Diminutive singer Furtado radically transformed from Canadian skate styled chick, to raunchy Bronx like babe when she made her new style a success in 2006 with the release of the single Maneater.

American hip hop, pop, and R&B, and dance ensemble Pussycat Dolls are as much performance art as they are music. Past and present US members include: Ashley Roberts, Carmit Bachar, Jessica Sutta, Kimberly Wyatt, Melody Thornton, Nicole Scherzinger, Carmen Electra, Chelsea Rafanan...

Columbian Shakira might be described as the Latin Britney Spears. She is a massive star in Latino territories and wracks up chart hits like few.

It is over 20 years since the greatest Irish act of all time released a their most highly regarded album: Joshua Tree. These days front man Bono is a highly influential campaigner when not touring the world with the band.   

Usher, real name, Usher Raymond IV was brought up  in Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA. He started out singing in the local church choir. Then in 1994 usher tasted his first success when got a record deal. See our photos of Usher.

Some say the reason the it rained all summer in 2006 had nothing to do with the climate, and simply down to Rihanna single 'Umbrella' staying at number one in the charts through the summer season. Who knows!  Check out the gallery below to see her in action.

Anger Management has been a feature of Eminem's career with his last Tour named after it. Get backstage photos of Eminem's throughout his music career - from Marshall Mathers II, to the Real Slim Shady all three incarnations the protégés of Dr Dre .

Three record breaking album The Duthess is the name of Black Eyes Peas front women Fergie's first solo release - it's a neat play on her name connection with the Duchess of York aka: Sarah Fergusson, (but no connection with Manchester United boss Alex 'Fergie' Fergusson!).

Astonishing to think that No Doubt's Gwen Stefani is almost 40 years of age - she has been a star for the past 20 years. See how her career in pictures with a photos of Gwen Stefani.

See our gallery of Janet Jackson photos, including show the infamous nipple episode at the Superbowl performance with Justin Timberlake. Janet Jackson is touring in 2008.

Like fellow New Yorker, Madonna; Jennifer Lopez started out as a dancer before moving into music.

The Britney Spears of male solo acts without the baggage, or the poor dance moves. Tomberlake is also hugely successful and has won more awards than we can count. Some say he is rather photogenic. See our Justin Timberlake photos.

In 2005, an impressive performance on BBC TV show Later with Jools Holland of her hit Black Horse and a Cherry Tree gave rise to the star that is KT Tunstall.

James Blunt has had a stratospheric rise given he touted his music around the London 'toilet venue' scene before getting his break in 2005. His debut disc Back to Bedlam sold 11 million copies ahead of his 2007 sophomore issue, the number one selling All Lost Souls.

Kylie Minogue went from an Australian treasure known as Charlene to global icon status 20 years later. Having started her music career with I Should Be So Lucky it's a long way from mega hit dance-pop albums.

Led Zeppelin possibly the greatest rock band ever? Some would say they are rock. No doubt the same people who have been paying thousands of pounds to lay claim to tickets to their first concerts in years.

At age 14 Avril Lavigne actually started out singing country music covers, aged 14 she joined Shania Twain to sing "What Made You Say That", a far cry from her breakthrough in 2003 with the single Sk8rr Boi which propelled her to stardom.

Destiny's Child and solo star Beyonce Knowles, adds actress to her impressive talents. Twenty-something-year-old Knowles has fronted roles in Carmen: A Hip Hopera, Austin Powers, The Fighting Temptations, Fade to Black Herself, The Pink Panther and Dreamgirls.

There have been five Destiny's Children, with Beyoncé Knowles the most famous, in a current act that also includes Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams.