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The Most Famous

SINGERS from Lebanon

This page contains a list of the greatest Lebanese Singers. The pantheon dataset contains 3,528 Singers, 19 of which were born in Lebanon. This makes Lebanon the birth place of the 39th most number of Singers behind China and Argentina.

Top 10

The following people are considered by Pantheon to be the top 10 most legendary Lebanese Singers of all time. This list of famous Lebanese Singers is sorted by HPI (Historical Popularity Index), a metric that aggregates information on a biography’s online popularity. Visit the rankings page to view the entire list of Lebanese Singers.

1. Fairuz (1935 - )

With an HPI of 66.26, Fairuz is the most famous Lebanese Singer. Her biography has been translated into 43 different languages on wikipedia.

Nouhad Wadie' Haddad (Arabic: نهاد وديع حداد, Lebanese Arabic pronunciation: [nʊˈhaːd waˈdiːʕ ħadˈdaːd]; born November 21, 1934), known as Fairuz (Arabic: فيروز, pronounced [fajˈruːz]), is a Lebanese singer. She is considered by many as one of the leading vocalists and most famous singers in the history of the Arab world. Fairuz is considered the musical icon of Lebanon and is popularly known as "the soul of Lebanon".Fairuz began her musical career as a teenager at the national radio station in Lebanon in the late 1940s as a chorus member. Her first major hit, "Itab", was released in 1952 and made her an instant star in the Arab world. In the summer of 1957, Fairuz held her first live performance at the Baalbeck International Festival where she was awarded with the honor of "Cavalier", the highest medal for artistic achievement by Lebanese president Camille Chamoun. Fairuz's fame spread throughout the Arab world in the 1950s and 1960s, leading her to perform outside of Lebanon in various Arab capitals, including Damascus, Amman, Cairo, Rabat, Algiers, and Tunis. She has received multiple tokens of recognition and awards throughout her career including the Key to the Holy City awarded by the Jerusalem Cultural Committee, the Jordanian Medal of Honor presented by King Hussein of Jordan, the French Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres and the Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur, the Highest Artistic Distinction, awarded by Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Throughout the years, she headlined at the most important venues in the world such as Albert Hall and Royal Festival Hall in London, Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and United Nations General Assembly Lobby in New York, the Olympia and Salle Pleyel in Paris, and the Odeon of Herodes Atticus in Athens.In a career spanning over six decades, Fairuz has recorded nearly 1500 songs, released more than 80 albums, performed in 20 musicals and sold over 150 million records worldwide, making her one of the highest selling Middle-Eastern artists of all time, and one of the best-selling music artists in the world.

2. Sabah (1927 - 2014)

With an HPI of 56.26, Sabah is the 2nd most famous Lebanese Singer. Her biography has been translated into 24 different languages.

Sabah (Arabic: صباح Ṣabāḥ Lebanese pronunciation: [sˤɑˈbaːħ]; born Jeanette Gergis al-Feghali, جانيت جرجس فغالي; 10 November 1927 – 26 November 2014) was a Lebanese singer and actress, specialising in mawwal genre, a popular form of traditional music in Egypt.

3. Gazebo (1960 - )

With an HPI of 54.90, Gazebo is the 3rd most famous Lebanese Singer. His biography has been translated into 26 different languages.

Paul Mazzolini (born 18 February 1960), known by his stage name Gazebo, is an Italian singer, songwriter, musician and record producer best known for his italo disco music style during the 1980s. His song "I Like Chopin" reached No. 1 in more than 15 countries, and his debut single "Masterpiece" was also an international success.

4. Wadih El Safi (1921 - 2013)

With an HPI of 50.27, Wadih El Safi is the 4th most famous Lebanese Singer. His biography has been translated into 15 different languages.

Wadih El Safi (Arabic: وديع الصافي, born Wadih Francis; November 1, 1921 – October 11, 2013) was a Lebanese singer and composer. He was a Lebanese icon and the forefather of the country's musical culture. He was the longest singer in production, seventy-five years in the singing profession. He was the number one singer of his era. He was known amongst his peers to have incarnated and raised the ceiling of all the singing styles and music of that era and added his own intricate new styles and genres to the existing national musical and singing heritage. He is the reference to every new singer and the example to follow for generations to come. Born in Niha, Lebanon, Wadih El Safi started his artistic journey at the age of sixteen when he took part in a singing contest held by Lebanese Radio and was chosen the winner of all categories among 40 other competitors.

5. Nancy Ajram (1983 - )

With an HPI of 49.88, Nancy Ajram is the 5th most famous Lebanese Singer. Her biography has been translated into 52 different languages.

Nancy Nabil Ajram (Arabic: نانسي نبيل عجرم, Lebanese Arabic pronunciation: [næːnsiː ʕæʒræm] born May 16, 1983) is a Lebanese singer, television personality and businesswoman, dubbed by Spotify as the "Queen of Arab Pop". With the support of her father, she began performing as a child and appeared on several television shows in her early years. By the age of 15, Ajram signed a recording contract with EMI and released her debut studio album Mihtagalak (1998). In spite of being under the legal age, Ajram was exceptionally accepted to the Syndicate of Professional Artists in Lebanon. The following year, she released her second album Sheel Oyoonak Anni (2001). Her breakthrough occurred with the start of her collaboration with well-known Lebanese producer Jiji Lamara, when she released her controversial smash hit single "Akhasmak Ah"; created by Egyptian composer Mohamed Saad, and third studio album Ya Salam (2003) in which she adopted a public image as a sex symbol while reinventing her music. Ajram's fourth album Ah W Noss (2004) was another commercial success, spawning the chart-topping singles "Ah W Noss", "Lawn Ouyounak", "Oul Tani Keda" and "Inta Eyh", at which point she had established pop icon status in the Middle East. In 2007, Ajram released her first children's album, Shakhbat Shakhabit, which was the most notable and successful work for children at the time. Betfakkar Fi Eih (2008), her sixth album produced seven singles including the commercially successful Egyptian hits, "Betfakkar Fi Eih", "Min Dally Nseek" and the Lebanese single "Mashi Haddi", won Ajram's first World Music Award as world's best-selling Middle Eastern artist, the youngest Arab WMA winner to date. Having sold over 30 million records worldwide as of 2007, Ajram is one of the best-selling Middle Eastern music artists. By 2010 she was announced the best-selling Middle Eastern female singer of the decade (2000–2009). Throughout her career, Ajram has released eleven studio albums to date (including two dedicated for children) and numerous chart toppers such as "Yay", "Ya Tabtab", "Moegaba", "Ehsas Jdeed", "Ibn El Giran", "Fi Hagat", "Ya Kether", "Ma Tegi Hena" and "Badna Nwalee El Jaw". Ajram is the first and only female spokesperson of Coca-Cola in the Arab world, releasing several promotional Coke anthems that became instant smash-hits, such as "Oul Tani Keda", "El Dounya Helwa", "Noss El Kawn" and "Shaggaa Bi Alamak". Ajram has made the list of Most Powerful Arabs on Arabian Business several times, and was similarly listed by Newsweek as one of the most influential Arab singers.She has also featured in patriotic songs for her country Lebanon, and has also dedicated seven patriotic songs to Egypt; a country she's widely popular in thanks to her Egyptian hits such as "Akhasmak Ah" and "Ah we Noss".Between 2013 and 2017, Ajram served as a judge on MBC's reality talent show Arab Idol. She also began serving as a coach on The Voice Kids Arabia in 2016. In 2020, Nancy was the most-streamed Arab female artist on Spotify, achieving more than 100 million plays of her songs, followed by Lebanese icon Fairuz with 67 million plays.

6. Majida El Roumi (1956 - )

With an HPI of 48.24, Majida El Roumi is the 6th most famous Lebanese Singer. Her biography has been translated into 21 different languages.

Majida El Roumi Baradhy (Arabic: ماجدة الرومي برادعي; born 13 December 1956) is a Lebanese soprano singer and United Nations Goodwill Ambassador.

7. Elissa (1972 - )

With an HPI of 47.06, Elissa is the 7th most famous Lebanese Singer. Her biography has been translated into 35 different languages.

Elissar Zakaria Khoury (Arabic: إليسار زكريا خوري; born 27 October 1972), commonly known as Elissa (Arabic: إليسا), is a Lebanese singer. She is one of Lebanon's most famous singers, and one of the best-known artists in the Arab world.She has been among the highest-selling female Middle Eastern artists since 2005. In 2005, she became the first Lebanese singer to receive the World Music Award for Best Selling Middle Eastern Artist, an award that she received again in 2006 and 2010. She has currently sold over 30 million albums worldwide. Elissa is also one of the richest celebrities in Lebanon, with a reported estimated wealth of over $40 million. As of 2019, Elissa has over 50 million followers on social media. In 2018, Elissa appeared as a judge on The Voice: Ahla Sawt, the Arab edition of The Voice.

8. Maher Zain (1981 - )

With an HPI of 46.14, Maher Zain is the 8th most famous Lebanese Singer. His biography has been translated into 40 different languages.

Maher Zain (Arabic: ماهر زين; born 16 July 1981) is a Lebanese-Swedish R&B singer, songwriter and music producer. He released his debut album Thank You Allah, an internationally successful album produced by Awakening Records, in 2009. He released his follow-up album Forgive Me in April 2012 under the same production company, and a third album One in 2016.

9. Layal Abboud (1982 - )

With an HPI of 45.00, Layal Abboud is the 9th most famous Lebanese Singer. Her biography has been translated into 95 different languages.

Layal Mounir Abboud (Arabic: ليال منير عبود, pronounced [laj'ja:l ʕab'bu:d] (listen); is a Lebanese pop singer, folk music entertainer, sound-lyric poet, concert dancer, fit model and Muslim humanitarian.Born to a musical family in the Southern Lebanese Tyrian village of Kniseh, Abboud is a former ISF officer and studied English literature at Lebanese University, translation at Beirut Arab University and musical expression at the American University of Science and Technology. She appeared for the first time in the Studio El-Fan series debuts as a South Lebanese competitor from 2001 to 2002. Abboud's musical career flourished with the release of her first album Fi Shouq (Arabic: في شوق: on longing) published in late 2007. Sings in different Arabic dialects, famous for her presentation of Lebanese folklore music and internal summer concerts and tours. Abboud is a singer member in the Syndicate of Professional Artists in Lebanon.

10. Najwa Karam (1966 - )

With an HPI of 44.54, Najwa Karam is the 10th most famous Lebanese Singer. Her biography has been translated into 25 different languages.

Najwa Karam (Arabic: نجوى كرم, Lebanese Arabic pronunciation: [ˈnaʒwa ˈkaɾam]; born February, 26, 1966) is a Lebanese multi-platinum singer, actress, songwriter, and fashion icon. Dubbed Shams el-Ghinnieh ("The Sun of Song"), Karam is noted for her powerful Mawwal-skilled vocals. She has gained an international audience due to her distinct blend of traditional Lebanese music and contemporary sounds which has contributed to the spread of the Lebanese dialect in Arabic Music. Having sold tens of millions of records, Najwa Karam is one of the highest selling Arabic language singers. She has sold some of he best selling albums between 1999-2003 and in 2008. In 2023, Karam boasts a social media following of nearly 40 million followers across Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Karam was named to Forbes 50 Over 50: Europe, Middle East And Africa 2023. She continues to frequently perform throughout the Arab world and internationally.In 2011, Karam debuted as a judge on the reality competition television series Arabs Got Talent; she has since appeared on all six of its seasons. In 2020, she appeared as a coach on the first season of MBC's The Voice Senior. In 2017, Forbes Middle East ranked Karam number 5 on the list of "The Top 100 Arab Celebrities" with over 26.58 million social media followers at the time. In 2018, Cosmopolitan included Karam on their list of "The 15 Most Inspiring Women In The Middle East", and Forbes included her on their list of the "Top 10 of Arab Stars On The Global Stage". In 2021, she was named to Forbes Middle East’s Arab Music Stars list of 50 of MENA’s most streamed and followed active musicians.Karam rose to stardom throughout the 1990s, earning the moniker Shams el-Ghinnieh ("The Sun of Song"), from her eponymous album. Her other successful '90s albums include Naghmet Hob, Ma Bassmahlak, Maghroumeh, and Rouh Rouhi. In 2000, Karam's tenth album Oyoun Qalbi became her highest-selling album. In 2001 her album Nedmaneh sold millions of copies worldwide, earning Karam a Murex d'Or award for Best Arabic Artist and Rotana Records awards including, Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, and Highest-Selling Album of the Year. By the time her album Saharni was released in 2003, she had established herself as one of the most prominent Arabic singers and as a Middle Eastern pop icon. Throughout the late 2000s, Karam's commercial success endured via her albums, Hayda Haki, Am Bemzah Ma'ak, and Khallini Shoufak. Karam frequently worked with the renowned musician and composer Melhem Barakat and collaborated with the legendary singer, Wadih el Safi on their critically acclaimed 2004 duet titled, W Kberna ("We Grow Old Together"). In 2011, Karam collaborated with Sony Entertainment and Rotana to produce the Arab World's first 3D music video for her song, "Ma Fi Noum" from her record Hal Layle... Ma Fi Nom. In 2012, Karam walked the Red Carpet at the 65th Cannes Film Festival. She has since released well-received singles and music videos as well as her latest studio album, Menni Elak, in 2017. In 2019, Karam's single, Maloun Abou L Echeq, became a commercial and critical success with its music video becoming one of the highest-viewed Arabic music videos on Youtube.

People

Pantheon has 19 people classified as singers born between 1921 and 1983. Of these 19, 16 (84.21%) of them are still alive today. The most famous living singers include Fairuz, Gazebo, and Nancy Ajram. The most famous deceased singers include Sabah, Wadih El Safi, and Suzanne Tamim. As of April 2022, 2 new singers have been added to Pantheon including Julia Boutros and Yasmine Hamdan.