Fifty years and 100 million album sales after first appearing on the music scene as one half of pop duo "Sonny and Cher," the Academy Award-winning singer and actress is an authentic American icon. Throughout Cher's astonishing career  which has encompassed televisual triumphs, a string of international hit singles, sell-out tours, an Oscar statuette and a Las Vegas residency Cher's personal life has continually made front-page news. In the shadow of her success, Cher has married twice, battled depression, defied the censors, and dealt with the tragedy of Sonny Bono's early death.