Broadway Musical Divas Ranked in Order

Michael Musto ranks them based on talent, star power, and what they've shown us so far. Let the arguments begin.


https://lgbtqcommunitynews.nyc/2026/02/05/ranking-todays-broadway-musical-divas-whos-the-best-in-order/

Updated On: 2/5/26 at 02:44 PM

I always say I think the idea of Sutton Foster better than actual Sutton Foster. See: Music Man, Sweeney Todd. But to each their own.

OhHiii said: "I always say I think the ideaof Sutton Foster better than actual Sutton Foster. See: Music Man, Sweeney Todd. But to each their own."

Sutton Foster was phenomenal in Sweeney Todd!  And for Music Man, I definitely missed the soprano for sure, but was perfect for the role otherwise.  I feel this way about Patti.  Everytime she popped up on stage in War Paint was one big black hole in the show.  Her concerts are a bore.  She was fine in Company, I think the best I saw her in was The Roommate. 

Sutton was hilarious in Sweeney Todd, it was the perfect casting. She always looks so uncomfortable now being photographed all over the world but...worth it.

Kelli, Audra, Eva, Laura, Victoria, both Leas, and Micaela. All correct.

Updated On: 2/5/26 at 06:47 PM

Ranking performers is so silly. 

Sutton needs to be lower down, that's for sure. But if I'm going to find something to argue about - why is Audra above Patti or Bernadette? That is not to downplay Audra's talents because if there is someone who is going to be there, it has to be her. But:

• The list is specifically about Broadway MUSICAL Divas. Audra is a truly versatile actress with multiple Tony awards for plays and musicals. I guess she does bend towards singing, but overall she has skills and success outside the musical domain that I would not suggest is as true as some of the others on the list. So if the list is broad fine, but the list specifies musicals
• This also comes through in the tone of the performances - Audra gets lost in roles with intense acting. Patti and Bernadette bring broad musical theatre stage personalities to their roles. To me this is more what a 'Diva' is. It's also a persona, a stage presence, a personality. 
• If we are talking about musicals, I think one of the core features of an iconic musical Diva such as Merman and Martin as she is compared to, is origination of roles. 
• Bernadette has originated some very important and iconic roles - especially Sunday and Into the Woods
• Patti has originated some very important and iconic roles, such as Evita on Broadway and Les Mis
• What notable musical roles has Audra originated besides supporting in Ragtime? (equivalent to the status of Bernadette/Patti roles)
• Bernadette and Patti have won the Tony award for Best Actress in a musical twice, and Audra once (for a role that is kind of supporting)
• Commercially Bernadette and Patti seem to have historically at least reached a wider audience too
• The fact that Audra lost her Gypsy Tony doesn't help the narrative - the apparent greatest musical theatre diva in the greatest diva role couldn't win the Tony? (of course same problem for Bernadette)

I think I'd currently rank them as below. 20 years ago I would have had Bernadette above Patti, but Patti's last 20 years have been an incredible achievement that Bernadette has not been able to match (e.g. Gypsy, War Paint, Company plus her profile and personality seemed to crossover as part of the popular culture). 20 years ago it was not 'cool' to like Patti the same way it is now. I believe a lot of this is because Bernadette's aging voice does not resonate as well with the general public as it did in her peak late 80s and 90s (it has started to go downhill from Gypsy onwards) whereas Patti's voice has been remarkably resilient. It's only the first time now I am starting to hear signs of aging but nothing like Bernadette. 

1. Patti LuPone

2. Bernadette Peters

3. Audra McDonald 

Updated On: 2/6/26 at 07:24 AM