Artists’ significance in the music industry and other areas allowed them to receive honorific names that range from father or mother of a genre when the figures are the pioneers; to royal titles such as king and queen when the celebrity is a dominant figure in a field.
It is believed that patterns of naming figures for their contributions popularized in the 1930s and 1940s with jazz and swing music. Later it transferred to rock and roll in the 1950s and continued in other genres, including soul, pop, Latin pop, Bachata, and more.
Today, whether alive or deceased, thanks to their popularity and ability to move the masses, sell out millions of records, concert tickets, and merchandise, singers have secured their honorific nicknames through their positive impact on music.
Let the below be your go-to guide when you need to find your favorite musician’s nickname in popular music.
Aaliyah
Princess of R&B and Queen of Urban Pop
Paula Abdul
Dance/Dancing Queen
Roy Acuff
King of Country Music
Adele
British Queen of Soul
Christina Aguilera
Princess of Pop
Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong
King of Jazz
Ashanti
Princess of Hip Hop and Soul
Erykah Badu
Queen of Neo-Soul
J Balvin
Prince of Reggaeton
Chuck Berry
Father of Rock and Roll
Beyoncé
Queen of 21st Century Pop and Queen of R&B
Justin Bieber
Prince of Pop and King of Teen Pop
Mary J Blige
Empress of Soul and Queen of R&B
Kurtis Blow
King of Rap
BoA
Queen of K-Pop
Brandy
Princess of R&B
James Brown
Godfather of Soul
Mariah Carey
Queen of R&B and Songbird Supreme
Cher
Goddess of Pop, Empress of Pop, Queen of Reinvention and Queen of Comebacks
Kelly Clarkson
The Original American Idol, Pop Princess and Queen of Covers
Celia Cruz
Queen of Salsa
Daddy Yankee
King of Reggaetón
Doja Cat
Pop-rap Queen
Missy Elliott
Beat Slayer, First Lady of Hip-Hop, Hip-Hop Goddess, and Hip-Hop Heavyweight
Lali Espósito
Queen of Argentine Pop
Gloria Estefan
Queen of Latin Pop
Vicente Fernández
King of Ranchera
Aretha Franklin
Queen of Soul
G-Dragon
King of K-Pop
Juan Gabriel
King of Latin Pop
Lady Gaga
Mother Monster, Queen of Pop, and Princess of Pop
Gloria Gaynor
Queen of Disco
Selena Gomez
Dance-Pop Princess, Pop Princess, and Queen of Breakup Songs.
Ariana Grande
Princess of Pop, Queen Of Halloween, and Pop Diva Supreme.
Whitney Houston
The Voice, Queen of Pop, Prom Queen of Soul, and Pop Princess.
Jennifer Hudson
The Princess of Soul and America’s Dreamgirl.
Enrique Iglesias
King of Latin Pop
La India
The Princess of Salsa
Janet Jackson
Princess of Pop, Queen of Pop, Queen of R&B, and Queen of Radio.
Michael Jackson
King of Pop and The Gloved One.
Jay-Z
King of Rap, and King of New York.
Janis Joplin
Queen of Rock and Roll
José José
The Prince of Song
Alicia Keys
Queen of R&B
Chaka Khan
Queen of Funk
Gladys Knight
Empress of Soul
Queen Latifah
Hip-Hop’s First Lady
Patti LaBelle
Godmother of Soul and High Priestess of Good Vibrations.
Avril Lavigne
Pop-Punk Queen, Pop Rock Princess, and Punk Rock Princess.
Hector Lavoe
El Cantante de los Cantantes
Jennifer Lopez
Queen of Las Vegas
Demi Lovato
Tween Princess, and Pop Princess.
Madonna
Queen of Pop
Ricky Martin
King of Latin Pop, Latin King of Pop, Latin Music King, Latin Pop God, Puerto Rican Pop King, Crossover Latin King, and King of World Cup.