The graduate of the Royal Academy of Music, Garrett won the Kathleen Ferrier Prize in 1979, thereby launching her career. In the period of her stint when Principal Soprano at English National Opera, she was noted for her performances in productions of the operas Le Nozze di Figaro, Cosi fan tutte and Die Fledermaus.

Around 2002, Garrett was awarded the CBE for services to music.

Garrett as well presents the indicate in British classical radio station, Classic FM.

Around 2004, Lesley Garrett was one of the participants in the foremost series of Strictly Come Dancing, finishing third with her dance partner Anton du Beke.

Around 2005, she was announced as a guest host of the Channel Four game indicate Countdown after Richard Whiteley died.

She has been featured on the television version of the BBC programme Dead Ringers, being impersonated quite accurately by Jan Ravens, who has the hard physical likeness. Around 2004, she participate in the BBC's Who Do You Think You Are? genealogy documentary series, where she took usthe in a journeying across her page town of Thorne.