Lesbian singers have made a huge impact in the music industry, using their voices not only to create beautiful songs but also to stand up for LGBTQ+ rights.
These talented artists have openly shared their stories, challenging stereotypes and paving the way for more representation in the music world.
From folk and rock to pop and electronic, their music covers a wide range of genres and emotions, often touching on themes like love, identity, and self-empowerment.
Let’s take a closer look at some amazing lesbian singers who have inspired millions with their music and advocacy.
1. Brandi Carlile
Brandi Carlile, born in Ravensdale, Washington, is a Grammy-winning singer-songwriter whose music spans folk rock, Americana, and alternative country.
She began her career with a self-titled debut album, which gathered widespread praise and led to her incorporating in Rolling Stone’s list of 10 Artists to Watch in 2005.
As an openly lesbian artist, she has become a prominent advocate for LGBTQ+ rights within the music industry.
| Started | Top Hits | Debut Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | The Story, That Wasn’t Me | Brandi Carlile (2005) |
2. Melissa Etheridge
Melissa Etheridge is an iconic rock singer-songwriter who is known for her raspy voice and emotional lyrics.
She came out as a lesbian in 1993, which was a bold move at the time, and her 1993 album Yes I Am became a major success.
Her music mixes rock with folk and blues influences, and she is celebrated for her empowering anthems about love, pain, and self-acceptance.
| Started | Top Hits | Debut Album |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Come to My Window, I’m the Only One | Melissa Etheridge (1988) |
3. k.d. lang
k.d. lang, born in Alberta, Canada is a singer-songwriter known for her extraordinary voice and unqiue blend of country, pop, and jazz.
Lang came out publicly as a lesbian in 1992, confirming her status as an LGBTQ+ trailblazer in the music world.
Her music often explores themes of love and heartache, and she has earned multiple Grammy Awards for her famous vocal style.
| Started | Top Hits | Debut Album |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Constant Craving, Miss Chatelaine | A Truly Western Experience (1984) |
4. Hayley Kiyoko
Hayley Kiyoko is known as the Lesbian Jesus by her fans.
Being a pop singer and actress from Los Angeles, she came out as lesbian in 2015, and her music often focuses on themes of love, sexuality, and relationships.
Her pop songs and candid lyrics have earned her a dedicated LGBTQ+ following, and she is hailed as a queer icon.
| Started | Top Hits | Debut Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Girls Like Girls, Curious | Expectations (2018) |
5. Norma Tanega
Norma Tanega was an American singer-songwriter and musician whose music spanned the genres of folk, pop, and psychedelic.
Tanega’s best-known track, Walkin’ My Cat Named Dog, gained popularity in the 1960s.
And, she continued to make music well into the 2000s, though she largely faded from the public eye.
| Started | Top Hits | Debut Album |
|---|---|---|
| 1966 | Walkin’ My Cat Named Dog | Norma Tanega (1966) |
6. Kehlani
Kehlani is a Grammy-nominated R&B singer-songwriter from Oakland, California.
Later, she came out as a lesbian in 2018 and uses her platform to be open about her experiences with love, gender identity, and mental health.
Her music blends R&B, pop, and soul influences, and she’s known for her powerful and emotional vocals that connect with her fans.
| Started | Top Hits | Debut Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Distraction, Gangsta | SweetSexySavage (2017) |
7. Lesley Gore
Lesley Gore was a singer and songwriter who is best known for her hit song It’s My Party.
She came out publicly as a lesbian in her later years, making her an LGBTQ+ trailblazer in the music industry.
Her songs are often seen as anthems of teenage angst and empowerment, and she continued to contribute to music until her passing in 2015.
| Started | Top Hits | Debut Album |
|---|---|---|
| 1963 | It’s My Party, Judy’s Turn to Cry | I’ll Cry If I Want To (1963) |
8. Renee Rapp
Renee Rapp is an actress, singer, and songwriter, best known for her role in The Sex Lives of College Girls and Broadway’s Mean Girls.
Rapp identifies as a lesbian and openly talks about her experiences with love, identity, and personal growth.
Her music features a mix of pop and soul influences, with lyrics focusing on vulnerability, self-empowerment, and LGBTQ+ experiences.
| Started | Top Hits | Debut Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Tummyache, In the Kitchen | Everything to Everyone (2023) |
9. Zolita
Zolita is a singer-songwriter known for her electro-pop sound and queer visibility in her music.
She music blends electronic pop, indie rock, and experimental genres.
Being a lesbian singer, she often incorporates themes of love and queerness into her songwriting, with powerful messages of self-empowerment.
| Started | Top Hits | Debut Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Explosion, Somebody I F*cked Up | Sapphic (2022) |
10. Sizzy Rocket
Sizzy Rocket is a pop singer-songwriter known for her bold lyrics, electro-pop sound, and unapologetic queer identity.
Rocket uses her music to talk about themes of sexuality, independence, and the challenges of love.
Her energetic tracks are empowering anthems for the LGBTQ+ community.
| Started | Top Hits | Debut Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Bad Girl, You Can’t Fix Me | Thrills (2017) |
11. Tegan and Sara
Tegan and Sara Quin are twin sisters from Calgary, Canada, who have achieved massive success as an indie-pop duo.
Coming out as lesbians early in their careers, both of them have built a loyal fan base with their catchy and introspective songs.
They are known for their emotionally charged lyrics, often reflecting on personal experiences with relationships, identity, and self-empowerment.
The duo is also known for their activism, particularly in promoting LGBTQ+ rights and visibility.
| Started | Top Hits | Debut Album |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Closer, I Was a Fool | This Business of Art (1999) |
12. King Princess
King Princess, born Mikaela Straus, is an up-and-coming singer-songwriter known for her blend of indie pop, rock, and R&B.
Identifying as queer, King Princess’s music reflects her experiences with love, longing, and self-expression.
Her raw lyrics and catchy melodies have earned her a following among both mainstream and LGBTQ+ audiences.
| Started | Top Hits | Debut Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 1950, Hit the Back | Cheap Queen (2019) |
13. MUNA
MUNA is a Los Angeles-based electropop band fronted by Katie Gavin, who is openly queer.
The band’s music is known for its emotionally charged lyrics, with themes of heartbreak, self-empowerment, and LGBTQ+ identity.
MUNA has garnered a dedicated fan base for their inclusive messages and genre-blending music.
| Started | Top Hits | Debut Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | I Know a Place, Silly Girl | MUNA (2017) |
14. Mary Lambert
Mary Lambert is a singer-songwriter and spoken word artist whose music touches on themes of love, self-acceptance, and body positivity.
Openly bisexual, she is known for her collaboration with Macklemore & Ryan Lewis on Same Love, a song advocating for LGBTQ+ marriage equality.
Her empowering lyrics and emotional ballads have made her an LGBTQ+ ally and advocate.
| Started | Top Hits | Debut Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Same Love, She Keeps Me Warm | Heart on My Sleeve (2014) |
15. Lucy Spraggan
Lucy Spraggan is an English singer-songwriter who came out as a lesbian in her early career.
Her music is a mix of folk, pop, and indie rock, often addressing themes of love, heartbreak, and personal growth.
She gained recognition after competing on The X Factor, and her openly queer identity has made her an important figure in the UK LGBTQ+ scene.
| Started | Top Hits | Debut Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Last Night, Tea & Toast | Top Room at the Zoo (2011) |
16. Janelle Monáe
Janelle Monáe is an R&B singer, songwriter, and actress whose music blends funk, soul, and pop influences.
She came out as pansexual in 2018 and has been a vocal advocate for gender and sexual liberation.
Her work often have themes of identity, empowerment, and love, and she is recognized as a queer icon in the music industry.
| Started | Top Hits | Debut Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Make Me Feel, Tightrope | The ArchAndroid (2010) |
17. Indigo Girls
The Indigo Girls, a folk rock duo from Georgia, are known for their harmonious vocals and emotionally charged lyrics about love, identity, and personal struggle.
Both members, Amy Ray and Emily Saliers, have openly identified as lesbians, using their music to advocate for LGBTQ+ visibility and rights.
Their soulful sound and thought-provoking lyrics have garnered a devoted following.
| Started | Top Hits | Debut Album |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Closer to Fine, Galileo | Indigo Girls (1989) |
18. Melissa Ferrick
Melissa Ferrick is an indie singer-songwriter with a long career spanning folk, rock, and alternative music.
Her music features personal lyrics, and her vocals convey raw emotion.
| Started | Top Hits | Debut Album |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Drive, Shoulda Known Better | Melissa Ferrick (1993) |
19. Cyndi Lauper
Cyndi Lauper is renowned for her 1980s hits, is a legendary pop singer, and a prominent LGBTQ+ advocate.
She became one of the most influential voices in pop music with her unique style and personal lyrics, many of which addressed LGBTQ+ issues.
Her hit True Colors became an anthem for the LGBTQ+ community.
| Started | Top Hits | Debut Album |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Girls Just Want to Have Fun, True Colors | She’s So Unusual (1983) |
20. Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman, known for her soulful, introspective style, has been one of the most influential singer-songwriters of her generation.
Being a private figure, she has been identified as part of the LGBTQ+ community.
Her songs often have themes of love, struggle, and social justice.
| Started | Top Hits | Debut Album |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Fast Car, Give Me One Reason | Tracy Chapman (1988) |
21. Sleater-Kinney
Sleater-Kinney is an all-female punk rock band with political lyrics and a strong LGBTQ+ following.
While not all members are lesbians, guitarist Carrie Brownstein has been open about her queerness and is an influential voice within the community.
Their music is known for its raw emotion and activism.
| Started | Top Hits | Debut Album |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Modern Girl, Jumpers | Sleater-Kinney (1994) |
From underground gigs to global stages, these artists have built their careers on pure musical brilliance. Their voices attract, their lyrics cut deep, and their performances spark emotion—no labels needed. While trends come and go, these singers remain unforgettable for one reason: their undeniable talent.
