In 1953 Kay Starr and Lita Roza became the first women to top the charts with Comes Along A Love and How Much is that Doggie in the Window respectively. Up until that point the chart toppers had always been male. So how has the diva changed over the years? Jenni is joined by Helen Shapiro - who had two number ones and missed out on a third by a whisker and by DJ Mike Read, giving his assessment of the diva, from Dusty to Dido.
As part of the build up to Woman's Hour's 60th anniversary we asked you to vote for your favourite solo singer. Over 8,000 of you voted, and Madonna was the clear winner.
TOP TEN RESULTS
1. Madonna = 38.8% 2. Britney Spears = 20.5% 3. Connie Francis = 7.6% 4. Celine Dion = 5.8% 5. Whitney Houston = 5.4% 6. Kylie Minogue & Diana Ross = 4.2% 7. Christina Aguilera = 3.3% 8. Petula Clark & Doris Day = 1.8% 9. Cher = 1.3% 10. Sandie Shaw = 1%
