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The Dixie Chicks (May 29, 2006)JILL GREENBERG FOR TIME
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Kanye West (Aug. 29, 2005)KWAKU ALSTON FOR TIME
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Ricky Martin (May 24, 1999)TIME
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Lauryn Hill (Feb. 8, 1999)TIME
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Jewel (July 21, 1997)HERB RITTS
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Pearl Jam (Oct. 25, 1993)NEAL PRESTON
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Garth Brooks (March 30, 1992)JAMES SCHNEPF / GAMMA LIAISON
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Madonna (May 27, 1985)FRANCESCO SCAVULLO
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Michael Jackson (March 19, 1984)ANDY WARHOL
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David Bowie (July 18, 1983)TIME
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The Who (Dec. 17, 1979)TIME
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Linda Ronstadt (Feb. 28, 1977)MILTON GREENE
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Paul McCartney (May 31, 1976)RICHARD E. AARON
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Elton John (July 7, 1975)DON WELLER
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Cher (March 17, 1975)RICHARD AVEDON
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Joni Mitchell (Dec. 16, 1974)BOB PEAK
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James Taylor (March 1, 1971)J. H. BRESLOW
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The Band (Jan. 12, 1970)BOB PEAK
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Aretha Franklin (June 28, 1968)BORIS CHALIAPIN
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The Beatles (Sept. 22, 1967)TIME
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Joan Baez (Nov. 23, 1962)TIME
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Frank Sinatra (Aug. 29, 1955)TIME
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Rosemary Clooney (Feb. 23, 1953)BORIS CHALIAPIN
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Louis Armstrong (Feb. 21, 1949)BORIS ARTZYBASHEFF
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Bing Crosby (Apr. 7, 1941)ERNEST HAMLIN BAKER
She may be a record breaker but Taylor Swift is far from the first musician to make the cover of TIME. Since the year of TIME’s founding, people who make the world sing along have been featured on the cover — starting with Giulio Gatti-Casazza, an Italian opera manager, in November 1923. Though early music coverage in the magazine was dominated by opera and classical music, it wasn’t long before pop took over. Here, check out 25 of our favorite TIME covers starring musicians at the top of their games.
Read TIME’s new cover story about the singer: The Power of Taylor Swift
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