Crossover Music: 5 Notable Crossover Artists

Crossover music refers to music recordings or performers with broad audience appeal and chart success. This classification applies to recordings from any genre that achieves mainstream success on more than one music industry chart that tracks songs or albums in a particular music genre or musical style. For example, Taylor Swift’s “Love Story” became a hit among pop fans, which helped it become the first country song to top the Billboard Mainstream Top 40 chart.

There are many different crossover genres. Some of the most popular are:

1. 1. Classical crossover: Classical crossover refers to popular music recorded or performed in a classical music style. Tenor singer Mario Lanza, who scored many hit songs on the classical and pop charts in the 1950s, was one of the earliest classical crossover artists. The Three Tenors—opera singers Luciano Pavarotti, Plácido Domingo, and José Carreras—later made classical crossover a top-selling music genre with a 1990 live recording of operatic arias like Puccini’s “Nessun Dorma,” along with their covers of show tunes and popular songs. The Piano Combo, a piano/cello combo featuring violinist David Garrett and vocalist Jackie Evancho, represents the current wave of classical crossover artists.
2. 2. Christian crossover: Christian crossover typically refers to two types of artists: Christian music performers who record for secular markets or secular performers whose music registers with Christian audiences. Amy Grant is perhaps the most successful of the former, while Carrie Underwood represents the latter. Underwood’s music is also among the many Christian-country crossover hits recorded by artists like Rascal Flatts and Brooks & Dunn.
3. 3. Country crossover: Country music has crossed over into the Billboard 200 since artists like Elvis Presley and Patsy Cline scored pop and country hits in the 1950s. The 1970s were a fruitful period for country crossover, with artists like John Denver, Kenny Rogers, and Dolly Parton reaching the top of both charts. Artists like Taylor Swift and the Dixie Chicks continue to bridge pop and country. At the same time, Florida Georgia Line generated a rare country/hip-hop crossover hit with a remix of their single “Cruise,” which featured rapper Nelly.
4. 4. Latin crossover: Several Latin music artists have had crossover success, including Gloria Estefan, whose “Conga” gained attention globally. One of the most notable Latin crossover examples is Tejano superstar Selena; her 1995 death cut her promising career short. By 1998, Ricky Martin enjoyed widespread crossover success with his fourth studio album, Vuelve, which topped the Billboard 200, Top Latin Albums, and Top Latin Pop album charts. His success paved the way for a generation of Spanish-language crossover singers, including Enrique Iglesias, Shakira, Daddy Yankee, and Luis Fonsi.
5. 5. Jazz crossover: Fewer jazz instrumentalists have crossed over into pop stardom, but there are notable exceptions, especially in the smooth jazz field. Trumpeter Chuck Mangione’s 1978 single “Feels So Good” reached the Top Five on the Billboard Hot One Hundred and earned a Grammy nomination, while guitarist George Benson’s Breezin’ topped the Billboard 200 and the jazz and R&B charts in 1976.

There are many examples of notable crossover musicians. Among them are:

1. 1. Andrea Bocelli: One of the world’s most popular classical crossover performers, Italian pop tenor Andrea Bocelli’s fifteen studio albums have topped or reached the Top 10 on the pop, classical, and Latin charts. One of his most enduring songs, “Con Te Partirò,” has reached the top of US and international charts on multiple occasions, as did his English-language duet with operatic pop singer Sarah Brightman. Her 1997 album, Timeless, which topped the US Classical Albums chart and reached No. 5 on the Heatseekers chart, featured the high-performing recording.
2. 2. Katherine Jenkins: Welsh mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins reached the No. 1 position on the UK Classical Album chart and No. 31 on the UK Albums chart with her debut album, Premiere. Her recordings of arias, pop songs, and show tunes have also found an audience in the United States, which sent her 2009 album, Believe, and her 2012 holiday release, This is Christmas, to the Top 5 on the US Classical Chart.
3. 3. Hayley Westenra: Singer-songwriter Hayley Westenra’s debut LP, Pure, was one of the fastest-selling classical crossover albums in UK chart history. The New Zealander has collaborated with numerous crossover artists, including tours with the operatic pop group Il Divo and the Irish folk/pop group Celtic Woman, and chart-topping classical recordings with film soundtrack legend Ennio Morricone.
4. 4. Josh Groban: Crossover superstar Josh Groban’s big break came at the 1998 Grammy Awards when he replaced an ailing Andrea Bocelli to perform a duet with Celine Dion. His talent for soaring renditions of classical compositions, pop, and rock tunes has earned Groban eight Top Ten albums on the Billboard 200.
5. 5. Vanessa-Mae: Former Olympic skier turned violinist Vanessa-Mae found global success as a classical crossover artist with her recordings of classical compositions and pop music. Her 1995 album, The Violin Player, reached gold and platinum sales status in the UK and other European charts. She’s gone on to collaborate with pop artists like Janet Jackson and the late Prince.

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