Mexico is a country with an incredibly rich and diverse music scene. From Mariachi bands to pop singers, many famous vocalists come from there or have Mexican heritage. So much so, that you might be surprised at how many of your favorite artists are Mexicans.
In this post, we’ll look at 25 of the greatest and most famous Mexican singers that blessed the world with their stunning vocals. Let’s get started.
1. Selena Quintanilla-Pérez
Arguably the best Mexican singer of all time, Selena Quintanilla-Pérez, professionally known as Selena, was a legend. Selling over 18 million records over her career, she undoubtedly helped pave the way for many Latino singers to be as successful.
Her stage presence and magnetism were undeniable until her tragic death in 1995, when she was shot and killed by a friend and employee.
Her devastating death is only part of her legacy, as fans remember Selena for her transformative music that inspired many. Many movies and television shows have been made about her life, keeping her spirit alive.
2. Ritchie Valens
Born in America to two Mexican parents, Ritchie Valens was a beloved Mexican-American singer.
Valens was said to always have a guitar in his hand from the young age of 13. He brought his guitar everywhere he went, playing music for friends, families, and strangers alike.
He is known primarily for his big hit “La Bamba,” which was based on a Mexican folk song.
Sadly, he died in the plane crash that also claimed the lives of two other music legends: Buddy Holly and J. P. Richardson.
People refer to this tragic accident as the day the music died because of how prominent these three were in the music industry.
3. Mimi Fariña
Although born in America, Margarita Mimi Baez Fariña, professionally known as Mimi Fariña, is another singer with Mexican heritage.
If you haven’t heard her music before, she was a folksy singer-songwriter beloved for her moving lyrics and soft sound. She collaborated with her husband, Richard Fariña, on many bluegrass and folk albums before he died just a few years after their marriage.
However, Fariña’s musical influences live on today, mostly coming from her two most successful albums, Celebrations for a Grey Day and Reflections in a Crystal Wind. Both these albums have a lot to do with self-reflection and caring for others.
Her sister, Joan Baez, was also a successful singer and can attribute some of her greatest hits to Fariña.
Fariña wrote classics like “In the Quiet Morning (For Janis Joplin),” which her sister recorded and released.
4. Selena Gomez
Another American-born singer with Mexican heritage, Selena Gomez got her big start on a Disney Channel show, The Wizards of Waverly Place. She sang the catchy theme song on this show, and as she aged out of the kid’s TV scene, she pivoted towards music.
For a few years after her teens, she performed with the Scene as Selena Gomez and the Scene. They had success due to how big her name was already, but she soon went off on her own.
She’s had famous features on her songs like A$AP Rocky, Zedd, Charlie Pluth, and many more well-known musicians.
5. Baby Bash
Born in California, Ronald Ray Bryant, known by his stage name Baby Bash, is a singer and rapper of Mexican descent—his mother was Mexican.
One of his most famous songs includes “Suga Suga,” which made it on almost every radio station in the mid-2000s. Another one of his songs, “Cyclone,” is likely on every ’90s baby’s throwback playlist as a classic R&B song of the time.
He has also performed and recorded with other rap legends and singers like Akon, T-Pain, and Sean Kingston.
Bash had a successful career making his music, and today, he continues to write lyrics and produce music for stars like Frankie J and Jennifer Hudson.
6. Demi Lovato
Our next singer, Demi Lovato, is one of the most famous pop stars, but few people know she is half Mexican. Well, to be precise, of Nuevomexicano descent, an ethnic group of Spanish heritage living in and around the state of New Mexico.
Lovato is known for her powerful and moving voice, making soft ballads just as intense as fun pop songs. She had a brief stint in acting before focusing on music, becoming a Platinum-certified artist.
In recent years, she has been very open and honest about her battle with addiction and seeking help in rehab, something she speaks about in her music.
In 2021, Lovato announced that she is non-binary, changing her pronouns to they/them, adding she/her as pronouns in 2022, and officially becoming a part of the LGBT+ community.
Related: Read more about other LGTBQ+ singers here.
7. Fey
From Mexico City, María Fernanda Blázquez Gil, better known by her stage name Fey, does it all! She is a singer, songwriter, designer, dancer, record producer, director, and actress.
She is best known for her self-titled debut album, which contained some of her hit songs like “Media naranja” and “Gatos en el balcón.”
While Fey seems to be done touring, she still makes music and released new music recently with Paul Oakenfold. The song is titled “The Perfect Song” and is one of the few songs by her that breaches into the English language.
Fey’s music dance or upbeat pop and is almost always centered around love and passion, making her a symbol of romance and desire, but not necessarily a sex symbol.
8. Diana Reyes
Next up, we have Diana Reyes, who was born in La Paz in 1979. She has released a whopping fifteen studio albums, with three of them going gold, exemplifying how lovable and relatable her songs are.
She’s known for her songs that combine Latin characteristics with traditional country-western vibes that people love. The amalgamation of these two genres, along with her bubbly stage presence and enchanting voice, make it easy to see why she is so famous in Mexico.
It is impressive how many albums Reyes has created since she stepped on the scene, but her music offers a wide range of sounds to her fans, from full-on Latino to classic country to Christmas albums for the holiday season!
9. Juan Gabriel
Born in Parácuaro, Mexico, in 1950, Alberto Aguilera Valadez was a Mexican-American singer, songwriter, and actor known for his suave ways and incredible voice.
Valadez was professionally known as Juan Gabriel and made several successful albums under this name. He has sold an estimated 60 million records across the globe, cementing his legendary status.
Two of his most recognized and beloved songs are “Amor Eterno” and “Querida”. Both songs are deeply romantic and directed toward a lover.
Famous singers, especially those of Mexican descent, continue to perform and promote his incredible music.
11. Samo
The Mexican pop singer Samo was born Samuel Parra Cruz in Veracruz, Mexico in 1975. He has been singing since the young age of five, participating in his local choir.
Fame came to him during his time as part of the band Camila before debuting as a solo artist in 2013. Samo has performed with many other Mexican singers, such as Thalia, and released Spanish and English music.
Both Mexican and American fans fell in love with his hot beats and boy band-esque music videos. His videos and live performances often feature complex choreography that Samo easily pulls off as he hits every note.
12. Jenni Rivera
Dolores Janney Rivera Saavedra, known as the stage name Jenni Rivera, was a Mexican-American singer and songwriter that introduced many Americans to the beauty of Latin music.
When Rivera began recording around 1990, the Latin music industry was inundated with men and in need of a powerful female voice to change the game. Rivera was one of those voices, along with legends like Selena.
Sadly, she passed away in 2012 in a plane crash, similar to Ritchie Valens. She was mourned by her home country, as well as her fans in the US.
13. Becky G
Rebbeca Marie Gomez, better known as Becky G, is a Mexican-American rapper and singer. Her music has topped the charts in many countries, including America, Mexico, Spain, Ecuador, Chile, El Salvador, and Argentina.
The list of famous musicians and singers she has performed with is extensive. It features many Latin artists, such as Pitbull, Bad Bunny, Fifth Harmony, Daddy Yankee, Cher Lloyd, French Montana, and many, many more.
Becky G’s music has been popular on the radio, especially her 2014 smash hit “Shower,” which entered the top 20 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
14. Jorge Negrete
Jorge Negrete is sometimes known on stage as Alberto Moreno. Both are variations of his birth name, Jorge Alberto Negrete Moreno.
He first found musical success when performing on the radio in Mexico City, mostly singing operatic songs. His voice was precise and comforting, making him a household favorite in Mexico.
While Negrete was a super talented vocalist and musician, he was also an actor. The popularity of Mexican music in the film industry led him to make the transition.
He was one of the founders of the Mexican Actors Association, helping Mexican actors fight for rights in the workplace and become successful in the industry.
15. Lola Beltrán
Born María Lucila Beltrán Ruiz, Lola Beltrán was one of the most acclaimed singers in Mexican history. She performed with many other Mexican music legends, including Amalia Mendoza, Juan Gabriel, and Lucha Villa.
She worked as a secretary at a radio station in Mexico City, where she was discovered by one of the famous radio announcers. After that, her success in making ranchera and huapango music skyrocketed.
She performed for kings, queens, and presidents, offering her beautiful crooning, and sang for four different American presidents, exemplifying how long her reign in the industry lasted and how revered her voice was.
16. Rick Trevino
American country music singer Rick Trevino is of Mexican descent. He got his big break in 1993 when he released his debut album, Dos Mundos. It was a compilation of Spanish country songs that went Platinum, selling more than 500,000 copies.
For his second album, he recorded in English, stating he wanted people to take him seriously as a country singer and not a Tejano artist. He recorded three more English albums before stepping beach into Spanish music.
Nevertheless, he is beloved in Mexico and is often considered one of the best Latin country artists currently making music.
17. Vicente Fernández
Chente, as Vicente Fernández was sometimes referred to, was a Mexican singer known for his song “Volver, Volver.” Fernández cited Pedro Infante and Jorge Negrete as his idols when he was a child, aiming to be just like them when he grew up. And this he sure did.
Fernández is among the best-selling Mexican artists of all time, selling more than 50 million copies of his music, which are considered ranchera classics. His songs were so popular, Fernández was thought of by his fans as the Mexican Sinatra.
Over his career, he earned three Grammy Awards, nine Latin Grammy Awards, and several other acclamations in the Latin music industry.
18. Thalía
Ariadna Thalía Sodi Miranda Mottola goes by the stage name Thalía and is one of the influential Mexican female artists.
Called the Queen of Latin Pop, she has recorded with wildly famous artists, including Tony Bennett, Michael Bublé, Robbie Williams, Marc Anthony, Romeo Santos, Maluma, and many more.
Thalía is best known for her hits “Desde Esa Noche” and “Por Lo Que Reste De Vida,” among many others. And while many of her songs are pop hits, she also has romantic ballads that her fans love.
Aside from singing, Thalía is an actress, having several successful telenovelas that has aired in over 180 countries. Because of this, she is also known as the Queen of Telenovelas.
19. Pedro Infante
Father of modern ranchero music, Pedro Infante is most famous for his song “Bésame Mucho,” which is also the only song he ever recorded in English, translated to “Kiss Me a Lot.”
“Besame Mucho” became a wild hit and introduced Latin music to America. After Infante’s success in music, he pivoted toward the film industry, where he had great success.
Sadly, he passed away in a plane crash when he was flying from Mérida, Yucatán, back to Mexico City. Ironically, he was an amateur pilot himself, but was not flying at that time.
20. 6ix9ine
Daniel Hernandez, professionally known as 6ix9ine, is an American rapper of Mexican descent. The rapper is known for his colorful hair, sometimes offensive lyrics, and obnoxious social media presence.
He is relatively successful in his musical career; his studio albums and mixtape are in the top three. He has also released popular singles like “Gooba” and his only #1 song, “Trollz,” featuring Nicki Minaj.
However, his controversy is more famous than much of his music. He received a felony charge for using a minor in a sexual performance and has also had beef with beloved American rapper Chief Keef.
21. Alfonso Herrera
Singer and actor Alfonso Herrera has left behind his singing career for the most part, but he is still considered an incredible Mexican artist.
He used to perform with the Mexican pop group RBD and released nine studio albums with them.
Eventually, the group became one of the most loved bands in Mexico. They even had a reality television show starring the band members, following their day-to-day lives.
These shows were an opportunity for Herrera to break into the film industry. He has landed several roles in many television series and movies.
While acting, Herrera stayed with RBD until the band disbanded in 2008.
22. Chico Che
Born as Francisco José Hernández Mandujano, our next singer goes by Chico Che on his music. He is an interesting-looking gentleman with a long mullet-like haircut and a prominent mustache.
Over his decades-long career, he formed and eventually left many groups. These groups include Los 7 Modernistas, Los Temerarios, and La Crisis, to name the most successful.
He performed across Mexico, invigorating people with his comical and energetic stage presence. Going to a Chico Che event was a guaranteed good time, as he loved to interact with the crowd and foster a unique concert experience.
23. Luis Miguel
Mexican-Italian singer Luis Miguel exclusively sings in Spanish. Despite this, he is huge in the US, especially during the 1990s. He is referred to as El Sol de México, which translates to the “sun of Mexico.”
As a music artist, he has one of the most diverse discographies of any artist, having recorded ballads, pop music, jazz music, tangos, and more. He had a line of consecutive #1 hit albums from 1991 to 2017.
He’s won six Mexican Grammys, the first when he was only 14 years old, and starred in two movies, making him an official superstar in not one but two countries.
24. Belinda
Our next singer’s full name is Belinda Peregrín Schüll, but she goes by Belinda artistically. Her career began in 2001 with a self-titled album that sold more than 1 million copies worldwide.
Her stunning features have made her highly sought after for cameos in movies like The Cheetah Girls and Baywatch.
Currently, Belinda is the third best-selling female Mexican artist after releasing only four studio albums.
While music seems to be her main focus, Belinda spends a lot of time filming small television series premiered in Mexico, making her mark as a singer and an actress.
25. Joan Baez
And lastly, we have Joan Baez, who was mentioned earlier in relation to her younger sister, Mimi Fariña. Fariña wrote many of Baez’s songs, but Baez’s voice stands on its own.
Her beautiful and soulful sound is why her name is well-known in Mexico and the US. Unlike her sister, most of Baez’s music are in English, geared toward the American market.
She performed at the infamous Woodstock Festival, performing a total of fourteen songs that the crowd went wild for.
One of her most well-known recordings is her cover of Bob Dylan’s “Love Is Just a Four-Letter Word.” Baez puts her spin on this amazing song, bringing her folksy, soft sound to the beloved classic.
Summing Up Our List Of Famous Singers Of Mexican Descent
In summary, these are just a few of the incredible Mexican singers that changed the music industry in both the Latin- and the English-speaking community.
Without these artists, there would be no place on the Billboard charts for today’s beloved Mexican acts.
The next time you jam out to a Spanish-English song, you can thank these fabulous singers for their contribution to the world of music.
