Top 10 Greatest P-Pop Soloists Of All Time

As the first singer to earn the coveted grand champion title on the show “Pinoy Pop Superstar”, Jonalyn Viray, also known as Jona, was destined for fame. She discovered her talent in singing from a very young age and honed it to perfection. You might remember Jona as a member of the girl group La Diva, who sang “Lupang Hinirang” at the Manny Pacquiao versus Miguel Cotto Las Vegas match. With her powerful and commanding voice, Jona has created an award-winning career. However, perhaps her biggest achievement is the number of hearts she has helped heal with her love songs.

If you’re a fan of Pinoy dramas, chances are, you’ve heard Erik Santos’ voice in your favorite OSTs. After all, he is not called the ‘King of Pinoy Teleserye Theme Songs’ for nothing. His journey started when he took home the trophy on the first season of the competition show “Star in a Million”. Today, not only is he commercially uber-successful with chart-topping hits in his discography but also critically acclaimed. He even counts a performance at the 2008 Beijing Olympics Asian Night in his accomplishments. Needless to say, he’s a huge deal in the Pinoy music industry.

Known as the “Michael Jackson of the Philippines”, Gary V has carried the music industry on his back for decades. His mother was an opera songstress, so music is in his blood. He was involved in music from a very young age and performed in various settings before launching his career. Over the years, Gary has gained immense popularity for his unique vocal style. He is also known for making his high-octane performances unforgettable, which earned him the moniker ‘Mr. Pure Energy’. Alongside his music career, Valenciano also maintains a prolific filmography as an actor, truly proving his versatility.

Hers is the kind of voice you’d expect to hear at the pearly gates of heaven. With an ethereal, breathy quality, Moira Dela Torre’s vocals don’t just soothe the heart. They touch the soul. Like a warm, cozy hug at the end of a long day, listeners can just melt into her music. The heartfelt lyrics add to the emotional depth of the same. Is it even surprising then that she’s the first solo OPM artist to hit two billion streams on Spotify? The numbers speak for themselves and we’re sure she’s well on her way to breaking even more records.

The “Heartful Café” actress is the very definition of an overachiever. She grew up doing pageants, taking music lessons, and appearing in TV shows. Now, Julie Anne San Jose is only in her thirties but has accomplished more in her career than most can dream of. For instance, she sold one of the highest number of records in the last decade in her home country. In another historic highlight, she won the Diamond Record Award for her self-titled album, and was the youngest of all of its recipients ever. Thanks to her unstilted hard work, San Jose has established herself as a force to be reckoned with in the entertainment world.

Name a cooler title than Asia’s Phoenix – we’ll wait. Morissette Amon, the owner of the sobriquet, has long impressed fans with her music. Her experience on competition shows like “Star Factor” and “The Voice of the Philippines” helped her build a solid fandom which continues to propel her to new levels of success. Critics have lauded her for her unbeatable range and she’s particularly famous for her whistle register, which is comparable to the likes of Mariah Carey and Ariana Grande. Oh, and if you were wondering, yes, she is named after Alanis Morissette, so her rockstar father Amay Amon probably always knew she was going to be OPM’s ‘it’ girl. As a bonus, her first name, Johanne, was taken from the German composer Johann Sebastian Bach!

If we had to list this OPM star’s achievements, we’d be here all day. Suffice to say, he is one of the most influential artists in the history of Pinoy music. When it comes to genres, he does it all. Pop, rock, gospel, show tunes, ballads, dance music – you name it! This variety is one of the reasons why his concerts are always sold out. The media does love to call him ‘Concert King’, so we’d expect nothing less. With the glory that is now attached to his name, we bet it’s a full circle moment for him. When he was young, he dreamed of performing like his father, Society of Seven member Bert Nievera. Now, millions of kids look up to him.

All hail the Popstar Princess! Sarah Geronimo, who was named Woman of the Year by Billboard Philippines in 2024, has the Midas touch. Be it as an actress or a musician, her name will be written in the history of Pinoy entertainment in golden letters. Throughout her extensive career, her musicality has constantly evolved, allowing her to set new trends along the way. At the same time, she has been an incredible inspiration to aspiring singers, with many new artists, such as Morissette, citing her as a role model. Fans love her for her artistry, of course, but also for the warm, humble, and genuine human being she is.

Few can belt like Asia’s Songbird does. Regine Velasquez, who is a genre herself, led a life of strict discipline to reach the pinnacle of success she enjoys today. Neither of her parents were professional singers but music was an intrinsic part of her childhood. Once she took to singing, her father put her through rigorous vocal training that no ordinary six-year-old could endure easily. She would be immersed in the sea until only her head was above water and master her melismas that way. We bet many others followed suit after learning about this technique in hopes of matching her excellence. In fact, Sarah Geronimo did it too, but in a drum of water. Still, Regine Velasquez is inimitable and a rare musical treasure.


Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

This SB19 Member Has a Strong Artistic Identity as a Soloist

He Goes Straight for the Feels

She’s Defining a New Generation of P-Pop

Her Music Resonates with a Global Audience

There would be no P-Pop without this icon. Lea Salonga is the most globally renowned and celebrated Filipino singer of all time. Her musical theater prowess has taken her all the way across the world, from New York’s Broadway to London’s West End. She has a Tony Award to her name and a couple of Grammy nods too! Besides, the “Miss Saigon” star is not just an OPM legend but also a Disney Legend for voicing the musical numbers of the original Jasmine and Mulan. Not to mention, in 2022, she was dubbed a “life-long role model for children of color” by TIME. Clearly, her impact extends beyond music. Ultimately, she’s the pride and joy of the Philippines.




Which new P-Pop soloist do you think will make it onto a list like this in the future? Let us know in the comments!