| Rihanna, whose real name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty, is | | | | which undoubtedly helped promote the album. |
| an R&B singer from the Caribbean island of | | | | In April 2006, Rihanna released her sophomore album, |
| Barbados. Rihanna was first discovered in Barbados | | | | A Girl Like Me, which would peak at #5 in the U.S. and |
| by music producer, Evan Rogers, who along with his | | | | #6 in the U.K. The lead single, SOS (Rescue Me), |
| partner Carl Sturken, assisted Rihanna in recording a | | | | climbed to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, Pop 100, Hot |
| demo to be sent to record labels like Def Jam. | | | | Dance Music/Club Play, and became the biggest first |
| Upon auditioning for CEO Jay-Z, Rihanna was signed | | | | week digital single ever, selling over 169,000 copies in |
| right there on the spot. In August 2005, she released | | | | its first week. |
| her debut album, Music of the Sun, which she | | | | Her second single, Unfaithful, written by Ne-Yo, |
| co-wrote. The album peaked within the top ten in the | | | | became her third top 10 hit in the U.S. Rihanna has |
| U.S., Canada, and the top forty in the U.K., propelled by | | | | several endorsement deals under her belt, including |
| the hit single Pon de Replay, which climbed to #2 on | | | | ones for Nike and J.C. Penney. She also had a cameo |
| the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart. | | | | role in Bring It On 3. |
| That year, Rihanna also toured with Gwen Stefani, | | | | |