28 Best 2000s Singers, All Popular Music Artists

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Do you remember the music of the 2000s? It doesn’t feel that long ago, but a lot has happened since those early days of the internet. Remember Heelys, Blockbuster, and Lip Smacker? These were all kind of a big deal back then.

Of course, the best music is always represented by the best singers, and in this guide, we look at the best 2000s singers and popular music artists.

Beyoncé

Beyoncé Giselle “Queen Bey” Knowles-Carter is considered one of the greatest entertainers of her generation, and while she remains prolific to this day, in the 2000s, she would appear on Destiny’s Child’s Survivor, 8 Days of Christmas, and Destiny Fulfilled, as well as Dangerously in Love, B’Day, and I Am… Sasha Fierce as a solo artist.

And let’s face it – that transition from Destiny’s Child’s lead singer to solo artist was pivotal.

And speaking of pivotal, how about those 2000s Beyoncé bangers? “Survivor,” “Bootylicious,” “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It),” and “Telephone” to name a few.

Beyoncé

John Mayer

Good-looking, ultra-talented, and popular. What more could a guy ask for? And having found fame, John Mayer played it up, sometimes just to entertain his spontaneous whims.

At his parent’s urging, Mayer would enroll in the Berklee College of Music in 1997 instead of skipping college altogether to pursue music. It didn’t stick. After two semesters, Mayer left college and headed straight to Atlanta to form a duo called LoFi Masters.

That didn’t stick either, so Mayer finally decided it was time to go solo. He got some help from local producer Glenn Matullo to put together his independent EP, Inside Wants Out.

In the early 2000s, Mayer would benefit from an online following, which got the attention of Aware Records. Aware would release Mayer’s internet-only album, Room for Squares. It ended up being somewhat of a sleeper hit, but sure enough, it produced several radio hits, including “Why Georgia,” “No Such Thing,” and “Your Body Is a Wonderland.”

Mayer would follow it up with Heavier Things in 2003, Continuum in 2006, and Battle Studies in 2009. During this time, Mayer would also form the John Mayer Trio, which has technically never disbanded, though they only have one live album to their name.

Mayer remains steady in his career overall and had several releases through the 2010s and one in the 2020s as well.

John Mayer

Alicia Keys

Award-winning classically trained pianist and singer-songwriter Alicia Keys may have gotten her start in the mid-90s, but her breakthrough success would not arrive until 2001, with Songs in A Minor.

The argument could certainly be made that the rest is history, but the 2000s would also see the release of The Diary of Alicia Keys in 2003, As I Am in 2007, and The Element of Freedom in 2009.

See “Fallin’,” “A Woman’s Worth,” “If I Ain’t Got You,” “Butterflyz,” “How Come You Don’t Call Me,” “Superwoman,” and “Put It in a Love Song.”

Alicia Keys

Keith Urban

Speaking of guys that seem to have it all, there’s Australian/American country superstar Keith Urban. He can’t seem to teach a guitar lesson to save his life (although he tries), but that is negligible considering his prowess as a singer and guitarist, not to mention his good looks.

Urban’s music career has its roots in the 1990s. In his early years, he would sign to EMI in Australia, release his self-titled album, win awards, sing backing vocals on INXS’s “Shining Star,” appear in music videos, and more.

While many artists seem to experience tumultuous ups and downs and “paying their dues” on the way to the top, Urban’s trajectory is more like a steady upward climb to the top.

In the 2000s, we would see the release of Golden Road (2002), Be Here (2004), Love, Pain & the Whole Crazy Thing (2006), and Defying Gravity (2009).

If you haven’t heard songs like “Somebody Like You,” “Who Wouldn’t Wanna Be Me,” “You’re My Better Half,” “Once in a Lifetime,” and “Sweet Thing,” you’re either living under a rock or you’re just not a country fan (which his excusable).

Keith Urban

P!nk

Singer, songwriter, and actress P!nk got her start with the R&B girl group Choice, along with Chrissy Conway and Sharon Flanagan. Once record executive, record producer, and A&R representative L.A. Reid got wind of their work, he signed them to a record deal.

Things weren’t okay with Choice, though, because while they did record an album, it was never released. Reid told P!nk it was time to go solo, or she wouldn’t have a career. Even if it was an ultimatum, Reid was right, because P!nk’s first solo single, “There You Go,” would go on to become her first top 10 hit.

The 2000s would prove fruitful for P!nk, who released Can’t Take Me Home, Missundaztood, Try This, I’m Not Dead, and Funhouse.

Check out “Don’t Let Me Get Me,” “Family Portrait,” “Who Knew,” and “So What.”

P!nk

Robbie Williams

Robbie Williams experienced breakthrough success in the late 90s. The path to that point, however, wasn’t exactly trouble-free. Besides joining the boy band Take That and releasing music, his drug and alcohol habit would quickly escalate, nearly to the point of overdose.

Williams didn’t like all the ballads he felt he was forced to sing in the group and didn’t think his input was being taken seriously. The group decided to pre-empt Williams’ departure and shared with him their intentions to tour without him. Williams left the group in 1995.

Williams would soon garner the attention of the press, however. It didn’t hurt that he was seen hobnobbing with the members of the English rock band Oasis at the Glastonbury Festival. He shared his plans to go solo with the press, though he would end up having to face legal battles with Take That before finally securing the right to start his solo career.

In the late 90s, Williams would release Life thru a Lens and I’ve Been Expecting You. But with his former troubles behind him, Williams would embrace the 2000s, which ended up being his most prolific period, with six studio albums.

His 2000 release, Sing When You’re Winning alone would spawn multiple hits like “Rock DJ,” “Kids,” and “Better Man.”

Robbie Williams

Avril Lavigne

Canadian singer and songwriter Avril Lavigne signed a two-album contract with Arista Records at the tender age of 16. Her debut album, Let Go, featuring the singles “Complicated” and “Sk8er Boi” went on to become the best-selling album of the 21st century by a Canadian artist.

Let Go, of course, came out in 2002, and the 2000s were foundational for the then-young up-and-comer. Lavigne would make good with 2004’s Under My Skin and 2007’s The Best Damn Thing. Lavigne has remained active throughout the 2010s and 2020s as well.

Also see “I’m with You,” “Take Me Away,” “Together,” “Fall to Pieces,” “Forgotten,” and “Keep Holding On.”

Avril Lavigne

Lady Gaga

Singer, songwriter, and actress Lady Gaga is considered one of the most versatile acts in the entertainment industry. Her early Halloween antics would largely be labeled brilliant retrospectively.

Lady Gaga’s music career did not get underway until 2005, however, and her breakthrough would not arrive until 2008 with The Fame and the 2009 reissue, The Fame Monster.

Her rise to fame, though, would be stratospheric. And with bangers like “Poker Face,” “Just Dance,” “Bad Romance,” and “Telephone,” who’s left to argue the point (yes, that was a rhetorical question)?

Lady Gaga

Chris Martin

Best known as the lead singer, pianist, and rhythm guitarist of Coldplay, Chris Martin is a singer, songwriter, musician, and philanthropist.

Co-founding Coldplay in 1996, the band would lay the groundwork to becoming an international sensation in 2000 with their debut album, Parachutes.

During the 2000s, Coldplay would also release A Rush of Blood to the Head in 2002, X&Y in 2005, and Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends in 2008.

Bands like Imagine Dragons, Snow Patrol, The Fray, OneRepublic, Maroon 5, James Blunt, Keane, and others all owe something to the sound of Coldplay, which is owing a great deal to Radiohead and U2. But on that basis alone, Martin can certainly be considered widely influential.

For a trip down memory lane, see “Yellow,” “The Scientist,” “Viva La Vida,” and “Clocks.”

Chris Martin

Shakira

Colombian singer and songwriter Shakira would first breakthrough into the Latin scene in the mid-90s to early 2000s. She would then begin to find success with an English-speaking audience in 2001 with “Whenever, Wherever.”

Following the release of Laundry Service in 2001, ageless beauty Shakira would go on to release Fijación Oral, Vol. 1 as well asOral Fixation, Vol. 2 in 2005, and She Wolf in 2009. Shakira has continued her success streak into the 2010s and the 2020s as well.

If you need a refresher, I recommend “Hips Don’t Lie,” “Don’t Bother,” and “Give It Up to Me.”

Shakira

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