The Most Famous

SINGERS from Lebanon

This page contains a list of the greatest Lebanese Singers. The pantheon dataset contains 4,381 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 (b. 1935)

With an HPI of 67.60, Fairuz is the most famous Lebanese Singer. Her biography has been translated into 47 different languages on wikipedia.

Nouhad Wadie Haddad (born November 21, 1935), known as Fairuz, is a Lebanese singer. She is widely considered an iconic vocalist and one of the most celebrated singers in the history of the Arab world. She is popularly known as "The Bird of the East", "The Cedar of Lebanon", "The Moon's Neighbor", and "The Voice of Lebanon", among others. 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. Fairuz has received multiple awards and tokens of recognition 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 her career, 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 59.06, Sabah is the 2nd most famous Lebanese Singer. Her biography has been translated into 29 different languages.

Sabah, (Arabic: صباح, Lebanese Arabic pronunciation: [sˤɑˈbɑːħ], lit. 'morning') born Jeanette Georges Feghali, (Arabic: جانيت جرجس فغالي, Lebanese Arabic pronunciation: [ʒaːˈneːt ˈʒerʒes feˈɣaːli]) was a Lebanese vocalist and actress. She specialised in the Mawwāl, a popular genre of traditional music in the Arabsphere, and performed in many Egyptian films and songs. Over the course of her career, she earned many nicknames; the most popular being 'Al-Shahrura' (Arabic: الشحرورة‎, Lebanese Arabic pronunciation: [ʔeʃ.ʃaħˈruː.re], lit. 'the songbird'), or 'Shahrurit al-Wadi' (Arabic: شحرورة الوادي‎, Lebanese Arabic pronunciation: [ʃaħˈruː.rɪt l.wæː.di], lit. 'songbird of the valley') both in reference to her origins and her strong and rhythmic voice.

3. Gazebo (b. 1960)

With an HPI of 57.36, 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 53.61, Wadih El Safi is the 4th most famous Lebanese Singer. His biography has been translated into 19 different languages.

Wadih El Safi (Arabic: وديع الصافي, romanized: Wadīʿ aṣ-Ṣāfī, born Wadih Francis; November 1, 1921 – October 11, 2013) was a Lebanese singer and composer. 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 (b. 1983)

With an HPI of 52.47, Nancy Ajram is the 5th most famous Lebanese Singer. Her biography has been translated into 56 different languages.

Nancy Nabil Ajram (Arabic: نانسي نبيل عجرم, Lebanese Arabic: [ˈnæːnsi ˈʕæʒræm]; 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 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 twelve 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", "Aam Betaala' Feek", "Badna Nwalee El Jaw", "Salamat", and "Aala Shanak". 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 is widely popular in thanks to her Egyptian hits such as "Akhasmak Ah" and "Ah W 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. Fayza Ahmed (b. 1934)

With an HPI of 52.32, Fayza Ahmed is the 6th most famous Lebanese Singer. Her biography has been translated into 16 different languages.

Fayza Ahmed (Egyptian Arabic: فايزه أحمد; December 5, 1934 – September 24, 1983) was a Syrian-Egyptian singer and actress. During her career, she appeared in six films.

7. Elissa (b. 1972)

With an HPI of 50.06, Elissa is the 7th most famous Lebanese Singer. Her biography has been translated into 38 different languages.

Elissar Zakaria Khoury (Arabic: إليسار زكريا خوري; born 27 October 1972), commonly known as Elissa (Arabic: إليسا), is a Lebanese singer, actress, television personality and businesswoman. Known for her romantic musical style and emotive vocal performances, she has been dubbed as the "Queen of Emotions" by fans and journalists alike. Her musical career began in 1992 when she was featured in the Lebanese talent show Studio El Fan; later being awarded the silver medal. In 1998, she released her debut studio album Baddy Doub through EMI Music Arabia. While the album was a success, the titular song’s music video initially received criticism for its racy content. Her second album W'akherta Maak (2000) featured the single "Betghib Betrouh", a duet with Ragheb Alama which achieved commercial success and won accolades. Elissa’s breakthrough occurred with her 2002 hit single “Ayshalak”, from the third studio album of the same name, which was a substantial commercial success. After signing with Saudi Arabian-based record label Rotana, she released the albums Ahla Dounya (2004), Bastanak (2006), Ayami Bik (2007), Tesada'a Bemeen (2009), Asaad Wahda (2012), Halet Hob (2014), Saharna Ya Leil (2016), Ila Kol Elli Bihebbouni (2018) and Sahbit Raey (2020); eventually becoming Rotana's best-selling artist. Elissa is one of the best-selling music artists of the Middle East; selling over 30 million albums throughout her career. She has additionally garnered over 500 million streams on Anghami and over 4.5 billion views on YouTube. In 2005, Elissa became the first Arab artist of Lebanese descent to win the World Music Award for “Best Selling Middle Eastern Artist” in recognition of the sales for "Ahla Dounya", additionally doing so in 2006 and 2010 for "Bastanak" and "Tesada'a Bemeen", respectively. Throughout her career, she has also endorsed numerous brands such as Corum and Pepsi and is also an outspoken women's rights activist; raising awareness on specific subjects such as women's rights in Lebanon and breast cancer awareness through her music and social media platforms.

8. Julia Boutros (b. 1968)

With an HPI of 49.93, Julia Boutros is the 8th most famous Lebanese Singer. Her biography has been translated into 18 different languages.

Julia Boutros (Arabic: جوليا بطرس, romanized: Jūliyā Buṭrus; born April 1, 1968) is a Lebanese singer.

9. Maher Zain (b. 1981)

With an HPI of 48.55, Maher Zain is the 9th most famous Lebanese Singer. His biography has been translated into 43 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.

10. Najwa Karam (b. 1966)

With an HPI of 48.45, Najwa Karam is the 10th most famous Lebanese Singer. Her biography has been translated into 29 different languages.

Najwa Karam (Arabic: نجوى كرم, Lebanese Arabic pronunciation: [ˈnaʒwa ˈkaɾam]; born 26 February 1966) is a Lebanese multi-platinum singer, songwriter, producer, fashion icon, and TV personality. She has sold over 60 million records worldwide, and she became the highest selling artist in 1999, 2008, and 2011. Nicknamed Shams el-Ghinnieh (The Sun of the Arabic 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. Karam was mentioned on 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 5th 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 50 of MENA’s most streamed and followed active musicians. Karam rose to stardom throughout the 1990s, earning the nickname 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 Lebanese singers born between 1921 and 1983. Of these 19, 15 (78.95%) of them are still alive today. The most famous living Lebanese singers include Fairuz, Gazebo, and Nancy Ajram. The most famous deceased Lebanese singers include Sabah, Wadih El Safi, and Fayza Ahmed. As of April 2024, 1 new Lebanese singers have been added to Pantheon including Fayza Ahmed.