H.E.R.
Vallejo, California singer-songwriter who began releasing music anonymously before winning a Grammy and an Oscar — her guitar-driven R&B has positioned her as the next generational voice in the genre.
Pantheon Standing
| List Name | Rank | Combined |
|---|---|---|
| Greatest R&B / Soul Artists of All Time | #1 | 96.0 |
The Age Divide
Voters under 30 and over 35 rank H.E.R. significantly differently across lists.
The Cultural Record
Discography
Vallejo, California singer-songwriter who began releasing music anonymously before winning a Grammy and an Oscar — her guitar-driven R&B has positioned her as the next generational voice in the genre
Awards & Recognition
5 Grammy Awards
View All 5 Grammy Wins →—
H.E.R. (2017
Grammy Award)
Oscar for Best Original Song (Fight for You
2022)
The Case For H.E.R.
“The longevity argument alone puts them in a category of one. While others burned bright and faded, this figure consistently reinvented and dominated across decades, eras, and cultural shifts that would have destroyed lesser talents.”
“Technically unmatched. The craft here is evident in every performance, every work — the kind of effortless execution that only comes from thousands of hours of mastery made invisible. They make the impossible look inevitable.”
“Commercial success should never be held against artistic legacy. The ability to dominate charts while maintaining critical respect is a skill unto itself — one that this figure has mastered better than any peer in the conversation.”
Rank History
Ranking history will be available once voting opens for H.E.R..
Often Compared To
James Brown
#2R&B / Soul — Barnwell, South Carolina · 1956–2006
Augusta, Georgia Godfather of Soul who invented funk, influenced hip-hop, and was the most sampled musician in history — he is the rhythm section of modern Black music.
Janet Jackson
#3R&B / Soul — Gary, Indiana · 1982–present
Gary, Indiana entertainer who stepped out of her family's shadow to become one of the most influential performers in pop and R&B history — Control and Rhythm Nation are landmark records.