At No. 5 is Claire Lynch. She was crowned International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) “Female Vocalist of the Year” three times in her career, and her album Dear Sister is a bluegrass gem. Her vocals are angelic and heavenly. Aside from her own songs, Lynch harmonizes extremely well with other artists on their records (such as Patty Loveless, among others).
At No. 4 is Rhonda Vincent, who has won “Female Vocalist of the Year” seven times by the IBMA. She plays the mandolin and guitar quite well, and her voice is quite versatile. She also sings gospel tunes effectively, as well as traditional country vocals.
At No. 3 is Amanda Smith, who was named “Female Vocalist of the Year” at the 2014 IBMA awards. She has the voice of an angel as well: polished, soothing and hypnotic. All one needs to do is listen to “Catch Me If I Try” and “Pacific Time” and they will instantly be lured in her music.
At No. 2 is Alison Krauss, who is the female artist with the most Grammy award wins with 27. Her vocals are calming and exquisite and her fiddle ability is second to none. She is the lead singer of Alison Krauss and Union Station.
When all is said and done, at No. 1 is Dale Ann Bradley. She is dubbed the “Queen of Bluegrass Soul” and rightfully so. Her vocals are simply the best in the genre: mellifluous, gentle and captivating. Her songwriting ability is honest and sincere. It is no wonder that she was crowned “Female Vocalist of the Year” by the IBMA five times, and has been praised by virtually every artist in the genre for her musicianship and one-of-a-kind personality.
