Madonna is one of the most recognizable names in the world – and not just the world of music. She became the first multimedia pop icon, crossing from dance-oriented pop music into movies, television, videos, fashion and books while achieving a level of celebrity comparable to that of a primary inspiration, Marilyn Monroe.

Madonna has been a ubiquitous and, at times, controversial figure since erupting on the scene in the early-80s. No one in the pop realm has manipulated the media with such a savvy sense of self-promotion. Yet Madonna's career has always had a solid musical footing, and her life – however outrageous and calculated at certain points – has proceeded on an unfolding path of self-discovery and open-hearted revelation.

November of 1984 saw the release of Like A Virgin, Madonna's second studio album, and the set that would make her a household name. Produced by Chic's Nile Rodgers, the sexually charged opus churned out four U.S. top five singles: the title track (#1), "Material Girl" (#2), "Angel" (#5) and "Dress You Up" (#5). Like A Virgin spent three weeks atop the Billboard 200 albums chart and lingered there for over two years. The album remains her biggest selling studio release in the U.S. to date with over 10 million units sold.