Must Haves. Music Edition. Cher.

BACKGROUND HISTORY. Cher rose to fame in the 1960s as part of a singing duet with husband Sonny Bono, charting at No. 1 with the single "I Got You Babe" before starring on The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour. Cher had a successful solo career as well, with hits like "Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves," "Half-Breed," and "Dark Lady." In the 1980s, she embraced acting and starred in films such as Silkwood and Mask, winning an Academy Award for her portrayal in Moonstruck.

GREATEST HITS. Believe, Gypsys, Tramps and Thieves, The Shoop Shoop Song, Bang Bang, Strong Enough

ALBUMS. All I Really Want to Do, Cher, the sonny side of cher, with love, cher, backstage, 3614 jackson highway, believe, foxy lady and more!

CULTURAL IMPACT. Female pioneers are typically under-celebrated when it comes to historical retellings of popular music's history, and Cher is no exception.She holds five Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hits, an Oscar for best actress, and has been a household figure for half a century. Nonetheless, Cher's importance as a musical force is undervalued or ignored.

Cher perplexed an American public still distrustful of women in pants, with her long, straight black hair dangling in front of a face that, unlike other female pop artists at the time, was more prone to a knowing sneer than an ingratiating smile. Cher, on the other hand, took a step farther, not only wearing pants but also adopting a genderless style that both men and women might emulate. Even her voice perplexed America, who couldn't believe a woman could sing as well as she did.