Ergen's breakthrough came in 1992 with the release of her debut album, "Gülben Ergen," which sold over 1 million copies in Turkey. The album's success led to her being named the "Best New Artist" at the 1993 Turkish Music Awards. Throughout the 1990s, Ergen continued to release hit albums, including "Yalanlar" (1994) and "Birazda Sen Oyna" (1996), cementing her status as a rising star in the Turkish music scene.