Top 20 Most Famous Voices

Ah, the unmistakable twang of a country music legend. With a career spanning seven decades, Dolly Parton’s sweet Southern lilt is typically heard through her classics, songs like "Jolene" and "9 to 5”. But, actually, in pop culture history, her distinctive tones have come to mean more than simply a unique singing style. On stage, even before she sings, it’s her warm speaking voice that just exudes charm and wit, forever endearing her to her fans. And, often in relation to the Dollywood Foundation - a philanthropic non-profit she founded in 1988 - boy can Dolly deliver a rousing speech when she wants to, on everything from public health to education Whatever her message, though, it’s a sound as comforting as a Tennessee mountain breeze.

Of course, Muhammad Ali - revered as "The Greatest" - is most well known for his supreme punching power. However, in between fights, his interviews were not to be missed. As such, Ali is also remembered for his voice, with his endless quotes and one-liners managing to be powerful and poetic, at the same time. Ali often spoke almost as rapidly as he hit, but still with absolute clarity. He created an aura around himself, with journalists often fighting each other just to get close to him… and land the scoop of whatever he said next. Probably his most iconic utterance was the legendary "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee". But, ultimately, put any Ali recording on and you will be captivated.

Opera isn’t for everybody. And yet, everyone knows Pararotti. The legendary singer was known for his soaring, powerful tenor, and his voice has been hailed as one of the greatest in history. Over the course of his career, Pavarotti performed to sold-out crowds all around the world, while recordings of his shows brought opera into many, many millions of homes. His rich timbre (and legendary high Cs) filled concert halls with such emotion that even those unfamiliar with classical music could feel its power. As such, his was a voice that genuinely defined an entire art form for generations of listeners. And, quite simply, there aren't many that can claim that.

You may not necessarily recognize her by sight. And, actually, you might not even immediately twig her usual, everyday speaking voice. But say “Eat my shorts” or “Don't have a cow man”, and you'll instantly recall Nancy Cartwright's iconic role as the animated, ever-quotable rogue, Bart Simpson. As one of the most successful and influential voice actors of all time, Cartwright gives life to one of television’s most beloved troublemakers. Hat tip also to Seth MacFarlane of “Family Guy” fame. But, there’s arguably no other animated character with the longevity or cultural impact that the Bartman has.

To another widely admired actor whose most famous roles are voice only. With booming depth, there’s a resonant, echoing strength in almost every syllable that James Earl Jones produces. His baritone is one for the ages, whatever he does, but no doubt his most famous roles have him lend his voice to Darth Vader in “Star Wars” and Mufasa in “The Lion King”. On the one hand, we have Vader’s menacing commands; on the other, there’s the sage advice of a fatherly predator. Either way, though, there are very few voices anywhere that can carry quite such authority. Nor that have permeated pop culture quite so impressively.

Whitney not only had one of pop music's most powerful voices but also one of its most emotive. Often imitated but never bettered, it easily goes down as one of the most famous in music history, thanks to the mind-boggling numbers behind Houston’s most famous record, “I Will Always Love You”. With upwards of 24 million physical copies sold, it’s the sixth best-selling single of all time, and the highest ranking (in terms of sales) by any female vocalist. More than that, though, it’s also the lead song on the third-best selling album of all time, the soundtrack for the movie “The Bodyguard”. Interestingly, the song was originally written by another of our top 20, Dolly Parton. But boy does Whitney make it her own.

They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and perhaps never more so than with Sean Connery’s classic Scottish drawl. This actor could well be one of the most impersonated and parodied of all time, but that’s just testament to how famous his voice, alone, has become. Connery’s ultra-smooth style became iconic through his portrayal of James Bond. As the first to don the super spy’s suit, he mixes toughness and charisma with natural ease. Even today, if you were to find yourself at a bar ordering a martini, is it actually possible to do so and not at least try to crack out your best Connery in the process?

Known as the King of Pop, Michael Jackson's vocal stylings were certainly unique. And, in fact, varied. Jackson never really settled on one specific style throughout his long career. However, he’s another musician whose voice qualifies as particularly famous, due to the eye-watering statistics behind his most famous records. “Thriller” is still comfortably the most bought album of all time, with potentially up to 100 million copies sold. Meanwhile, “Bad”, released 5 years later in 1987, is the fifth best selling album of all time. In pop music, no other voice has been listened to quite as much as Jackson’s has.

There are icons, and then there are icons. Marilyn Monroe goes down as arguably one of the most famous people ever, no matter the criteria. But, still, she’s more than worth her berth on this particular list, given again how widely known (and regularly imitated) her voice is. Her famously breathy voice was a major part of her overall character. For one, it contributed to her enduring glamor. But, and perhaps more notable, it hinted at her vulnerabilities and is part of the reason why the watching world is still so interested in her. Perhaps her most famous recording was “Happy Birthday, Mr President”, sung to John F. Kennedy in 1962. A moment, again, that captured the enigma that was Marilyn Monroe.

If this were a list based solely on political speech-making, then Winston Churchill would probably top it. Nevertheless, Churchill’s voice in general has come to represent an entire era, a war, and a deep-rooted part of the human spirit. As Prime Minister during World War Two, he rallied Britain during its darkest hour against Nazi aggression. A somewhat divisive figure in history, yes, but his bulldog determination coupled with stirring rhetoric meant that when he spoke, the world listened. It was in 1940 that many of his most memorable lines were uttered - including “We shall fight on the beaches” and “I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat”. All delivered with optimum gravitas.

As a leading actor and performer in the 1920s and ‘30s, Al Jolson was once known as "The World's Greatest Entertainer". His legacy is certainly tainted because he was also well known for blackface roles. But, when considering only his voice, Jolson’s goes down in history for one particular moment; or for one particular scene. It was he who delivered the first lines of speech in a talkie. As the film industry took the momentous shift from silent film to sound, Al Jolson was the one to break new ground with the oddly appropriate line, “Wait a minute, wait a minute. You ain't heard nothin' yet!”, in the 1927 movie, “The Jazz Singer”.

If it’s scarin’ people that you're after, then there’s never been better than Vincent Price. Considered by many to be the master of horror narration, he ties in with another of our famous voices - Michael Jackson - as Price lent his distinctive tone to the song “Thriller”. Elsewhere, his chilling voice and expressive delivery made him the perfect actor for countless classic horror roles - including in "House on Haunted Hill" and "The Raven”. At times, his was a voice that could also warm your heart with its richness. But, ultimately, all of that only played into his unique ability to then frighten the pants off of you, at any given moment.

Although “The Wizard of Oz” wasn’t quite the first movie in color, it still stands as a milestone moment in film - and right at the heart of it, was Judy Garland. As a result, her voice was heard all over the world at the time, particularly due to her timeless rendition of “Over The Rainbow”. But the praise leveled at her then (and now) was mostly due to how natural her singing was. At times, it was more like she was simply speaking in song. As she grew up in ‘30s and ‘40s Hollywood, Garland’s sound is perhaps remembered as being tinted with a seeming innocence of youth. However, as she became the triple A grade for musical theater actors everywhere, she could always (and immediately) switch to all out power, as well.

There aren’t many whose words have come to be immortalized quite like they have for Martin Luther King Jr.. Having delivered countless addresses and rallying cries, his was a reverberating eloquence heard all across the planet - and in America, especially. King’s inimitable style ignited the Civil Rights Movement and inspired generations. His voice proved a powerful instrument for change. But, of course, of all his speeches, perhaps none had more of an impact than “I Have a Dream”. With more than a quarter million people watching, King took to the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in August 1963 and made his mark on history forever more.

The early ‘60s were quite the high point for great American orators, but JFK’s distinct New England accent is still so recognisable, today. Some felt (and feel) that his many speeches were often so effective because they truly reflected him; a blend of charisma and optimism. His words, themselves, also shone light on an era dogged by political and social turmoil. But, today, the JFK twang has almost become synonymous with the position of US President, in general. In film and TV, whenever the POTUS is parodied - for better or worse - there’s usually a bit of Kennedy in the accent. And, ultimately, that’s because the man’s voice is so famous and almost universally recognised.

OK, so in this case, it’s more like you’ll almost certainly know Mel Blanc’s voices (plural). As the original voice artist behind the vast majority of characters in the Looney Tunes - including Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig and Taz, the Tasmanian Devil - Blanc is something of a soundtrack to childhood. Not only that, be he’s also known for his work with Hanna-Barbera - as Barney Rubble in “The Flintstones” and George Jetson’s boss, Mr. Spacely, in “The Jetsons”. His cultural impact was so vast that he’s remembered today as “The Man of a Thousand Voices”. He’s an unparalleled, bonafide legend in the business of animated voiceover.

The words “thank you very much” should really be non-descript enough to never truly associate with anyone. And yet, the Elvis “thank you very much” is the stuff of legend. Of course, this towering musician is remembered, in general, as the King. And he sure did shake up the world of popular culture during the 1950s, and not just with his hips. For many, it’s Elvis who first created the rock 'n' roll sound. There’s an entire bluesy-rock genre that ties back to his voice. But actually, even Elvis’ speaking voice was enough to silence a room - or perhaps send them wild. Like so many others on this list, he oozed poise and charisma every time he opened his mouth.

Yes, he can act. But, for the purposes of this video, nobody narrates a movie quite like this man.
Whether he’s masquerading as literal God or simply explaining the mating habits of penguins, Morgan Freeman is perhaps the most famous voice of all the upper echelons of Hollywood! With a vocal presence as commanding as it is soothing; he can make even the most mundane scripts seem profound. Perhaps no single movie showcases his unique skill better, however, than “The Shawshank Redemption”. Guiding us through the trials of Andy Dufresne, his iconic character ‘Red’ is so well liked mostly because of his voice. It’s all gravel, and it’s glorious.

To throw back to some of the others we’ve covered today, Sir David Attenborough is the Pavarotti of nature documentaries. He’s the Elvis of wildlife. The Marilyn Monroe of… well, you get the picture! Since the 1950s, he’s brought nature into our living rooms. But it’s all about the way he tells it. Attenborough’s gentle yet enthusiastic delivery is nothing short of inspiring. At once soothing and eloquent, his tone is a major part of the reason why he’s credited with inspiring a lifelong love of nature in generations of fans. In TV, personalities come… and personalities go. But it feels like Attenborough has simply always been there, talking us through something like the feeding habits of a caterpillar in such a way that we just have to listen.

In terms of the voice being the most famous thing about a person, no one trumps Don LaFontaine. For decades he worked in the somewhat niche business of movie trailers… but it was a business that he conquered, and promoted to an art form. LaFontaine’s vocals are all over many of the most famous trailers ever made. His deep and booming sound was just perfect for the silver screen. And he became synonymous with a trip to the movie theater, having racked up more than five thousand trailers before he passed, in 2008. In the industry, LaFontaine was especially known for his “In a world…” catchphrase, and he was referred to by some as “the voice of God”. High praise, but so deserved.

Which of these unforgettable voices is your favorite? Are there any iconic examples that we missed? Let us know below!