28 Best Songs for Pageant Talent: Wow the Judges with These Showstoppers!

Choosing the right song for your pageant talent portion can be the difference between a memorable performance and blending into the background. The pressure's on – you need a song that showcases your vocal abilities (or instrumental skills!), reflects your personality, and leaves a lasting impression on the judges. That's why we've compiled this ultimate list of the best songs for pageant talent, catering to diverse tastes and skill levels. From powerful ballads that highlight emotional depth to upbeat, energetic numbers that showcase your charisma, this guide covers it all. Finding the perfect song isn't just about hitting the high notes; it's about aligning your musical choice with your unique strengths and the overall pageant theme. We'll explore a range of genres and artists, offering suggestions to help you find the perfect tune to amplify your performance and boost your chances of winning. Let’s dive in and find your winning song!

28 Best Songs for Pageant Talent: Wow the Judges with These Showstoppers!
SongArtistAlbumListens
1. Roar Katy Perry PRISM 4B+
2. I Will Always Love You Whitney Houston The Bodyguard - Original Soundtrack Album 2B+
3. Stronger Kelly Clarkson Stronger (Deluxe Version) 500M+
4. The Climb Miley Cyrus Stages (Deluxe) 490M+
5. Hero Mariah Carey 394M+
6. Greatest Love of All Whitney Houston Whitney Houston 328M+
7. Born This Way Lady Gaga Born This Way (Special Edition) 313M+

1. Roar (Katy Perry)

Song Title: Roar

Artist: Katy Perry

Powerful Vocals: Katy Perry's strong and emotive vocals are perfect for commanding a stage, ensuring your performance is both heard and felt.

Anthemic Quality: The song's powerful chorus and driving beat create an uplifting and inspiring atmosphere, ideal for conveying confidence and strength.

Stage Presence: "Roar" lends itself to dynamic choreography and expressive stage movements, allowing you to showcase your talent and personality.

Roar - Katy Perry

2. I Will Always Love You (1993)

I Will Always Love You

Vocal Performance: Whitney Houston's powerhouse vocals deliver a breathtaking performance, capable of captivating any audience with its emotional depth and range.

Emotional Impact: The song's poignant lyrics about heartbreak and letting go resonate deeply, creating a powerful and memorable moment perfect for a heartfelt pageant performance.

Stage Presence: Its slow tempo and build-up allow for dramatic staging and choreography, enhancing the overall impact and storytelling potential for a talent competition.

I Will Always Love You - Whitney Houston

3. Stronger (Kelly Clarkson - 2025)

Vocal Powerhouse: Kelly Clarkson's incredible vocal range and powerful delivery make "Stronger" a show-stopping anthem perfect for showcasing vocal talent on a pageant stage.

Anthemic Quality: The song's uplifting and inspirational message resonates deeply, conveying confidence and resilience – qualities admired in pageant contestants.

Stage Presence: Its driving beat and memorable melody will command attention and create an unforgettable performance, ensuring you leave a lasting impression.

Stronger - Kelly Clarkson

4. The Climb (Miley Cyrus - 2025)

Vocal Performance: Miley Cyrus's powerful and emotive vocals in "The Climb" are perfect for showcasing vocal control and range, crucial elements in a pageant talent performance.

Inspirational Message: The song's theme of perseverance and overcoming challenges resonates deeply, making it a compelling choice for conveying a message of strength and determination.

Stage Presence: "The Climb's" driving rhythm and anthemic quality create a naturally engaging atmosphere, allowing for dynamic stage presence and audience connection.

The Climb - Miley Cyrus

5. Hero

Hero - Mariah Carey

Vocal Performance: Mariah Carey's powerhouse vocals are perfect for showcasing impressive range and control, captivating the audience with her signature belting and soaring high notes.

Emotional Resonance: The song's anthemic quality and message of hope and empowerment resonate deeply, creating a powerful and inspiring performance ideal for a pageant setting.

Stage Presence: "Hero" allows for dynamic staging and choreography, providing ample opportunity to express the song's message through powerful gestures and emotive delivery.

Hero - Mariah Carey

6. Greatest Love of All (Whitney Houston - 1986)

Vocal Performance: Whitney Houston's powerhouse vocals are perfect for showcasing impressive range and control, a key element in any pageant talent performance.

Emotional Resonance: The song's message of self-love and acceptance resonates deeply, providing a powerful and relatable theme for a pageant.

Stage Presence: "Greatest Love of All" allows for a dynamic performance, incorporating meaningful gestures and emotional expression to captivate the audience.

Greatest Love of All - Whitney Houston

7. Born This Way (Lady Gaga - 2025)

Anthemic Quality: "Born This Way" possesses a powerful, uplifting chorus perfect for conveying confidence and self-acceptance, key themes in pageant competitions.

Vocal Performance: Lady Gaga's strong vocals and dynamic range allow for a memorable and show-stopping performance, easily captivating a large audience.

Stage Presence: The song's inherent energy and iconic choreography translate well to a pageant setting, offering opportunities for creative staging and visual impact.

Born This Way - Lady Gaga

8. Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen - 1984)

Vocal Performance: Leonard Cohen's distinctive baritone voice lends itself beautifully to the song's emotional depth, creating a powerful and captivating performance suitable for a pageant setting.

Emotional Impact: "Hallelujah" evokes a range of emotions—from heartbreak to hope—making it resonant with audiences and potentially enhancing a pageant's narrative.

Dramatic Potential: The song's dynamic arrangement and soaring melody offer ample opportunity for a dramatic and memorable pageant performance, allowing for a captivating stage presence.

Hallelujah - Leonard Cohen

9. This Is Me

Vocal Powerhouse: Keala Settle's incredible vocal range and raw power make this song a showstopper, perfect for showcasing vocal talent in a pageant setting.

Emotional Resonance: The anthem-like quality and message of self-acceptance creates a powerful and memorable performance, connecting with judges and audiences on an emotional level.

Stage Presence: "This Is Me" lends itself to dynamic staging and choreography, allowing for a visually impactful and engaging talent performance.

This Is Me - Keala Settle,The Greatest Showman Ensemble

10. Unstoppable

Vocal Powerhouse: Sia's incredible vocal range and emotive delivery will captivate judges and the audience, creating a powerful and memorable performance.

Anthemic Quality: "Unstoppable" possesses a soaring melody and driving rhythm perfect for showcasing confidence and stage presence – essential elements in a pageant talent competition.

Choreography Potential: The song's upbeat tempo and powerful lyrics lend themselves well to dynamic choreography, allowing for a visually stunning and impactful routine.

Unstoppable - Sia
  • You Raise Me Up
    11

    You Raise Me Up

    Josh Groban

    2003

    Closer

  • A Million Dreams
    12

    A Million Dreams

    Ziv Zaifman,Hugh Jackman,Michelle Williams

    2017

    Disney Summer Songs , Vol. 2

  • Brave
    13

    Brave

    Sara Bareilles

    2013

  • Rise Up
    14

    Rise Up

    Andra Day

    2015

    Cheers to the Fall

  • Reflection
    15

    Reflection

    Christina Aguilera

    1998

  • And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going
    16

    And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going

    Jennifer Hudson,Jennifer Holliday

    1981

  • Feeling Good
    17

    Feeling Good

    Nina Simone

    1965

  • I Dreamed a Dream
    18

    I Dreamed a Dream

    Susan Boyle

    2009

  • Listen
    19

    Listen

    Beyoncé

    2006

  • Unbreakable
    20

    Unbreakable

    Alicia Keys

    2005

  • Somewhere Over the Rainbow
    21

    Somewhere Over the Rainbow

    Judy Garland

    1939

  • Defying Gravity
    22

    Defying Gravity

    Kristin Chenoweth,Idina Menzel

    2003

  • Fever
    23

    Fever

    Peggy Lee

    1958

  • Dream A Little Dream Of Me
    24

    Dream A Little Dream Of Me

    Ella Fitzgerald,Louis Armstrong

    1950

    The World We Knew

  • Think of Me
    25

    Think of Me

    Sarah Brightman

    1986

  • Don't Rain On My Parade
    26

    Don't Rain On My Parade

    Barbra Streisand

    1964

    Funny Girl - Original Soundtrack Recording

  • Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend
    27

    Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend

    Marilyn Monroe

    1953

  • My Strongest Suit
    28

    My Strongest Suit

    Sherie Rene Scott

    1997