Prodigious songwriting chops, a pleasant voice, and world-class chutzpah rocketed Long Island teenager Debbie Gibson from a talented unknown to a mega-star with number-one singles and albums to her credit. A fixture of 1980s MTV pop, Gibson's wholesome image and admirable talent (she not only wrote but produced much of her own work) made her a hit with teenage girls, and, as her first two albums burned up the charts, she glowed with the kind of popularity that led to her own fragrance and makeup line. However, by the time Gibson released her third album, the '90s had dawned and her core audience became distracted by grunge. Gibson continued to write and record dance-oriented pop and torchy ballads to a smaller but loyal fanbase, and enjoyed a lucrative second act as a Broadway actress and singer.