Best female vocal recording on CD?

+1 Holy Cole, Eva Cassidy, Melody Gardot, Cassandra Wilson, Paula Cole, Patricia Barber, and most others mentioned.

My rotation this past week has included Lydia Gray, Anne Bisson, Vanessa Fernandez, Erin Bode, Tori Amos, Gretchen Perlato, Lhasa, Rachel Z, Karrin Allyson, Eden Brent, Patty Carpenter, Amanda Carr, Emilie-Claire Barlow, Karen Lovely, Ruthie Foster, Valerie Joyce, Stacey Kent, Ana Caram, Beth Hart, Janis Ian, Rickie Lee Jones, Josi Davis, Connie Evingson, Astrud Gilberto, Billy Lee Hart, Barbara Jungr, Katia Labeque, k.d. Lang, Allyson Krauss, Claire MArlo, Sophie Milman, Jane Monheit, The Nields (sisters), Madeleine Peyroux, Ambar Rubart, Mary Stallings, Susan Tedeschi, DAr Williams, Lucinda Williams.

All CDs. Fine voices, arrangements, performances and recording production (not heavy handed post production).  Probably a few more that I can't recall. I am retired, music plays 12-16 hours every day when I am home. I have a 4K plus CD collection (and vinyl which I rarely bother with) which is a drop in the bucket of talent. I felt guilty mentioning these folks because there are so many others. 

THE SOPRANO Arleen Auger possessed a pure-toned voice of great flexibility and absolute accuracy of intonation. She excelled in the music of Monteverdi, Bach, Gluck, Haydn, Handel and in particular of Mozart, but also sang works by 20th-century composers such as Carl Orff with great success. Also consider the amazing Dutch soprano Elly Ameling and the very fine American Barbara Bonney.  Don't let the idea that these are "Classical" artists keep you from your investigation.  Like a fine Scotch or Beer, although new and distinctive at first they will soon become favorites.   

Also, give Halie Loren - Waiting in Vain, Priscilla Ahn - Dream, Izzy Bizu - Diamond, Macy Gray - Annabelle a listen.  Some different names....

How about Lucinda Williams, Stacy Kent & Mary Gauthier

Oh yeah, Mary Gauthier is a fairly new discovery of mine. I have a couple albums of hers, still have to get the one produced by T-Bone Burnett.