That would be Anne Wilson. I would consider her one of the most powerful female vocalists in rock. Annie Lenox would fall into that category for me as well.
Paula Cole has the most impressive voice I have come across for a while.
Unclviny
Speaking of operatic musical voices, Mary Fahl’s voice is amazing, particularly on the first (eponymous) October Project album. She left after the second album and put out a few passable solo albums, but I’d highly recommend the first album (with “Return To Me”) as an alternative/gothic example of this type of voice topped off with terrific writing.
Amanda Marshall and Jann Arden spring to mind.
So, given that there are a bunch of Nightwish fans running around this thread, I thought y’all might be interested in the pix my friend sharq took of them. You can find them posted here. He’s actually just now trying to do photography as more than a hobby, so if you dig his pictures, go visit his LiveJournal and let him know. He could use the ego boost.
And of course, given the happy synchronicity of hearing so much about them in the last week (after never having heard of them at all), I’m now going to dig around on Amazon for a CD by Nightwish. If they’ve got more than one, I’d appreciate recommendations – I’m a fan of bands like Zeppelin, Phish, Eddie from Ohio, Barenaked Ladies, and REM, if that helps.
Good call.
I’d also recommend getting hold of albums by an Australian band called George.
The two lead singers Katie and Ty Noonan(who alternate) are brother and sister, and both have amazing voices with Katie being operatically trained. Their mum is actually a well respected opera singer.
I always rank Katie as being quite possibly the most perfect voice I know of.
Betty Buckley. And she can sing.
Bebe Neuwirth is another sitcom star who can belt it out. Get the Chicago cast CD. She won a Tony for the role.
And Sutton is damn good. You should also listen to her brother Hunter Foster. What a talented set of siblings. I want them to do something together.