I think you should submit for whomever you like. It is not a popularity contest. They look at the submissions but create their own list to consider from. I would love to see Liza get one... and now that Chita is on the committee I think there is a better chance of that happening.
Barbara has a beautiful voice, an ideal ingenue, and she has enjoyed a long, successful career, but I can't see how that makes her more iconic or influential than Liza.
Again, I'm not saying Barbara was undeserving of the honor, I just think that Liza should had won first.
I suggested Bette Midler-she deserves the honor before anyone listed in this thread so far.
"The sexual energy between the mother and son really concerns me!"-random woman behind me at Next to Normal
"I want to meet him after and bang him!"-random woman who exposed her breasts at Rock of Ages, referring to James Carpinello
Barbara Cook is a much better singer technically than Bette Midler and Lisa Minelli. Plus she has a little something known as CLASS which Midler lacks.
Liza is also a good international ambassador for American entertainment. She's not only known worldwide she's actually better regarded internationally than in the US.