Actually, worldwide, Madonna is ranked as the number one selling female recording artist. Nana Mouskouri, a Greek singer, is actually number two. She isn't well known in the US, but she's been around for a while. (since the 50s) Look her up. She's released 450 albums, sold over 250 million records, and even has a place in Guinness World Records.

For all of those who say Mariah Carey is the top selling female artist in history- you are very wrong. She's in the top 5- but not even in the top 3. Madonna is, in fact #1. Top selling means more then just "Top selling albums in America". There is much more to "top selling female recording artist of all time" then just albums in America.
I enjoy Mariah's music- but find it ironic that most Mariah Carey fans forget that there is more to the world then just America. Madonna has sold more then 300 million albums world wide. Mariah's numbers aren't even close to that..and that's not counting singles. Mariah is great- but Madonna is the queen.

I would have said Britney Spears

IT LOOKS LIKE IT WOULD BE MADONNA CUZ BARBRA STREISAND IS # 1
BEATLES, THE 170
PRESLEY, ELVIS 118.5
BROOKS, GARTH 116
LED ZEPPELIN 109.5
EAGLES 91
JOEL, BILLY 79.5
PINK FLOYD 73.5
STREISAND, BARBRA 71
JOHN, ELTON 69.5
AC/DC 68
ROLLING STONES, THE 66
STRAIT, GEORGE 65.5
AEROSMITH 65.5
MADONNA 63
SPRINGSTEEN, BRUCE 62.5
CAREY, MARIAH 61.5
JACKSON, MICHAEL 60.5
METALLICA 57
VAN HALEN 56.5
HOUSTON, WHITNEY 54
U2 50.5
ROGERS, KENNY 50.5
DION, CELINE 49
FLEETWOOD MAC 48.5
KENNY G 48
DIAMOND, NEIL 48
TWAIN, SHANIA 47
ALABAMA 46
JOURNEY 45
SANTANA 43
CLAPTON, ERIC 42
JACKSON, ALAN 42
SEGER, BOB AND THE SILVER BULLET BAND 40
PRINCE 39.5
GUNS 'N ROSES 38.5
SIMON & GARFUNKEL 38.5
CHICAGO 38
MC ENTIRE, REBA 38
BACKSTREET BOYS 37
STEWART, ROD 37
DYLAN, BOB 37
FOREIGNER 36.5
2 PAC 36.5
DEF LEPPARD 35
NELSON, WILLIE 35
COLLINS, PHIL 33.5
BON JOVI 33
QUEEN 32.5
DENVER, JOHN 32.5
TAYLOR, JAMES 32.5
DOORS, THE 32
KELLY, R. 32
MC GRAW, TIM 31
SPEARS, BRITNEY 31
BOSTON 31
MATTHEWS, DAVE BAND 31
DIXIE CHICKS 30.5
RONSTADT, LINDA 30
PEARL JAM 30
PETTY, TOM & THE HEARTBREAKERS 28.5
OSBOURNE, OZZY 28.25
LYNYRD SKYNYRD 28
BOLTON, MICHAEL 28
'N SYNC 28
MELLENCAMP, JOHN 27.5
BOYZ II MEN 27
MANNHEIM STEAMROLLER 27
EMINEM 27
MANILOW, BARRY 27
BROOKS & DUNN 26
CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL 26
BEE GEES 26
ENYA 26
JACKSON, JANET 26
SINATRA, FRANK 25.5
RUSH 25
NIRVANA 25
HILL, FAITH 25
JAY-Z 25
ZZ TOP 25
VANDROSS, LUTHER 24.5
CARPENTERS, THE 24.5
MILLER, STEVE BAND 24.5
CREED 24
MOTLEY CRUE 23.5
EARTH, WIND & FIRE 23.5
CARS, THE 23.5
GILL, VINCE 23.5
BUFFETT, JIMMY 23
POLICE, THE 22.5
SADE 22.5
HENDRIX, JIMI 22
DOOBIE BROTHERS 22
RICHIE, LIONEL 22
KEITH, TOBY 22
GREEN DAY 22
TLC 22
BEASTIE BOYS 22
OUTKAST 22
R.E.O. SPEEDWAGON

Your mum

1) According to "The Billboard Hot 100 All-Time Top Artists ", it would be Mariah Carey:
"Marvin Gaye
20

Aretha Franklin
19

Olivia Newton-John
18

Rod Stewart
17

Prince
16

Daryl Hall & John Oates
15

The Supremes
14

Chicago
13

Bee Gees
12

Paul McCartney/Wings
11

The Rolling Stones
10

Whitney Houston
9

Michael Jackson
8

Janet Jackson
7

Mariah Carey
6

Stevie Wonder
5

Elvis Presley
4

Elton John
3

Madonna
2

The Beatles
1"
Source and further information:
http://www.billboard.com/.../...-artists-20.shtml


2) According to this list for the US:
1 Barbra Streisand
2 Madonna
3 Mariah Carey
Source and further information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/.../...the_United_States


3) According to this list for the world:
1 Alla Pugacheva (Russia)
2 Celine Dion (Canada)
3 Cher (U.S.)
4 Madonna (U.S.)
5 Nana Mouskouri (Greece - France)
Source and further information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/.../...ing_music_artists

Na Tikhoretskuyu - Alla Pugacheva
http://www.youtube.com/watch

madonna isnt the highest selling female recording artist of all time. only one other American female makes the list alongside Madonna and thats Cher. however, celine dion is extremely well known too. i think the answer would b celine dion

Mariah carey is definately 2nd top selling artist in history. i mean come on! listen to her frekin' voice its spectactular. only a GOd could produce such beauty. and believe me MARIAH IS A SINGING <BIG> GODDESS!
~DOMINI-RICAN
031391

MARIAH CAREY IS THE WORLD'S BEST SELLING FEMALE RECORDING ARTIST AND SONGWRITER OF ALL TIME.

The top FOUR, who have sold between 200 to 500 million records are:
Celine Dion
Cher
Madonna
Nana Mouskouri
(Mariah doesn't even make that list!)

Out of those 4, i'm not sure who beats who...