Photo: Michael Ochs Archive/Getty

Born September 8th, 1932 (died March 5th, 1963) Key Tracks "I Fall to Pieces," "Walkin' After Midnight," "Crazy" Influenced Loretta Lynn, Linda Ronstadt, k.d. lang

With her husky alto and aching hiccup on early-Sixties songs like "Crazy," "I Fall to Pieces" and "Sweet Dreams (of You)," Cline was the first major country star to make a decisive crossover into pop, setting the stage for singers from Dolly Parton to Faith Hill. To Lucinda Williams, Cline's voice exceeded any one genre. "Even though her style is considered country, her delivery is more like a classic pop singer," says Williams. "That's what set her apart from Loretta Lynn or Tammy Wynette. You'd almost think she was classically trained." LeAnn Rimes has been absorbing Cline's technique her entire life. "I remember my dad telling me to listen to the way she told a story," says Rimes. "I remember feeling more emotion when she sang than anyone else I had ever heard."

1. I Fall to Pieces
2. Walkin' After Midnight
3. Crazy

• View List: The 100 Greatest Singers of All Time
• Listen: The Ultimate Singers Playlist
• The Ballots: View Handwritten Votes
• Legends at Work: In the Studio Photos
• Voters & Methodology