ARIA Award for Best Female Artist
# ARIA Award for Best Female Artist

The ARIA Music Award for Best Female Artist, is an award presented at the annual ARIA Music Awards, which recognises "the many achievements of Aussie artists across all music genres", since 1987. It is handed out by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), an organisation whose aim is "to advance the interests of the Australian record industry."

To be eligible, the female artist must meet one of the following criteria: be an Australian citizen; be born in Australia; be a permanent resident or have applied for permanent residency (having lived in Australia for at least six months for two consecutive years prior to the awards and signed to an Australian record label in the case of an applicant); if they are from New Zealand they must have lived in Australia for at least six months for two consecutive years prior to the awards and signed to an Australian record label.

The ARIA Award for Best Female Artist is given to a female artist who have had a single or an album appear in the ARIA Top 100 Singles Chart between the eligibility period, and is voted for by a judging academy, which consists of 1000 members from different areas of the music industry.

The award for Best Female Artist was first presented to Jenny Morris in 1987. Wendy Matthews, Sia and Kasey Chambers hold the record for the most wins, with three each, followed by Morris, Kate Ceberano, Natalie Imbruglia, Missy Higgins and Kimbra with two. Kylie Minogue has received 14 nominations, more than any other artist, winning one in 2001 for her album Light Years (2000).

This, and the ARIA Award for Best Male Artist was merged in 2021 to form a single award for ARIA Award for Best Artist.This change is designed to ensure that the ARIA Awards reflect and embrace equality and the true diversity of the music industry in 2021. In making this change the number of nominees for Best Artist will be ten.

## Winners and nominees

In the following table: the years in the "Year" column are listed as per the ARIA Award ceremony; in the "Winner" column the winner for that particular year is always listed first and highlighted in a separate colour, in bold face and with a double dagger (‡); the nominees are placed alphabetically beneath the winner and are not highlighted or in bold face; the "Album/single title" column lists the title of the album or single that the artist was nominated for (no reliable sources lists the works that Kate Ceberano, Sharon O'Neill and Shona Laing were nominated for in 1988).

Table key :

| ‡ | Indicates the winner |
| - | - |
| Year | Winner | Album/single title |
| 1987 (1st) |
| 1987 (1st) | Jenny Morris‡ | "You're Gonna Get Hurt" |
| 1987 (1st) | Jean Stafford | Burning Bright |
| 1987 (1st) | Jo Kennedy | The Pack of Women |
| 1987 (1st) | Renée Geyer | Renée Live at the Basement |
| 1987 (1st) | Wendy Matthews | "Dancing Daze" |
| 1988 (2nd) | | |
| 1988 (2nd) | Jenny Morris‡ | Body and Soul |
| 1988 (2nd) | Anne Kirkpatrick | Come Back Again |
| 1988 (2nd) | Kate Ceberano | — |
| 1988 (2nd) | Sharon O'Neill | — |
| 1988 (2nd) | Shona Laing | — |
| 1989 (3rd) | | |
| 1989 (3rd) | Kate Ceberano‡ | You've Always Got the Blues |
| 1989 (3rd) | Marcia Hines | "The Lord's Prayer" |
| 1989 (3rd) | Wendy Matthews | You've Always Got the Blues |
| 1989 (3rd) | Kylie Minogue | Kylie |
| 1989 (3rd) | Sharon O'Neill | "We’re Only Human" |
| 1990 (4th) | | |
| 1990 (4th) | Kate Ceberano‡ | Brave |
| 1990 (4th) | Robyne Dunn | Labour of Liberty |
| 1990 (4th) | Gyan | Gyan |
| 1990 (4th) | Kylie Minogue | Enjoy Yourself |
| 1990 (4th) | Jenny Morris | Shiver |
| 1991 (5th) | | |
| 1991 (5th) | Wendy Matthews‡ | Émigré |
| 1991 (5th) | Kate Ceberano | Like Now |
| 1991 (5th) | Grace Knight | Come in Spinner |
| 1991 (5th) | Jenny Morris | "Piece of My Heart" |
| 1991 (5th) | Margaret Urlich | Safety in Numbers |
| 1992 (6th) | | |
| 1992 (6th) | Deborah Conway‡ | String of Pearls |
| 1992 (6th) | Jenny Morris | Honeychild |
| 1992 (6th) | Kate Ceberano | Think About It! |
| 1992 (6th) | Kylie Minogue | Let's Get to It |
| 1992 (6th) | Wendy Matthews | "Let's Kiss (Like Angels Do)" |
| 1993 (7th) | | |
| 1993 (7th) | Wendy Matthews‡ | Lily |
| 1993 (7th) | Deborah Conway | "Release Me" |
| 1993 (7th) | Deni Hines | "That Word (L.O.V.E.)" |
| 1993 (7th) | Kate Ceberano | "I Don't Know How to Love Him" |
| 1993 (7th) | Margaret Urlich | Chameleon Dreams |
| 1994 (8th) | | |
| 1994 (8th) | Wendy Matthews‡ | ""Friday's Child"" |
| 1994 (8th) | Anne Kirkpatrick | Game of Love |
| 1994 (8th) | Deborah Conway | Bitch Epic |
| 1994 (8th) | Kate Ceberano | "You've Got a Friend" |
| 1994 (8th) | Margaret Urlich | "Burnt Sienna" |
| 1995 (9th) | | |
| 1995 (9th) | Tina Arena‡ | Don't Ask |
| 1995 (9th) | Christine Anu | Stylin Up |
| 1995 (9th) | Kylie Minogue | Kylie Minogue |
| 1995 (9th) | Max Sharam | A Million Year Girl |
| 1995 (9th) | Merril Bainbridge | "Mouth" |
| 1996 (10th) | | |
| 1996 (10th) | Christine Anu‡ | "Come On" |
| 1996 (10th) | Deni Hines | Imagination |
| 1996 (10th) | Kate Ceberano | "Change" |
| 1996 (10th) | Max Sharam | "Is It OK?/Huntinground" |
| 1996 (10th) | Tina Arena | "Wasn't It Good" |
| 1997 (11th) | | |
| 1997 (11th) | Monique Brumby‡ | "Mary" |
| 1997 (11th) | Annie Crummer | Seventh Wave |
| 1997 (11th) | Deni Hines | "I'm Not in Love" |
| 1997 (11th) | Nikka Costa | "Get Off My Sunshine" |
| 1997 (11th) | Wendy Matthews | "Then I Walked Away" |
| 1998 (12th) | | |
| 1998 (12th) | Natalie Imbruglia‡ | Left of the Middle |
| 1998 (12th) | Kate Ceberano | Pash |
| 1998 (12th) | Kylie Minogue | Impossible Princess |
| 1998 (12th) | Monique Brumby | Thylacine |
| 1998 (12th) | Tina Arena | In Deep |
| 1999 (13th) | | |
| 1999 (13th) | Natalie Imbruglia‡ | "Wishing I Was There" |
| 1999 (13th) | Kasey Chambers | The Captain |
| 1999 (13th) | Kylie Minogue | "Cowboy Style" |
| 1999 (13th) | Lisa Miller | As Far As Life Goes |
| 1999 (13th) | Suze DeMarchi | Telelove |
| 2000 (14th) | | |
| 2000 (14th) | Kasey Chambers‡ | "The Captain" |
| 2000 (14th) | Christine Anu | "Sunshine on a Rainy Day" |
| 2000 (14th) | Diana Ah Naid | I Don't Think I'm Pregnant |
| 2000 (14th) | Kylie Minogue | "Spinning Around" |
| 2000 (14th) | Vanessa Amorosi | "Absolutely Everybody" |
| 2001 (15th) | | |
| 2001 (15th) | Kylie Minogue‡ | Light Years |
| 2001 (15th) | Christine Anu | Come My Way |
| 2001 (15th) | Jodi Phillis | In Dreams I Live |
| 2001 (15th) | Leah Haywood | "Takin' Back What's Mine" |
| 2001 (15th) | Vanessa Amorosi | The Power |
| 2002 (16th) | | |
| 2002 (16th) | Kasey Chambers‡ | Barricades & Brickwalls |
| 2002 (16th) | Holly Valance | "Kiss Kiss" |
| 2002 (16th) | Kylie Minogue | Fever |
| 2002 (16th) | Lisa Miller | Car Tape |
| 2002 (16th) | Natalie Imbruglia | White Lilies Island |
| 2003 (17th) | | |
| 2003 (17th) | Delta Goodrem‡ | Innocent Eyes |
| 2003 (17th) | Amiel | Audio Out |
| 2003 (17th) | Kylie Minogue | "Come into My World" |
| 2003 (17th) | Renée Geyer | Tenderland |
| 2003 (17th) | Sarah Blasko | Prelusive |
| 2004 (18th) | | |
| 2004 (18th) | Kasey Chambers‡ | Wayward Angel |
| 2004 (18th) | Delta Goodrem | "Not Me, Not I" |
| 2004 (18th) | Kylie Minogue | Body Language |
| 2004 (18th) | Lisa Miller | Version Originale |
| 2004 (18th) | Missy Higgins | "Scar" |
| 2005 (19th) | | |
| 2005 (19th) | Missy Higgins‡ | The Sound of White |
| 2005 (19th) | Kylie Minogue | "I Believe in You" |
| 2005 (19th) | Mia Dyson | Parking Lots |
| 2005 (19th) | Natalie Imbruglia | Counting Down the Days |
| 2005 (19th) | Sarah Blasko | The Overture & the Underscore |
| 2006 (20th) | | |
| 2006 (20th) | Clare Bowditch‡ | What Was Left |
| 2006 (20th) | Holly Throsby | Under the Town |
| 2006 (20th) | Jade MacRae | Jade MacRae |
| 2006 (20th) | Jen Cloher | Dead Wood Falls |
| 2006 (20th) | Kasey Chambers | "Nothing at All" |
| 2007 (21st) | | |
| 2007 (21st) | Missy Higgins‡ | On a Clear Night |
| 2007 (21st) | Kasey Chambers | Carnival |
| 2007 (21st) | Kate Miller-Heidke | Little Eve |
| 2007 (21st) | Katie Noonan | "Time to Begin" |
| 2007 (21st) | Sarah Blasko | What the Sea Wants, the Sea Will Have |
| 2008 (22nd) | | |
| 2008 (22nd) | Gabriella Cilmi‡ | Lessons to Be Learned |
| 2008 (22nd) | Clare Bowditch | The Moon Looked On |
| 2008 (22nd) | Holly Throsby | A Loud Call |
| 2008 (22nd) | Kylie Minogue | X |
| 2008 (22nd) | Missy Higgins | "Peachy" |
| 2009 (23rd) | | |
| 2009 (23rd) | Sarah Blasko‡ | As Day Follows Night |
| 2009 (23rd) | Jessica Mauboy | Been Waiting |
| 2009 (23rd) | Kate Miller-Heidke | Curiouser |
| 2009 (23rd) | Ladyhawke | Ladyhawke |
| 2009 (23rd) | Lisa Mitchell | Wonder |
| 2010 (24th) | | |
| 2010 (24th) | Washington‡ | I Believe You Liar |
| 2010 (24th) | Clare Bowditch | Modern Day Addiction |
| 2010 (24th) | Kylie Minogue | Aphrodite |
| 2010 (24th) | Lisa Mitchell | "Oh! Hark!" |
| 2010 (24th) | Sia | We Are Born |
| 2011 (25th) | | |
| 2011 (25th) | Kimbra‡ | "Cameo Lover" |
| 2011 (25th) | Adalita | Adalita |
| 2011 (25th) | Clare Bowditch | "Are You Ready Yet?" |
| 2011 (25th) | Kasey Chambers | Little Bird |
| 2011 (25th) | Washington | "Holy Moses" |
| 2012 (26th) | | |
| 2012 (26th) | Kimbra‡ | Vows |
| 2012 (26th) | Jessica Mauboy | "Gotcha" |
| 2012 (26th) | Lanie Lane | To the Horses |
| 2012 (26th) | Missy Higgins | The Ol' Razzle Dazzle |
| 2012 (26th) | Washington | Insomnia |
| 2013 (27th) | | |
| 2013 (27th) | Jessica Mauboy‡ | "To the End of the Earth" |
| 2013 (27th) | Abbe May | Kiss My Apocalypse |
| 2013 (27th) | Emma Louise | vs Head vs Heart |
| 2013 (27th) | Missy Higgins | "Set Me on Fire" |
| 2013 (27th) | Sarah Blasko | I Awake |
| 2014 (28th) | | |
| 2014 (28th) | Sia‡ | 1000 Forms of Fear |
| 2014 (28th) | Adalita | All Day Venus |
| 2014 (28th) | Iggy Azalea | The New Classic |
| 2014 (28th) | Jessica Mauboy | Beautiful |
| 2014 (28th) | Kasey Chambers | Bittersweet |
| 2015 (29th) | | |
| 2015 (29th) | Courtney Barnett‡ | Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit |
| 2015 (29th) | Jessica Mauboy | "Can I Get a Moment?" |
| 2015 (29th) | Meg Mac | MegMac EP |
| 2015 (29th) | Megan Washington | There There |
| 2015 (29th) | Sia | "Elastic Heart" |
| 2016 (30th) | | |
| 2016 (30th) | Sia‡ | This Is Acting |
| 2016 (30th) | Delta Goodrem | Wings of the Wild |
| 2016 (30th) | Jessica Mauboy | "This Ain't Love" |
| 2016 (30th) | Montaigne | Glorious Heights |
| 2016 (30th) | Sarah Blasko | Eternal Return |
| 2017 (31st) | | |
| 2017 (31st) | Sia‡ | "The Greatest" (featuring Kendrick Lamar) |
| 2017 (31st) | Amy Shark | Night Thinker |
| 2017 (31st) | Jessica Mauboy | The Secret Daughter (Songs from the Original TV Series) |
| 2017 (31st) | Julia Jacklin | Don’t Let the Kids Win |
| 2017 (31st) | Meg Mac | Low Blows |
| 2018 (32nd) |
| 2018 (32nd) | Amy Shark‡ | Love Monster |
| 2018 (32nd) | Alison Wonderland | Awake |
| 2018 (32nd) | Courtney Barnett | Tell Me How You Really Feel |
| 2018 (32nd) | Sia | "Flames" |
| 2018 (32nd) | Tash Sultana | Flow State |
| 2019 (33rd) |
| 2019 (33rd) | Tones and I‡ | "Dance Monkey" |
| 2019 (33rd) | Amy Shark | "Mess Her Up" |
| 2019 (33rd) | Jessica Mauboy | "Little Things" |
| 2019 (33rd) | Julia Jacklin | Crushing |
| 2019 (33rd) | Thelma Plum | Better in Blak |
| 2020 (34th) |
| 2020 (34th) | Sampa the Great | The Return |
| 2020 (34th) | Amy Shark | "Everybody Rise" |
| 2020 (34th) | Miiesha | Nyaaringu |
| 2020 (34th) | Sia | "Together" |
| 2020 (34th) | Tones and I | "Bad Child"/"Can't Be Happy All the Time" |

## Multiple wins and nominations

| Wins | Artist |
| - | - |
| 3 | Kasey Chambers |
| 3 | Wendy Matthews |
| 3 | Sia |
| 2 | Kate Ceberano |
| 2 | Missy Higgins |
| 2 | Natalie Imbruglia |
| 2 | Kimbra |
| 2 | Jenny Morris |
| Nominations | Artist |
| 14 | Kylie Minogue |
| 9 | Kate Ceberano |
| 8 | Kasey Chambers |
| 8 | Jessica Mauboy |
| 7 | Wendy Matthews |
| 7 | Sia |
| 6 | Sarah Blasko |
| 6 | Missy Higgins |
| 5 | Jenny Morris |
| 4 | Christine Anu |
| 4 | Clare Bowditch |
| 4 | Natalie Imbruglia |
| 4 | Amy Shark |
| 4 | Megan Washington |
| 3 | Tina Arena |
| 3 | Deborah Conway |
| 3 | Delta Goodrem |
| 3 | Deni Hines |
| 3 | Lisa Miller |
| 3 | Margaret Urlich |
| 2 | Adalita |
| 2 | Vanessa Amorosi |
| 2 | Courtney Barnett |
| 2 | Monique Brumby |
| 2 | Renée Geyer |
| 2 | Kimbra |
| 2 | Anne Kirkpatrick |
| 2 | Meg Mac |
| 2 | Kate Miller-Heidke |
| 2 | Lisa Mitchell |
| 2 | Sharon O'Neill |
| 2 | Max Sharam |
| 2 | Julia Jacklin |
| 2 | Holly Throsby |
| 2 | Tones and I |
