Best Female Vocalists Ballads

A relatively new artist whose work I have recently discovered is Antje Duvekot. Her most recent albums are:
The Near Demise of the Highwire Dancer (2009)
Antje Duvekot LIVE from all over the place (2011)
New Siberia (2012).

*Lost in Romance*/Lyn Stanley. I've got the 2-disc vinyl set (45rpm), and it is superb. Not sure if it's available in other formats.

Mass popularity and my tastes are usually mutually exclusive, but there is a fairly recent new singer who has sold a lot of albums whom I really like. She's British, goes by the name of Adele, and is a great singer of ballads, even one by Dylan. She has only two albums, I believe, so get 'em both!

For something not overproduced, genuine, from the heart... If you haven't already tapped into this, I would recommend the ballads of Richard and Linda Thompson. For instance, try the compilation Watching the Dark and skip to the ballads sung by Linda.

Meg Baird, "Dear Companion" (Drag City LP). A tremendous singer and a fine guitarist.