Special Report

Women Who Have Won The Most Grammys of All Time

Kevork Diansezian / Getty Images

Ever since 1959, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences has honored performers, songwriters and composers, production personnel, and other key figures in the recorded music industry with their Grammy awards – considered the most prestigious in the industry.

Scores of artists are nominated each year and often a few of the nominees dominate the ceremony, sweeping up many of the gilded gramophones – the Grammy equivalent of the Oscar statuette. (These are the best-selling Grammy winners of all time.)

As is the case with the entertainment industry overall, Hollywood included, there is no shortage of controversy in the music business about the ways women are underrepresented and discriminated against, and the Grammys have had their share of problems in this area.

In 2018, Recording Academy president Neil Portnow said that women need to “step up” if they want to win as many awards as men. Reaction to his statement was swift, with stars like Katy Perry, Sheryl Crow, and Halsey calling him out and several female music business executives calling for Portnow to step down (which he did the following year). The episode also sparked the formation of a task force to address gender bias in the recording industry.

The fact remains that, to date, of the 17 artists – male or female – with the most awards in Grammy history, only two are women. Nevertheless, some female performers have amassed an impressive number of the awards.

To determine the women who have won the most Grammys, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data from the Grammy Awards database, updated as of July 2022. Data on certified album sales comes from the Recording Industry Association of America.

Click here to see the women who have won the most Grammys of all time

At the top of our list, with 28 Grammys to her name, is Beyoncé – who made history at the award ceremony last year when she tied a living legend, producer-songwriter Quincy Jones, for most wins, becoming the most decorated woman in the award show’s history. (It’s no wonder she’s on our list one of 50 powerful women in entertainment.)

Brett Carlsen / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

25. Hillary Scott (Lady A)
> Grammy wins: 9
> Grammy nominations: 16
> Certified U.S. solo album sales: N/A

[in-text-ad]

Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

24. Rihanna
> Grammy wins: 9
> Grammy nominations: 33
> Certified U.S. solo album sales: 23 million

Frazer Harrison / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

23. Norah Jones
> Grammy wins: 9
> Grammy nominations: 18
> Certified U.S. solo album sales: 17 million

Kevin Winter / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

22. Sheryl Crow
> Grammy wins: 9
> Grammy nominations: 31
> Certified U.S. solo album sales: 16 million

[in-text-ad-2]

Pictorial Parade / Archive Photos via Getty Images

21. Natalie Cole
> Grammy wins: 9
> Grammy nominations: 21
> Certified U.S. solo album sales: 14 million

Jason Davis / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

20. Cheryl Bentyne (Manhattan Transfer)
> Grammy wins: 9
> Grammy nominations: 15
> Certified U.S. solo album sales: N/A

[in-text-ad]

Astrid Stawiarz / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

19. Janis Siegel (Manhattan Transfer)
> Grammy wins: 9
> Grammy nominations: 19
> Certified U.S. solo album sales: N/A

Ser Baffo / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

18. Mary J. Blige
> Grammy wins: 9
> Grammy nominations: 31
> Certified U.S. solo album sales: 21 million

Emma McIntyre / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

17. Bonnie Raitt
> Grammy wins: 10
> Grammy nominations: 26
> Certified U.S. solo album sales: 17 million

[in-text-ad-2]

Ian Gavan / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

16. Dolly Parton
> Grammy wins: 10
> Grammy nominations: 51
> Certified U.S. solo album sales: 7 million

Dia Dipasupil / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

15. Chaka Khan
> Grammy wins: 10
> Grammy nominations: 22
> Certified U.S. solo album sales: 3 million

[in-text-ad]

Dia Dipasupil / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

14. Taylor Swift
> Grammy wins: 11
> Grammy nominations: 42
> Certified U.S. solo album sales: 46 million

13. Linda Ronstadt
> Grammy wins: 11
> Grammy nominations: 27
> Certified U.S. solo album sales: 30 million

Terry Wyatt / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

12. Shirley Caesar
> Grammy wins: 11
> Grammy nominations: 28
> Certified U.S. solo album sales: N/A

[in-text-ad-2]

Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

11. Judith Sherman
> Grammy wins: 12
> Grammy nominations: 17
> Certified U.S. solo album sales: N/A

Keystone / Hulton Archive via Getty Images

10. Leontyne Price
> Grammy wins: 13
> Grammy nominations: 25
> Certified U.S. solo album sales: N/A

[in-text-ad]

Brendon Thorne / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

9. Emmylou Harris
> Grammy wins: 13
> Grammy nominations: 47
> Certified U.S. solo album sales: 4 million

Stuart C. Wilson / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

8. Lady Gaga
> Grammy wins: 13
> Grammy nominations: 34
> Certified U.S. solo album sales: 17 million

library_of_congress / Flickr

7. Ella Fitzgerald
> Grammy wins: 13
> Grammy nominations: 20
> Certified U.S. solo album sales: 1 million

[in-text-ad-2]

Jason Kempin / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

6. CeCe Winans
> Grammy wins: 15
> Grammy nominations: 31
> Certified U.S. solo album sales: 3 million

Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

5. Alicia Keys
> Grammy wins: 15
> Grammy nominations: 30
> Certified U.S. solo album sales: 20 million

[in-text-ad]

Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

4. Adele
> Grammy wins: 15
> Grammy nominations: 18
> Certified U.S. solo album sales: 28 million

Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

3. Aretha Franklin
> Grammy wins: 18
> Grammy nominations: 44
> Certified U.S. solo album sales: 10 million

Kevin Winter / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

2. Alison Krauss
> Grammy wins: 27
> Grammy nominations: 42
> Certified U.S. solo album sales: 7 million

[in-text-ad-2]

Gareth Cattermole / Getty Images

1. Beyoncé
> Grammy wins: 28
> Grammy nominations: 79
> Certified U.S. solo album sales: 15 million

Get Ready To Retire (Sponsored)

Start by taking a quick retirement quiz from SmartAsset that will match you with up to 3 financial advisors that serve your area and beyond in 5 minutes, or less.

Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests.

Here’s how it works:
1. Answer SmartAsset advisor match quiz
2. Review your pre-screened matches at your leisure. Check out the advisors’ profiles.
3. Speak with advisors at no cost to you. Have an introductory call on the phone or introduction in person and choose whom to work with in the future

Get started right here.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.