Before we get into it, there are a few rules:

Rule #1 (The Madonna Rule): This list is based on recent hotness. It doesn’t matter how hot an artist was back in the ‘80s. It’s 2007. What have you done for us lately?

Rule #2 (The Hayden Panettiere Rule): To qualify for this list, an artist must be over 18 years of age. We only objectify of-age women here.

Rule #3 (The Newcomer Rule): Each artist must have released at least one full-length album prior to August 1st, 2007 in order to qualify.

Rule #4 (The Pseudo-Musician Rule): Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton are disqualified for obvious reasons.

Rule #5 (The Ashlee Simpson Rule): A woman can move up a few spots based on talent and/or personality. However, they cannot be hurt by lack of talent. Just like in real life.

Rule #6 (The Anastacia Rule): A prolonged absence from the musical spotlight can bring an artist down several notches. This is, after all, a list of the hottest women in music, so it’s only appropriate that they stay active in music.

Rule #7 (The Dixie Chicks Rule): For a group, the ranking will be determined by averaging the hotness of all members.

Those are the rules. It’s beholding time…

50) Ashanti

Ashanti has been cute ever since she came out in the early part of the decade. But back then, she had these overgrown sideburns, almost like female muttonchops. After a couple years out of the limelight, she’s back with a new album (out in October), and it appears she has decided to “drop the chops,” making her a good starting point for this list.

49) Lacey Mosley

At age 16, the Flyleaf singer suffered a nervous breakdown and cut off all her hair. Nowadays, she’s a stable and beautiful woman, and an amazing singer. Hmm, it usually works the opposite way, doesn’t it?

48) Miranda Lambert

This 23-year old is the first country singer to make the list, but she certainly won’t be the last. Two interesting facts about Miranda: Her mother was a private investigator, and she broke through with the hit song “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.” Dating her must be fun.

47) Leslie Feist

Leslie Feist is both a talented solo performer and one of the nineteen members of the Canadian indie group Broken Social Scene. No, really, they have 19 members. If you grow up in Canada, you either play hockey or join Broken Social Scene. There are no other options.

46) Natasha Bedingfield

Natasha had a hit earlier in 2007 with the song “I Wanna Have Your Babies.” In a related story, all males from Europe and America have teamed up to work on a new song, “Whatever You Want, Natasha.”

45) Kelly Clarkson

Breakaway Clarkson would have been in the top 30. The My December angry and vengeful (and probably hitting the Haagen Dazs) Clarkson gets #45.

44) M.I.A.

Pictures simply cannot capture the true hotness of M.I.A.

43) Chantal Kreviazuk

You might know Chantal as the woman who accused Avril Lavigne of plagiarism, but she’s also a talented singer/songwriter who has written songs for Kelly Clarkson, Gwen Stefani, Mandy Moore, Cheyenne and Hilary Duff. Not only is Chantal hot herself, but she’s helping to keep other hot chicks on the radar. We appreciate it, Chantal.

42) Cat Power

Chan Marshall, a.k.a. Cat Power, claims she started out in music just as an excuse to go out with friends and get drunk. Now that’s hot. Only problem is that her name is pronounced “Shawn.” It has to be weird for her boyfriend to say stuff like, “Oh Shawn, I love you Shawn.” Hopefully she always goes by Cat.

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