Some musicians have created timeless classics that are inviting to sing — whether you’re an extremely talented professional or an intoxicated karaoke participant. Many of the artists whose songs have been most covered are some of the biggest names in music. They’ve created songs that were popular decades ago and still manage to hold up even today.
Covering a song can be a way for artists to branch out and show appreciation for other types of music. Amy Winehouse’s rendition of “Valerie” by The Zutons is one of the most famous songs she recorded during her short but amazing career.
To find the 50 most covered artists, 24/7 Tempo reviewed SecondHandSongs database. We included the overall number of covers for each artist’s songs, the number of songs covered, and added the most covered song. We occasionally used editorial discretion and listed the second-most covered song if the first was instrumental. Data was retrieved November 2021.
Several artists on this list don’t have many songs covered but are still among the most covered artists thanks to one or two successful songs. These are often Christmas songs, covered over and over by many artists over the year. “Jingle Bells” performed by the Edison Male Quartet is an example.
Many songs that are covered over and over again are from classic singer-songwriters like Frank Sinatra, Fred Astaire, Bing Crosby, Elvis Presley, and Louis Armstrong — all among the top 10 most covered artists. New artists take these classic songs, which were already performed in very special ways, and put their own spin on them. And while Presley may not top the list with the most covers, the King of Rock and Roll has the most songs covered among artists on the list.
Several early jazz musicians are also among the most covered, creating tunes used by many artists and revised by many others. Those include Thelonius Monk and Duke Ellington, for example. (Here are the best albums of all time.)
Success with a cover, however, can sometimes lead to lawsuits and accusations of stolen material. Singer-songwriter Jake Holmes sued Led Zeppelin for “Dazed and Confused,” but the two parties eventually reached a settlement.
Sometimes, an artist’s music was made more famous when it was covered. “All Along the Watchtower” by Bob Dylan was covered by Jimi Hendrix and became a massive hit for the guitar legend. “Twist and Shout” is originally by the Isley Brothers but popularly associated with The Beatles.
Speaking of the Beatles, it’s no surprise to find The Fab Four at the top of the list with the most covers. Many many artists over the years, from all over the world, covered as many as 200 Beatles songs. For a look at specific songs, check out the most covered songs in music history.
50. Michael Jackson
> Covers: 1,879
> Songs covered: 78
> Most covered song: Billie Jean
49. Jelly Roll Morton
> Covers: 1,925
> Songs covered: 84
> Most covered song: Doctor Jazz-Stomp
48. Mitzi Green
> Covers: 1,931
> Songs covered: 3
> Most covered song: My Funny Valentine
47. Glenn Miller
> Covers: 1,939
> Songs covered: 31
> Most covered song: At Last
46. Gertrude Lawrence
> Covers: 1,963
> Songs covered: 29
> Most covered song: Someone to Watch over Me
45. Georgie Stoll
> Covers: 1,972
> Songs covered: 5
> Most covered song: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
44. Paul Weston
> Covers: 1,983
> Songs covered: 46
> Most covered song: It Could Happen to You
43. Queen
> Covers: 2,000
> Songs covered: 120
> Most covered song: Bohemian Rhapsody
42. Elton John
> Covers: 2,058
> Songs covered: 143
> Most covered song: Your Song
41. Simon and Garfunkel
> Covers: 2,062
> Songs covered: 36
> Most covered song: Bridge over Troubled Water
40. ABBA
> Covers: 2,137
> Songs covered: 91
> Most covered song: Dancing Queen
39. Charlie Parker
> Covers: 2,148
> Songs covered: 49
> Most covered song: Donna Lee
38. Chuck Berry
> Covers: 2,173
> Songs covered: 69
> Most covered song: Johnny B. Goode
37. Abbie Mitchell
> Covers: 2,174
> Songs covered: 1
> Most covered song: Summertime
36. John Coltrane
> Covers: 2,185
> Songs covered: 83
> Most covered song: Giant Steps
35. Ethel Waters
> Covers: 2,213
> Songs covered: 32
> Most covered song: Taking a Chance on Love
34. Henry Mancini
> Covers: 2,233
> Songs covered: 79
> Most covered song: Moon River
33. Tommy Dorsey
> Covers: 2,310
> Songs covered: 60
> Most covered song: Polka Dots and Moonbeams
32. Scott Joplin
> Covers: 2,402
> Songs covered: 74
> Most covered song: Maple Leaf Rag
31. Ethel Merman
> Covers: 2,426
> Songs covered: 53
> Most covered song: I Got Rhythm
30. Nat King Cole
> Covers: 2,505
> Songs covered: 81
> Most covered song: Nature Boy
29. Charles Adams Prince
> Covers: 2,553
> Songs covered: 20
> Most covered song: St. Louis Blues
28. David Bowie
> Covers: 2,567
> Songs covered: 197
> Most covered song: Space Oddity
27. John Scott Trotter
> Covers: 2,592
> Songs covered: 31
> Most covered song: White Christmas (with Bing Crosby and Ken Darby)
26. Hoagy Carmichael
> Covers: 2,660
> Songs covered: 20
> Most covered song: Stardust – instrumental, Georgia (On My Mind)
25. The King Cole Trio
> Covers: 2,662
> Songs covered: 28
> Most covered song: (Get Your Kicks on) Route 66
24. Ken Darby
> Covers: 2,773
> Songs covered: 12
> Most covered song: White Christmas (With Bing Crosby and John Scott Trotter)
23. Antônio Carlos Jobim
> Covers: 2,800
> Songs covered: 48
> Most covered song: Garota de Ipanema
22. Billie Holiday
> Covers: 2,888
> Songs covered: 39
> Most covered song: Lover Man (Oh, Where Can You Be?)
21. Jimmy Dorsey
> Covers: 2,904
> Songs covered: 27
> Most covered song: I’ve Got You Under My Skin
20. João Gilberto
> Covers: 3,159
> Songs covered: 14
> Most covered song: Corcovado
19. The Rolling Stones
> Covers: 3,174
> Songs covered: 173
> Most covered song: (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction
18. Miles Davis
> Covers: 3,304
> Songs covered: 119
> Most covered song: All Blues
17. Hank Williams
> Covers: 3,335
> Songs covered: 103
> Most covered song: I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry
16. Franz Gruber, Joseph Mohr
> Covers: 3,450
> Songs covered: 1
> Most covered song: Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht! (Silent Night)
15. Victor Young
> Covers: 3,549
> Songs covered: 45
> Most covered song: Theme from One Minute to Zero
14. Paul Whiteman
> Covers: 3,572
> Songs covered: 55
> Most covered song: All of Me
13. Stevie Wonder
> Covers: 3,598
> Songs covered: 162
> Most covered song: You Are the Sunshine of My Life
12. The Jordanaires
> Covers: 3,689
> Songs covered: 170
> Most covered song: Can’t Help Falling in Love (with Elvis Presley)
11. Judy Garland
> Covers: 3,813
> Songs covered: 25
> Most covered song: Over the Rainbow
10. Edison Male Quartet
> Covers: 3,980
> Songs covered: 19
> Most covered song: Jingle Bells – Goodnight, Ladies
9. Thelonious Monk
> Covers: 4,212
> Songs covered: 56
> Most covered song: Straight No Chaser
8. Fred Astaire
> Covers: 4,297
> Songs covered: 43
> Most covered song: Night and Day
7. Frank Sinatra
> Covers: 5,081
> Songs covered: 129
> Most covered song: In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning
6. Louis Armstrong
> Covers: 5,565
> Songs covered: 87
> Most covered song: What a Wonderful World
5. Elvis Presley
> Covers: 5,779
> Songs covered: 286
> Most covered song: Love Me Tender
4. Bob Dylan
> Covers: 6,694
> Songs covered: 326
> Most covered song: Blowin’ in the Wind
3. Bing Crosby
> Covers: 7,841
> Songs covered: 131
> Most covered song: I’ll Be Home for Christmas (If Only in My Dreams)
2. Duke Ellington
> Covers: 12,109
> Songs covered: 144
> Most covered song: It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)
1. The Beatles
> Covers: 20,185
> Songs covered: 200
> Most covered song: Yesterday