Most Liked, Living Musicians

  The last time I updated this list was in 2023.  You'll always find someone who doesn't like some artist. So this list doesn't claim that all the names here are 100% loved.  But this is still a good sample of our most liked, living musicians.  

1.  Paul McCartney - It's very simple. He's a Beatle. But he also had a massive solo career. Who didn't love the Beatles?  Well, maybe someone out there didn't. But not anyone in my world. 

2.  Stevie Wonder - Seems to me that Wonder had already reached the "beloved figure" moment right after Songs in The Key Of Life was released in 1976

3.  Willie Nelson - Like Dolly, Willie is a Country music legend who is instantly recognized outside of his genre. A 2023 Rock Hall of Fame Inductee at age 90, he continues to tour and record. 

4.  Bob Dylan - The greatest songwriter who ever lived? Many would say yes.  But even if he's not #1, Dylan advanced what was possible as a singer/songwriter. 

5.  Joni Mitchell - Her battle back from a brain aneurysm in 2015 won her even more fans. And her back catalog of classic recordings has continued to find newer listeners.  

6.  Elton John - In July of this year, Elton finished a lovingly reviewed "Farewell Tour", which brought the nostalgia factor to new levels of admiration. 

7.  Mick Jagger/Keith Richards/Ronnie Wood/Bill Wyman -  Jagger & Richards are so linked that it proved impossible to separate. Ronnie Wood has been with the band since 1976. While Bill Wyman left the Stones in 1993, he is still part of their history.

8.  Ringo Starr - Again, like McCartney, he's a Beatle.  More than Paul, George, and John, he was the Beatle who carried his lovable persona into a solo career that is still viable. 

9. Bruce Springsteen - The "Voice of the Working Class" also known as "The Boss"?  It would be impossible to rank him outside the Top 10 with those credentials. 

10. Barbra Streisand - She amassed a huge, passionate fan base almost from the start of her career in the early '60s. 

The Rest

Adele

Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson

Al Green

Alison Krauss 

Ann & Nancy Wilson

Annie Lennox

Barry Gibb

Beyonce 

Billy Joel

Bonnie Raitt

Bono & The Edge

Brenda Lee

Buddy Guy

Carlos Santana

Carly Simon

Carole King 

Celine Dion

Chaka Khan

Cher 

Dave Grohl

David Byrne

Daryl Hall

Debbie Harry

Diana Ross

Dion DiMucci

Dionne Warwick

Elvis Costello

Emmylou Harris

Eric Clapton

Frankie Valli

Garth Brooks

George Benson

George Clinton

George Strait

Gladys Knight

Gloria Estefan

Herb Alpert

Herbie Hancock

Iggy Pop

Jack White

James Taylor

Janet Jackson

Jay-Z

Jeff Lynne 

Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis

John Williams 

Johnny Mathis

Kelly Clarkson

Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds

LL Cool J

Lady Gaga

Linda Ronstadt

Lionel Richie

Madonna

Mariah Carey 

Mavis Staples

Miranda Lambert

Missy Elliott

Neil Diamond

Neil Young

Nile Rodgers

Pat Benatar

Patti LaBelle

Paul Simon

Pete Townshend & Roger Daltrey

Peter Frampton

Phil Collins

Queen Latifah

Randy Travis

Ray Davies

Reba McEntire

Rihanna

Robert Plant & Jimmy Page

Rod Stewart

Ronald & Ernie Isley

Sade

Shakira

Shania Twain

Sheryl Crow

Smokey Robinson

Snoop Dogg

Steven Tyler & Joe Perry

Steven Van Zandt

Stevie Nicks

Sting

Taylor Swift

Tim McGraw

Tom Jones

Van Morrison

Vince Gill

Yo-Yo Ma