Book excerpt: "She's been there and done everything, before any of us." – Christina Aguilera Cher started her career as a backing vocalist for Phil Spector's iconic Wall of Sound, before shooting to superstardom herself with the sixties anthem I Got You Babe. Cher mastered folk-rock, achieved three US #1's during the singer-songwriter era of the 1970's, whilst having a glittering television career. She made her mark on disco, Broadway and the 1980's hair metal scene and earned the highest acting honor available. Cher absolutely conquered the 1990's dance scene whilst in her 50's, and was given the Goddess Of Pop title in her 60's. Along the way, Cher has knocked The Beatles off #1, had five US Hot 100 hits simultaneously, appeared on the Live Aid stage, had US#1 movies with Meryl Streep and Jack Nicholson, attended Madonna's wedding in a purple wig, called David Letterman an "asshole", inaugurated Disneyland, had the highest-grossing female tour of all-time, had hits in six decades and held Lady Gaga's meat purse. Rightfully coined the "Goddess of Pop", Cher has conquered music, film and television during her 50-year showbiz career, selling 100-million records, grossing $650-million on tour, drawing $700-million at the U.S. Box Office and winning Oscar, Grammy, Emmy and Golden Globe Awards. She is one-half of highly-successful duo Sonny & Cher, a multi-million-selling doll, multi-million-selling fitness icon, hit songwriter, enduring sex symbol, award-winning television producer, film director, video director, award-winning fashion icon, author, model, humanitarian, mother, daughter, and of course the idol of a highly diverse fan base. Cher topped the US Hot 100: before Barbra Streisand did; before Michael Jackson, Elton John, David Bowie and Rod Stewart were famous; and before Celine Dion and Mariah Carey were even born. She had solo hits before Tina Turner and Diana Ross did, and had reinvented herself multiple times (from folk-rock hippie, glamorous TV host, disco diva, rock chick to serious actress) before Madonna had even released her first single. Her music has been covered by a range of artists from Frank Sinatra to Stevie Wonder to Britney Spears. And she broke barriers in censorship and style to pave the way for generations of outlandish female starlets such as Cyndi Lauper, Christina Aguilera and Lady Gaga. "She's a bright and truly funny gal. It goes without saying she is talented and will be doing her thing for as long as she wants to." – Dionne Warwick