Michael Jackson, James Brown, Aretha Franklin on ‘Icon’ Shortlist

*The Queen of Soul, Godfather of Soul and King of Pop have made a shortlist of the top 20 greatest artists in the last 50 years – as chosen by a new poll from CNN and UK-based Songlines magazine.

Aretha Franklin, James Brown and Michael Jackson, respectively, join Madonna, Elvis Presley, the Beatles, Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones among the American acts on the list.

Songlines stated on its website today, “CNN came to Songlines keen to get expert help in including non-Anglo Saxon representation in the list of artists, creating a truly global list of music icons.

“World music icons on the list include Algerian rai legend Khaled and the late queen of Arab song, Oum Kalthoum, the late Mama Africa Miriam Makeba and Senegalese star Youssou N’Dour, Indian playback singer Asha Bhosle and the late Pakistani qawwaliinnovator Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, the late Taiwanese-Chinese pop icon Teresa Teng and the late Hong Kong founder of Cantopop Leslie Cheung, Brazilian tropicalialinchpin Gilberto Gil, Colombian rocker Juanes and the late salsa queen Celia Cruz. And of course, the biggest star to ever hit the mainstream from the ranks of world music, reggae legend Bob Marley.”

Fans are being asked to vote for their favorite artist at http://edition.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/Music/07/28/icon.music.vote.. The winner will be unveiled on Aug. 25.