The 90s were a great time for music. From alternative rock songs to pop and R&B hits, there was something for every music lover. Even though there were plenty of one-hit wonders during that time, many of the top music artists from the 90s continue to make music today.
To create this list of the top music artists from the 90s, 24/7 Tempo consulted several major music and lifestyle publications, including Billboard and Rolling Stone. Here are 10 of the most popular 90s musicians.
Elton John
Elton John
Elton John is the kind of artist who always brought something new to the music world. With continuous hits every decade from the 70s to the 90s, his creativity throughout his successful career had a significant impact on the music industry. As if he wasn’t well-loved enough already, in the 90s, he also became well-known for his original song, “Can You Feel the Love Tonight,” which was a part of the Lion King Soundtrack. Elton John has now had over 50 top songs and is considered the top male solo artist of all time.
Nirvana
When it comes to top rock artists of the 90s, Nirvana is one of the bands worth mentioning. This rock band got together in the late 80s and didn’t bring on their drummer, Dave Grohl, until 1990. Dave Grohl is now best known as the lead singer of The Foo Fighters. Nirvana released their first album in the late 80s, but they didn’t find success until the release of their 90s album Smells Like Teen Spirit. Even though Nirvana lead singer Kurt Cobain committed suicide in 1994 after a long battle with drug addiction, Nirvana remains one of the best-selling rock bands of all time.
Shania Twain
Shania Twain’s album was not only the anthem for every woman in the 90s, but it was also the second top-selling album of all time by a female artist. Her 1997 album, “Come On Over,” had hits such as “You’re Still the One,” “Man! I Feel Like a Woman,” and “That Don’t Impress Me Much.” Although Shania Twain is still a popular artist today, the new album she released in 2019 was her first new album in over 10 years.
TLC
As a band, TLC formed in the early 90s and released their debut album in 1992. But this girl group really started to shine with the release of their second album, CrazySexyCool, in 1994. All four of their singles from the album reached the top of the Billboard Top 100, with their hit “Waterfalls” being the best-selling single of their career. One of the members of TLC, Lisa Lopes, was tragically killed in a car accident in 2002. After her death, the two remaining members continued to perform as a duo. TLC received the honor of induction into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame in 2022.
Celine Dion
Every so often, one of Celine Dion’s hit singles comes around again, sometimes in the form of a TikTok trend. As one of the most skilled vocalists to come out of the 90s, she had multiple singles hit the top of the charts. Originally from Quebec, Celine Dion is the best-selling Canadian artist of all time. Some of her early hits included “Where Does My Heart Beat Now,” “The Last to Know,” and the iconic “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now.” Her greatest and long-standing hit, “My Heart Will Go On,” was featured in the movie “The Titanic.”
Whitney Houston
No 90s music compilation is complete without Whitney Houston. Her hit single, “I Will Always Love You,” was the top-selling single of all time by a female artist. This hit spent 14 weeks at the top of the charts, and it’s still a popular song today. However, this hit wasn’t her only top song. Her first top hit was “Saving All My Love for You,” released before her 90s fame in 1985.
Madonna
Madonna wasn’t just a top artist in the 90s–she’s one of the top artists of the century. Since 2009, Madonna has held the title of top female artist of all time. Throughout her career, she’s sold over 400 million albums with singles in the 90s, such as “Take a Bow” and “Vogue.” There’s no doubt Madonna significantly impacted music culture in the 90s and beyond.
Boyz II Men
Boyz II Men set records in the 90s with their top hits. Not only did they make it to the top of the charts, but they were only the third musical group to replace themselves on the Billboard Top 100. Their hit “I’ll Make Love to You” was originally at the top, but “On Bended Knee” replaced it at the top of the Billboard chart in 1994. The only other artists at the time who had replaced their own top hits were The Beatles and Elvis Presley. Considering the popularity of those musicians, this was a big deal for Boys II Men.
Janet Jackson
There’s no doubt Janet Jackson came from a talented family, with her brother Michael Jackson ruling the music scene in the 80s. But with the troubling situations in Michael Jackson’s life, it was Janet Jackson’s time to shine in the 90s. Janet Jackson had six number-one hits during the 90s, making her one of the top female artists during that time. She had several hits on the top of the Billboard Top 100 in the 90s, including “Escapade,” “Together Again,” and “Love Will Never Do.”
Mariah Carey
You can’t even mention 90s music without bringing up the queen of the music charts, Mariah Carey. Mariah Carey had more songs hit the top of the Billboard charts (14, to be exact) than any other 90s artist, making her the number 1 artist in the 90s. (Also See The Most Popular Artists Who’ve Never Had a No. 1 Hit.)
Since then, Mariah Carey has added five more songs to that list. While many people today may associate Mariah Carey with her popular Christmas hit “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” she’s still one of the most well-loved artists of all time and was one of the most popular musicians in the 90s.