Trailblazing female musicians. What ever happened to Bessie Smith?

Come to think of it, and I'm no fan IMBS, but where are Edith Piaf, Kathleen Ferrier, Billie Holliday and Ella Fitzgerald?

Come to think of it again, the Carter Family was in effect a female duo, at a time when country music didn't do females. A bit of trailblazing there, methinks.

Methinks in fact that this list is too selective.