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Kurt Cobain / The Stooges -

One of the most recognizable names in rock, Kurt Cobain and the rest of Nirvana were forerunners of the grunge phenomenon that originated in Seattle. It’s only fitting that the musician’s favorite band was another pioneer of punk, The Stooges.

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Lady Gaga / Iron Maiden -

Pop sensation Lady Gaga has always been known to inhabit the stranger side of pop music, complete with outlandish costumes and occasionally spooky imagery. It turns out the performer would prefer to be even further removed from the pop genre, and tries to emulate her favorite band of all time: classic metal group Iron Maiden.

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Rihanna / Madonna -

Since her breakthrough in 2005, Rihanna has become one of the most successful singers in history. Rihanna herself is an idol to countless individuals around the world. Her personal idol is the queen of pop from another era–Madonna.

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Kendrick Lamar / 2Pac -

It’s only fitting that one of today’s greatest hip-hop artists would look up to one of the original greatest rappers. Kendrick Lamar has gushed to publications in the past about 2Pac’s virtuosity, the amount of emotion he put in his music, and how Lamar tries to emulate that.

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Justin Bieber / Korn -

Easily one of the most recognizable names in pop music and the crown prince of the genre for many years, Justin Bieber has always been outspoken when it comes to the contrast between the music he makes and the music he listens to. It turns out one of Bieber’s most listened-to groups is the nu-metal band Korn.

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Lana Del Rey / Eminem -

Lana Del Rey has spoken extensively about her love for Nirvana and the grunge era of rock and roll, but she has some hidden favorites as well. It turns out Detroit rapper Eminem has a very special place in the singer’s heart, claiming that the rapper changed her life as a teenager.

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Julian Casablancas / Sam Cooke -

Julian Casablancas, front man of The Strokes, is known for his deadpan, droning voice. This may make it come as a surprise to learn that his favorite singer is Sam Cooke, the legendary crooner of the 1950s who was anything but deadpan.

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Kanye West / Red Hot Chili Peppers -

Kanye West is a hard man to pin down, and the influences on his style are just the same. The famous rapper and producer seems to take inspiration from all across the musical spectrum. The fact that his favorite band is funk-rock group Red Hot Chili Peppers only confirms this.

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Carly Rae Jepsen / Feist -

Canadian singer Carly Rae Jepsen took the pop world by storm in 2012 with the release of her bright and bubbly dance hit ‘Call Me Maybe.’ It turns out the pop performer takes her inspiration from a much more subdued artist, fellow Canadian singer-songwriter Feist.

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Demi Lovato / Lamb of God -

Former child actor and current music sensation Demi Lovato has had a very diverse career over the years, from Disney children’s shows and movies, to pop anthems, and even dipping their toes into R&B. It turns out their music taste is just as varied as their career, and they have been cited as saying their favorite band is longtime metal mainstays Lamb of God.

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Eminem / LL Cool J -

Eminem cemented his place as one of the greatest rappers to ever do it a long time ago. His influence stretches across the full spectrum of music, and will continue to for a long time to come. The self-proclaimed rap god of course has influences of his own, the biggest of which is the early hip-hop legend LL Cool J.

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David Bowie / Arcade Fire -

It’s easy to make the argument that David Bowie is the most important figure in music in the past 100 years. His influence on modern music of all different genres is hard to overstate, and when Bowie would express his admiration for another group or artist, everyone would pay attention. David Bowie mentioned on numerous occasions his love for Canadian rock group Arcade Fire, and even made a number of live appearances with them.

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Taylor Swift / Sigur Rós -

Taylor Swift has a soft spot in her heart for enigmatic ambient-rock group Sigur Rós. She told interviewers once that they make her happy and take her “away to a dreamland.”

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Chance the Rapper / Michael Jackson -

Chance the Rapper broke through in 2013 with his ‘Acid Rap’ mixtape, and has since become a leading figure in modern mainstream hip hop. It seems Chance is a big fan of the classics, and puts Michael Jackson at the top of his list.

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Alex Turner / Shirley Bassey -

Alex Turner of Arctic Monkeys is considered by many to remain the world’s indie-rock bad boy sweetheart. From the band's rough, angsty beginnings in 2006, to their smoother hits of recent years, one thing has stayed constant: Turner’s love and admiration for legendary Welsh singer Shirley Bassey.

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Miley Cyrus / Radiohead -

Miley Cyrus is another celebrity who got their start in television and went on to pursue music. And while rock and country icons like Stevie Nicks and Dolly Parton will always hold a special place in Cyrus’ heart, the singer has always given the top spot on her list to Radiohead. Sadly, this admiration turned into devastation when the band declined an invitation to meet Cyrus backstage during the 2009 Grammy Awards.

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Lorde / Grimes -

Lorde reached stardom in 2013 with the discovery of her instant hit ‘Royals.’ She has said in numerous interviews that the artist she looks up to the most is the infamous dream-pop artist Grimes.

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Nas / The Notorious B.I.G. -

Nothing warms the heart like seeing one legend pay respect to another. Nas, considered by many rappers and rhymers to be the undisputed greatest to ever do it, always makes a point to give it up to The Notorious B.I.G.

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Grimes / Mariah Carey -

Grimes, famous for her breakout record ‘Visions,’ once told Complex that Mariah Carey is her favorite singer, and described her voice as “utterly groundless.”

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Drake / Rick Ross -

Drake stated in a 2021 Instagram Story that the greatest rapper alive was Rick Ross. In the past, he has also listed his contemporary Kanye West as one of the all-time greats.

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Paul McCartney / St. Vincent -

Paul McCartney has admitted that he’s not always on top of modern music trends, but has gone out of his way to show his respect and admiration for guitar virtuoso St. Vincent.

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Solange / Nas -

Experimental R&B artist Solange has listed a great many influences over the years, but she has always admired Nas more than anyone else. Even during her school days, the singer says she used to paint the rapper’s name on her nails.

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Tyler, the Creator / Eminem -

Tyler, the Creator is known to have a wide-reaching and eclectic taste in music. Despite this, the rapper and multi-instrumentalist still considers mainstream rap icon Eminem the greatest to ever do it.

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Nicki Minaj / Enya -

Nicki Minaj has proven to be one of the most successful and enduring names in rap in recent years. The artist she looks up to the most might surprise you. During an interview with Stephen Colbert in 2018, the rapper revealed that the soft melodies of Enya inspire her more than anything else.

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Tash Sultana / Erykah Badu -

Tash Sultana, who went from viral YouTube videos to worldwide tours in a matter of only a few years, has said neo-soul legend Erykah Badu has always been a huge influence for her.

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Beyoncé / Lauryn Hill -

Beyoncé is widely thought of as peerless when it comes to influential music icons, but the singer has said that none of it would be possible without the work that Lauryn Hill did in the 1990s, specifically Hill’s seminal debut album ‘The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.’

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Coldplay / Radiohead -

Coldplay front man Chris Martin has always been vocal about his admiration for Radiohead, and has said that they cleared a path for later English bands like Coldplay to succeed.

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Adele / Carole King -

Adele needs no time to think about who her idol is. She has said without hesitation that Carole King’s masterwork ‘Tapestry’ is her “favorite album ever,” and has called King an “amazing songwriter.”

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Ben Gibbard / Teenage Fanclub -

Once an icon of the early-2000s alternative rock scene, Ben Gibbard and his band Death Cab for Cutie have been cited as a major influence by many of the angsty indie bands that have popped up in more recent years. Gibbard himself bows at the feet of early-indie heavyweights Teenage Fanclub. 

Sources: (Complex) (Oprah) (The Blast)

See also: Can you guess these celebs' favorite bands?

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