Most underrated female recording artists..

Linda Ronstadt "Underrated"?! Doesn’t everyone appreciate her? Well, except for Elvis Costello ;-) . Am I taking the question too literally?

Those who like Iris DeMent LOVE her. How about Lou Ann Barton? Tammy Wynette? Mavis Staples? Ruth Brown? Arlene Smith (of The Chantels. Listen to her sing "Maybe" to have your mind blown)? Darlene Love? Emmylou Harris? Sure, appreciated, but not enough so. Kasey Chambers? Julie Miller? Sam Phillips? Maryann Price? Listen to her sing "I’m An Old Cowhand" on Striking It Rich by Dan Hicks And His Hot Licks. So salacious!

Going off the straight and narrow here with

Sade Adu

Try some Holly Cole, female jazz singer Canada. Best album to start Don't Smoke in Bed or Dark Dear Heart.

Very good band and excellent vocalist. Also known as The Holly Cole Trio.

Ruth Moody (sang with Mark Knopller on "Tracker")

plus:

Teena Marie — incredible soul singer who happened to be White. “Fire and Desire”

Jill Scott

Ledisi at the Kennedy Center

Minnie Ripperton — from girl group in the 1960’s to psychedelic rock to Soul/pop. Maya Rudolph’s mother.