel C)

Sure, they were a group of five, but these women were at the top of their game and the industry in the late ‘90s. “So, tell me what you want, what you really, really, want.” They wanted money and fame… and they got it.

Spice Girls then / Spice Girls now.
Photo by Tim Roney, Getty Images / Matt Crossick, PA Images, Getty Images

Age: Emma, Mel C and Victoria, 47, Mel B, 46, Geri, 49

What Are They Up to Now?

For those who don’t know, the Spice Girls are still intact and have been reuniting for shows over the years. They went on a Spice World tour as recently as 2019.

4. Dolores O’Riordan

Biggest Hit: Zombie

One of the most recognizable female rock voices of all time belongs to The Cranberries’ frontwoman, Dolores O’Riordan. The band literally rocked the music industry in the ‘90s with their heavy yet refreshing rock tunes. Her voice was credited for vocal power, honest and vulnerable songwriting, and her Irish accent.

Dolores O’Riordan then / Dolores O’Riordan now.
Photo by Ian Dickson, Redferns, Getty Images / Xavi Torrent, WireImage, Getty Images

The band never broke up and continued to make music. That is, until O’Riordan died suddenly in 2018, shocking everyone. She passed away from an accidental drowning in a bathtub (due to alcohol intoxication) in a hotel room.

3. Mariah Carey

Biggest Hit: All I Want for Christmas Is You
Net Worth: $320 million

Oh, Mariah. Where would we be without you? Sure, her song All I Want For Christmas Is You might be the most annoying song ever played during the holiday season, but the woman deserves major credit. She dominated the ‘90s.

Mariah Carey then / Mariah Carey now.
Photo by Victor Malafronte, Hulton Archive, Getty Images / Dia Dipasupil, Getty Images

Age: 53

What’s She Up to Now?

Is it a surprise that Carey capitalized on her Christmas song-making fortune? No. She had a 2020 Christmas special on Apple TV+ along with a soundtrack. She also has another Xmas song, Fall in Love at Christmas, but honestly, nothing compares…

2. Lauryn Hill

Biggest Hit: Killing Me Softly
Net Worth: $9 million

As it turns out, one of the biggest singers of the ‘90s has nearly vanished from the face of the earth. At 23, she created one of the most acclaimed R&B albums of all time, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. And then she disappeared.

It might have been the lawsuit that followed the album’s release, between her and her record label. But the truth is she had a dark voice inside of her that told her she would never be as good as she was when she was at the top of her game.

Lauryn Hill then / Lauryn Hill now.
Photo by Anthony Barboza, Getty Images / Astrid Stawiarz, Getty Images

Age: 46

What’s She Up to Now?

She took a hiatus until 2013, when she started to release music again. In 2019, she recorded the song, Guarding the Gates, for the movie Queen & Slim.

1. Alanis Morissette

Biggest Hit: You Oughta Know
Net Worth: $45 million

Alright, folks, the no. 1 female artist of the ‘90s has to be Alanis Morrisette. The superstar with the sometimes annoying but totally listenable voice broke ground with Jagged Little Pill. That album alone garnered her four Grammy Awards in 1996.

Alanis Morissette / Alanis Morissette.
Photo by Ron Galella, Ron Galella Collection, Getty Images / Sven Hoppe, picture alliance, Getty Images

Age: 47

What’s She Up to Now?

She kept making music and also made Hollywood appearances with her then-fiancé Ryan Reynolds. For the 25th anniversary of Jagged Little Pill, in 2020, she was scheduled to tour with Garbage and Liz Phair. But thanks to the pandemic, it was postponed to summer of 2021.