Irish Americans brought their gift of song, dance and musicianship from Ireland centuries ago and have profoundly altered the American music landscape ever since.
Irish American singers and Irish American musicians have topped the charts in just about every musical genre over the last century and a half. The following is a list of famous Irish American singers and Irish American musicians since the late 19th century.
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| Alicia Keys |
Amy Lee | Lead singer of the rock band, Evanescence
Anastacia | Singer and songwriter whose debut album, Not That Kind, achieved multi-platinum sales in Australia, New Zealand and much of Europe
Andy Hurley | Drummer for Chicago rock band, Fall Out Boy
Aubrey O'Day | Singer of the pop band, Danity Kane, the first female group in Billboard history to debut their first two albums at the top of the charts
Benjamin Burnley | Lead singer of rock band, Breaking Benjamin
Benji Madden | Lead guitarist of the rock band, Good Charlotte
Bianca Ryan | Singer and guitarist who won the debut season of NBC's America's Got Talent
Billie Joe Armstrong | Lead singer/guitarist of the punk rock band, Green Day
Billy Corgan | Singer and lead guitarist of the grunge rock band, The Smashing Pumpkins
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| Bing Crosby |
Bradley Nowell | Lead singer and guitarist for the ska-influenced rock band, Sublime
Brendon Urie | Lead singer of the alternative rock band, Panic At The Disco
Britney Spears | Pop singer and dancer who has sold over 100 million albums worldwide
Bruce Springsteen | Singer, songwriter and rock musician who has sold over 200 million albums worldwide
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| Bunny Berigan |
Carly Smithson | Former American Idol finalist and lead singer of the gothic metal band, We Are the Fallen
Carmel Quinn | Entertainer who has appeared on Broadway, television and radio and was only the second woman to receive the prestigious John F. Kennedy Award for excellence
Celtic Spring | Irish-American dance and fiddle band from California
Chester Bennington | Lead singer of rock band, Linkin Park
Chris Byrne | Founder of Celtic rock band, Black 47
Chris Cornell | Lead singer of the Seattle grunge rock band, Soundgarden
Chris Daughtry | Lead singer of the rock band, Daughtry and former American Idol finalist
Chris Kirkpatrick | Singer and founding member of the pop boy band, ‘N Sync
Chris Trousdale | Broadway performer and former singer for the boy band, Dream Street
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| Christina Aguilera |
Christopher "Kid" Reid | Rapper and actor who appeared in the House Party film series
Danny Hutton | Lead vocalist of the 1970s rock band, Three Dog Night
Dave King | Lead vocalist and primary songwriter and lyricist for the Irish-American punk band, Flogging Molly
Demi Lovato | Singer/songwriter who came to fame as a Disney actress
Dennis Casey | Guitarist and vocalist for Celtic rock band, Flogging Molly
Dexter Holland | Lead singer and guitarist for the punk/pop band, The Offspring
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| Eileen Farrell |
Everlast | Singer/songwriter of acoustic-based rock/rap music
Fergie | R&B singer and lead vocalist in the pop band, The Black Eyed Peas
George M. Cohan | Singer/songwriter of vaudeville and Broadway whose life was portrayed in the 1942 film, Yankee Doodle Dandy
Gerry Mulligan | Jazz musician, composer and arranger who was known as one of the leading baritone saxophonists in jazz history
Greg Graffin | Singer/songwriter for the punk band, Bad Religion
Helen O'Connell | Singer, actress, and dancer who sang with the Jimmy Dorsey band and achieved bestselling records in the early 1940s
Howie Dorough | Singer for the pop boy band, The Backstreet Boys
James Hetfield | Lead singer and guitarist for the hard rock band, Metallica
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| Jeanette MacDonald |
Jessica Sutta | Actress and singer for the pop band, The Pussycat Dolls
Jim Morrison | Singer/songwriter for the 1960s rock band, The Doors
Jimmy Dorsey | 1940s jazz musician, composer, and big band leader
Jimmy McHugh | One of the most prolific songwriters from the 1920s to the 1950s whose songs were recorded by some of the top singers of his era
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| John McCormack |
Jonas Brothers | Grammy Award-winning boy band who gained fame on The Disney Channel
Judy Collins | Folk singer/songwriter who came to fame in the 1960s
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| Judy Garland |
Julianne Hough | Country music singer, ballroom dancer and two-time winner of ABC's Dancing with the Stars
Katharine McPhee | Singer, songwriter and runner-up on season 5 of American Idol
Kelly Clarkson | Grammy award-winning pop singer and inaugural winner of American Idol
Ken Casey | Bass player and vocalist for the Boston-based punk rock band, Dropkick Murphys
Kevin Richardson | Singer for the pop boy band, The Backstreet Boys
Kirk Hammett | Guitarist for the hard rock band, Metallica
Kurt Cobain | Lead singer of Seattle grunge band, Nirvana
Larry Kirwan | Lead singer of the Celtic rock band, Black 47
Lee DeWyze | Winner of the ninth season of American Idol
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| Lorna Luft |
Mandy Moore | Singer and actress who has sold over 10 million albums worldwide
Mariah Carey | Grammy Award-winning R&B singer
Meaghan Jette Martin | Singer and actress who gained fame on Disney Channel movies
Michael Barber | Musician who founded ECP Music Group and invented the Messy Music Genre
Michael Flatley | Hosted the Irish dance shows Riverdance, Lord of the Dance, Feet of Flames, and Celtic Tiger
Michelle Branch | Singer/songwriter and guitarist of top-selling albums, The Spirit Room and Hotel Paper
Mike McColgan | Former lead singer of the punk rock band, Dropkick Murphys
Miranda Cosgrove | Pop recording artist and actress who became the highest paid child actress ever for her role in the Nickelodeon network show, iCarly
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| Morton Downey |
Natalie Merchant | Singer/songwriter and former lead vocalist for the rock band, 10,000 Maniacs
Nick Carter | Singer for the pop boy band, Backstreet Boys
Patrick Stump | Singer and songwriter for the Chicago rock band, Fall Out Boy
Red Foley | Country singer, musician, and radio and TV personality who sold over 25 million albums
Rihanna | R&B recording artist who has sold over 20 million albums worldwide
Robert Pollard | Lead singer and songwriter of the rock band, Guided by Voices
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| Rosemary Clooney |
Shania Twain | Grammy Award-winning country singer
Stuart Michael Thomas | Music composer, producer and arranger for major films and television shows
Taylor Swift | Grammy Award-winning country singer
The Clancy Brothers | Irish folk music singing group during the 1960s who are widely credited with popularizing Irish traditional music in the United States
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| The McGuire Sisters |
Tim McGraw | Country music singer who has sold over 40 million albums
Tommy Dorsey | 1940s jazz musician, composer, and big band leader
Tommy Makem | Celebrated Irish folk musician who was best known as a member of The Clancy Brothers
Tori Amos | Singer, songwriter and musician who has been nominated for numerous Grammy Awards
Victor Herbert | Composer, cellist and conductor who composed many successful operettas that premiered on Broadway from the 1890s to World War I
Virginia O'Brien | Actress, singer, and radio personality known for her comedic roles in 1940s MGM musicals