Zayn Malik, Beyoncé and Gwen Stefani Compete for Top Solo Artist Who Started Off in Big Bands

Singers in No Doubt, Destiny's Child and One Direction have found huge success all by themselves

Sometimes, riding solo in the music industry can turn into an artist's biggest hit.

There's no question that some of the biggest songs and catchiest tunes have come from famous groups and bands. But in recent months, there's no denying the power of a good solo artist with a powerful voice and hit single.

Need proof? Just look at Zayn Malik who had "Pillowtalk" hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. In fact, the former One Direction member's debut solo album was just released and climbed to No. 1 on the album charts. Impressive, right?

If you're not totally convinced, perhaps Gwen Stefani will give you a new perspective on the power of going solo.

While she's still holding onto ties with No Doubt, The Voice coach was able to write directly from the heart on her latest solo album This Is What the Truth Feels Like.

Thanks to hit singles including "Make Me Like You" and "Used to Love You," Gwen was able to score her first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 chart.

All this success made us take on the difficult task of ranking the top five solo artists that started their careers in big bands.

With special appearances by Beyoncé, Justin Timberlake and one other legendary singer, the final decision wasn't easy. But you have to watch the video below and find out who takes home the top prize.