30 Best Sad Karaoke Songs (Emotional Ballads to Belt Out)

12 June 2026 · 6 min read

Sometimes karaoke isn’t about the party — it’s about pouring your heart into a ballad and letting the whole room feel it. Sad songs are some of the most satisfying to sing: big emotional choruses, room to really let go, and a guaranteed reaction. Here are 30 of the best. Search any title and sing it with the lyrics on screen.

Heartbreak power ballads

• “Someone Like You” — Adele
• “I Will Always Love You” — Whitney Houston
• “Without You” — Mariah Carey
• “Total Eclipse of the Heart” — Bonnie Tyler
• “All by Myself” — Celine Dion
• “Against All Odds” — Phil Collins

Modern tearjerkers

• “Stay with Me” — Sam Smith
• “When I Was Your Man” — Bruno Mars
• “Say Something” — A Great Big World & Christina Aguilera
• “All of Me” — John Legend
• “Jealous” — Labrinth
• “Easy On Me” — Adele

Classic sad songs

• “Hallelujah” — Leonard Cohen / Jeff Buckley
• “Nothing Compares 2 U” — Sinéad O’Connor
• “The Sound of Silence” — Simon & Garfunkel
• “Yesterday” — The Beatles
• “Tears in Heaven” — Eric Clapton
• “Everybody Hurts” — R.E.M.

Country & folk heartache

• “Jolene” — Dolly Parton
• “Tennessee Whiskey” — Chris Stapleton
• “The Night We Met” — Lord Huron
• “Skinny Love” — Bon Iver / Birdy
• “Make You Feel My Love” — Adele

Rock & alternative sad bangers

• “Creep” — Radiohead
• “Iris” — Goo Goo Dolls
• “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” — Green Day
• “The Scientist” — Coldplay
• “Fix You” — Coldplay (a giant singalong finish)

How to sing a sad song well

• Start quiet, build to the chorus. The contrast is what makes a ballad land — don’t belt from the first line.
• Mean it. Emotion sells a sad song far more than perfect pitch. Commit to the feeling and the room comes with you.
• Pick one that fits your range. Many of these live high — choose the one you can reach so the big note is a release, not a struggle. See our easy karaoke songs if you want something gentler.

Pour your heart out

Pick a ballad and search it on Starlight Karaoke — free, no signup, lyrics synced to the music. Want to lift the mood after? Try the 50 best karaoke songs of all time.

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