Women's History Month: Here are 15 female singers from Texas

Depending on what radio station you tune into, chances are that a Texan woman is belting out a bop.

Listening to country? Miranda Lambert or Tanya Tucker is on.

Pop or rap? Megan Thee Stallion or Selena Gomez is playing.

While there are many women singers from Texas, here are 15 who have made an impact in the music industry and their highest-charting singles from the Billboard Hot 100.

Ashlee Simpson

Waco

While working on her debut album, "Autobiography," Ashlee Simpson became the star of her reality series "The Ashlee Simpson Show." At age 19, the show focused on her beginnings as a singer.

Ashlee Simpson later released two additional albums, "I Am Me" and "Bittersweet World."

In August 2014, Ashlee Simpson married Evan Ross, son of Diana Ross. The two have two children and released an EP, "Ashlee + Evan."

Highest-charting single: "Pieces of Me"

Beyoncé

Houston

Beyoncé is noted for her boundary-pushing artistry and vocal ability.

The "Queen Bey" rose to fame in the late 1990s as a member of R&B girl group Destiny's Child. She released her debut album "Dangerously in Love" in 2003, which featured two singles that went No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Over the past two decades, Beyoncé released seven albums and starred in multiple films including "Austin Powers in Goldmember," "Dreamgirls" and "The Lion King."

Beyoncé is the first solo artist to have their first seven album debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and has 32 Grammy Awards, the most of any person in history.

Highest-charting singles: "Crazy in Love," "Baby Boy," "Check on It," "Irreplaceable," "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)," "Perfect Duet," "Savage Remix" and "Break My Soul"

Ciara

Fort Hood

Ciara released her debut album "Goodies" in 2004, which spawned four singles including "Goodies," "1, 2 Step," "Oh" and "And I."

The album was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America and earned two nominations at the 48th Grammy Awards.

Since her debut, Ciara has released six albums. She is set to start as Nettie in the 2023 remake of "The Color Purple."

Highest-charting single: "Goodies"

Erykah Badu

Dallas

Erykah Badu rose to fame in the late 1990s when her debut album, "Baduizm," placed her at the forefront of the neo soul movement.

The progressive singer has released four additional studio albums, one live album, two mixtapes and has held 11 tours.

With a voice constantly compared to legendary jazz singer Billie Holiday, Badu has won four Grammy Awards.

Highest-charting single: "Bag Lady"

Hilary Duff

Houston

Hilary Duff started her career as an child actress when she portrayed the friendly witch Wendy in 1998's "Casper Meets Wendy."

She later was labeled as a "teen idol" when she stared as the title character of the Disney Channel original series "Lizzie McGuire."

Duff got into the music industry after releasing her debut album "Santa Claus Lane" in 2002. She has since released four additional albums and has starred in several films and TV series including "A Cinderella Story" and "How I Met Your Father."

Highest-charting single: "With Love"

Janis Joplin

Port Arthur

Janis Joplin was a rock legend known for her powerful vocals and stage presence.

She started her career as the lead singer of Big Brother and the Holding Company. After releasing two albums with the band, Joplin left to become a solo artist and released one album.

In 1970, she died of a heroin overdose at the age of 27. A second solo album, "Pearl," was released in January 1971 — three months after her death. Joplin was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995.

Highest-charting single: "Me and Bobby McGee"

Jessica Simpson

Abilene

After performing in church choirs as a child, Jessica Simpson signed with Columbia Records in 1997 when she was 17.

Her debut album, "Sweet Kisses," put her on the map as a '90s pop princess, joining the ranks of Britney Spears, Mandy Moore and Christina Aguilera.

Simpson later married Nick Lachey, the lead singer from boy band 98 Degrees. The two starred in the MTV reality TV series "Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica." The two divorced after three years of marriage.

Since her debut album, Simpson has starred in several films, released a total of seven albums and started The Jessica Simpson Collections — a fashion focused line with 34 product categories.

Highest-charting single: "I Wanna Love You Forever"

Kacey Musgraves

Golden

Kacey Musgraves started songwriting when she was 8-years-old, when she wrote a song called "Notice Me" for her elementary school graduation. Six years later, her family funded her first solo, self-released album.

When Musgraves turned 18, she moved to Austin in 2006. The following year, she competed on season five of the singing competition reality TV series "Nashville Star," where she placed seventh.

Musgraves signed with Mercury Records in 2012 and released her major-label debut "Same Trailer Different Park" the following year. She won the Grammy Award for Best Country Album. With her five albums, Musgraves has been nominated for 11 Grammy Awards and won six.

Highest-charting single: "Follow Your Arrow"

Kelly Clarkson

Fort Worth

Kelly Clarkson became a household name during her run on the first season of "American Idol" in 2002, where she won and earned a record deal with RCA.

She released her debut studio album, "Thankful," in 2003. Clarkson has since released six studio albums and two Christmas-themed albums.

She served as a coach on "The Voice" from its 14th to 21st season, and again for the 23rd season. Since 2019, Clarkson has hosted her own talk show, "The Kelly Clarkson Show."

Highest-charting singles: "A Moment Like This," "My Life Would Suck Without You" and "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)"

Megan Thee Stallion

San Antonio

Megan Thee Stallion first garnered attention after videos of her freestyling became popular on social media platforms including Instagram.

In 2018, she signed to 300 Entertainment and released "Fever" and "Suga," which both reached the top ten of the Billboard 200.

Throughout here career, Megan Thee Stallion released two studio albums, three EPs and three mixtapes. At the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards, she became the second female rapper to win Best New Artist after Lauryn Hill in 1999.

Highest-charting single: "Savage Remix" and "WAP"

Miranda Lambert

Longview

Miranda Lambert, like Musgraves, appeared on "Nashville Star." She placed third on the first season in 2003.

Her debut album, self-titled, was released independently in 2001. Her second and major-label debut album "Kerosene" was certified platinum in the United States.

Outside of her solo career, Lambert is a member of the Pistol Annies — a group formed in 2011 alongside Ashley Monroe and Angaleena Presley. She was listed on the "100 Most Influential People" by Time in 2022.

Highest-charting single: "Somethin' Bad"

Selena

Lake Jackson

Also known as the "Queen of Tejano," Selena made her debut on the music scene as a member of her family's band Selena y Los Dinos, which included her older siblings A.B. and Suzette Quintanilla.

In 1987, her popularity grew after she won the Tejano Music Award for Female Vocalist nine consecutive times. Selena's 1993 album "Live!" earned her a Grammy Award for Best Mexican/American album, the first for a female Tejano singer to do.

On Mar. 31, 1995, Selena was shot and killed by Yolanda Saldívar, her friend and former manager of her Selena Etc. boutiques. Saldívar was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison with a possible parole after 30 years.

Following her death, Selena's fifth album, "Dreaming of You," debuted atop the Billboard 200, making her the first Latin artist to accomplish this feat.

Highest-charting single: "Dreaming of You"

Selena Gomez

Grand Prairie

Selena Gomez started her career as a child actor on the TV series "Barney & Friends" in 2002.

As a teenager, she rose to prominence on the Disney Channel original series "Wizards of Waverly Place." She then starred in several films and TV series including "Another Cinderella Story," "Spring Breakers" and "Only Murders in the Building."

Gomez started her musical career with her former band Selena Gomez & the Scene. The group released three album through 2009 to 2011. She debuted her solo album, "Stars Dance," in 2013.

Since then, Gomez has released a total of three albums with a fourth in the works.

Highest-charting single: "Lose You to Love Me"

Solange

Houston

Solange, the younger sister of Beyoncé, released her first studio album "Solo Star" when she was 16 in 2002.

She appeared in several films before returning back to music in 2007, including "Bring It On: All or Nothing."

Heavily influence by Motown girl groups, Solange's second album "Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams" deviated from her pop-oriented music of her debut to Motown-sounds from the '60s and '70s. Solange has released four studio albums since 2002.

In 2022, she became the third woman and first Black woman to compose a score for the New York City Ballet.

Highest-charting single: "Cranes in the Sky"

Tanya Tucker

Seminole

In May 1972, Tanya Tucker released her first single, "Delta Dawn," at the age of 13.

Throughout her 51-year career span, Tucker has released 25 studio albums, three live albums, 30 compilation albums, nine video albums and one box set.

She performed at the Super Bowl XXVII halftime show in 1994 and won her first Grammy Awards in 2020 for Best Country Album and Best Country Song.

Highest-charting single: "Lizzie and the Rainman"

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John Oliva covers entertainment and community news in South Texas. Contact him at john.oliva@caller.com or Twitter @johnpoliva.

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This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Women's History Month: Here are 15 female singers from Texas