Imagine an all-women supergroup….

In honor of International Women in Music Day (March 28), and our International Women in Music weekend special, I decided to assemble the supergroup of all supergroups, comprised of some of the best women musicians in history, from across genres and generations. Who will it include? And which parts and instruments will they play?

Picking artists for this group wasn’t easy, but I think the results are amazing!

Front Woman and Lead Singer: Aretha Franklin

I started with the most difficult position to choose. There have been so many amazing women singers in history. For this role, though, I considered more than just vocal talent – I wanted stage presence and personality. Aretha Franklin was the first woman inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and for good reason. With her vocal range, this band could make any type of song you want to hear.

Lead Guitar: Sister Rosetta Tharpe

Whoever your favorite guitarist is, they were likely inspired by Sister Rosetta Tharpe, who was a virtuoso on the instrument. She inspired many musicians, women and men, including artists outside of the guitar world. Elvis Presley, Little Richard, Johnny Cash, and Karen Carpenter are just a few who have listed Sister Rosetta Tharpe as major influences when it comes to singing and performing on stage.

Rhythm Guitar: St. Vincent

Annie Clark is a jack-of-all-trades guitarist. She incorporates a variety of genres and techniques into her style, such as distorted riffs, synth, and jazz. Her unique and broad style makes her perfect to back up the band’s lead guitarist, Sister Rosetta Tharpe.

Bass: Tina Weymouth

This was the easiest choice for me. Talking Heads relied on her basslines so heavily. They simply would not have had their unique sound without Weymouth on bass. Plus she cofounded Tom Tom Club with her husband Chris Frantz. She’s one of the most talented and unique bass players ever.

Drums: Karen Carpenter

Muhammad Ali’s “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” quote fits Karen Carpenter perfectly. Her voice was smooth like a butterfly, but her drumming would sting like a bee. Her skills on drums are up there with the best – whether a jazz-type freestyle or a classic shredding solo, Karen Carpenter has you covered.

Keyboards: Gillian Gilbert

She played the Keyboard on “Blue Monday,” need I say more? New Order is a special band in part because of Gilbert’s brilliance as a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and producer.

Background Vocals: The Pointer Sisters

Aretha will be the powerhouse up front, but she needs her team of background singers. How about a group who can do anything, from R&B to country? I’m sure they can pick up a few rock songs along the way, too.

Related: Ben’s favorite sister bands

Fiddle: Alison Krauss

When legends like Robert Plant and the Coen Brothers recruit you for your fiddle skills, it’s easy to say you’re good at it. “Johnny” may have beat the devil in an infamous fiddle-playing contest, but he’d get smoked by Alison Krauss.

Manager: Sharon Osbourne

If she can manage Ozzy Osbourne, she can manage anyone. She also founded Ozzfest, which means she can definitely find the right music festival, or even develop her own that’s best suited for this supergroup.

Producer: Sylvia Massy

Not only has Sylvia Massy worked with some of the most legendary artists in modern music, including Prince and Johnny Cash, but she’s also done work across numerous genres – heavy metal, pop, country, alternative rock…the list goes on. She’s also an author and educator in the industry. Bottom line is, whatever type of music this band creates, she has the skills to make it the best it can be.