Cheryl Sarkisian[a] was born inEl Centro, California, on May 20, 1946. Her father, John Sarkisian, an Armenian-American truck driver with drug and gambling problems, was rarely present during her early life.[8] Her mother,Georgia Holt, was a model and actress of Irish, English, German andCherokee descent.[9] Cher's paternal grandparents were survivors of theArmenian genocide.[10] Cher's parents divorced when she was 10 months old.[11] Before leaving, her father placed her in an orphanage for several months; Holt was allowed to visit once a week, only able to see Cher through a window.[12] Both found the experience traumatic.[13]
Cher in high school (1960)
In 1951, Holt married actor John Southall, with whom she had Cher's half-sister, Georganne.[14] Holt's marriage to Southall ended when Cher was nine; Cher later described him as her "real father" and a "good-natured man who turned belligerent when he drank too much".[13] Holt remarried and divorced several times, frequently moving the family across states, including New York, Texas and California.[15] They often struggled financially, and Cher recalled using rubber bands to hold her shoes together.[13] While living in Los Angeles, Holt pursued acting while working as a waitress, occasionally securing minor TV roles for her daughters in shows such asThe Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.[15]
By fifth grade, Cher organized a class performance of the musicalOklahoma!, taking on male roles when boys refused to participate. At nine, her voice was unusually low for a female child.[16] Fascinated by film stars, Cher idolizedAudrey Hepburn, particularly inBreakfast at Tiffany's (1961), emulating Hepburn's character's unconventional outfits and demeanor.[17] She also admiredMarlene Dietrich,Bette Davis andKatharine Hepburn,[18] but felt discouraged by the lack of dark-haired actresses in Hollywood.[17] She recalled, "In theWalt Disney cartoons,all the witches and evil queens were really dark. There was nobody I could look at and think, 'That's who I'm like.'"[17] As a child, she dreamed of fame but struggled with feelings of inadequacy, describing herself as "unattractive" and "untalented".[19] Reflecting on her ambitions, she later said, "I couldn't think of anything that I could do ... I just thought, 'I'll be famous'. That was my goal."[19]
In 1961, Holt married bank manager Gilbert LaPiere, who adopted Cher (under the name Cheryl LaPiere)[1] and Georganne and enrolled them atMontclair College Preparatory School, a private school inEncino. Coming from a modest background, Cher faced challenges in the upper-class environment, where, as biographer Connie Berman wrote, her "striking appearance" and "outgoing personality" set her apart.[19] A former classmate recalled, "I'll never forget seeing Cher for the first time. She was so special ... like a movie star, right then and there ... She said she was going to be a movie star and we knew she would."[19] Known for her creativity and wit, Cher excelled in French and English but struggled with other subjects, later discovering she hasdyslexia. Her unconventional behavior also stood out: she performed songs for students during lunch and surprised peers when she wore amidriff-baring top.[17] Reflecting on her lack of focus in school, Cher said, "I was never really [there]. I was always thinking about when I was grown up and famous."[15]
At 16, Cher left school and moved out of her mother's home to live with a friend. She took acting classes and supported herself by dancing innightclubs along Hollywood'sSunset Strip, where she introduced herself to performers, managers and agents.[20] According to Berman, "[Cher] did not hesitate to approach anyone she thought could help her get a break".[21] She metSonny Bono, 11 years her senior, in November 1962 while he was working for record producerPhil Spector.[21] After her friend moved out, Cher accepted Sonny's offer to work as hishousekeeper.[22]
Cher and Sonny became close friends, then lovers, and held an unofficial wedding ceremony in a hotel room inTijuana, Mexico, on October 27, 1964.[23][26] Although Sonny initially intended to launch Cher as a solo artist, she encouraged him to perform with her due to herstage fright, and he began joining her onstage to sing backing vocals. Cher masked her nervousness by looking at Sonny; she later said she sang to the audience through him.[27]
In early 1964, Cher and Sonny recorded together for the first time, releasing "The Letter" as Caesar & Cleo onVault Records.[28] It featured invertedharmonies—Cher sang the lower part and Sonny the higher—a reversal of the typical male–female vocal roles they continued using in later recordings.[29] Later that year, the duo signed a one-off deal withReprise Records for another Caesar & Cleo single, "Love Is Strange". A week before its release, their managers reintroduced them to Reprise as a new act—Sonny & Cher—in an effort to secure a more lucrative contract. Unaware they were the same duo, Reprise released both singles simultaneously: "Love Is Strange" as Caesar & Cleo and "Baby Don't Go" as Sonny & Cher. Reprise declined a long-term deal after discovering the connection.[28] While the Caesar & Cleo singles were commercially unsuccessful, "Baby Don't Go" found success in Los Angeles, promptingAtlantic Records to sign them to itsAtco label.[24][30]
In late 1964, Cher signed a solo contract withLiberty Records'Imperial imprint, with Sonny as producer. The single "Dream Baby", released under the name Cherilyn, received airplay in Los Angeles. Encouraged by its early momentum, Imperial requested a follow-up. In summer 1965, she released a cover ofBob Dylan's "All I Really Want to Do", now credited as "Chér".[24] The single peaked at number 15 on theUSBillboard Hot 100 and number nine on theUK singles chart.[31][32] Meanwhile,the Byrds released their own version of the song. As the two versions began competing on the charts, the Byrds' label shifted focus to promotingtheir single's B-side.Roger McGuinn of the Byrds recalled, "We loved the Cher version ... We didn't want to hassle. So we just turned our record over."[33] Cher's debut album,All I Really Want to Do (1965), reached number 16 on theUSBillboard 200.[34] AllMusic's Tim Sendra later called it "one of the stronger folk-pop records of the era".[35]
1965–1967: Sonny & Cher's breakthrough
While launching her solo career, Cher continued recording with Sonny as a duo. Sonny & Cher's first Atco single, "Just You", failed to chart upon its release in April 1965.[d] After recording "I Got You Babe", they traveled to England in July 1965 on the advice ofthe Rolling Stones. Cher recalled the Stones saying, "Americans just didn't get us and that if we were going to make it big, we were going to have to go to England.[36] According to writerCintra Wilson,
English newspaper photographers showed up when S&C were thrown out of theLondon Hilton [because of their outfits] the night they arrived—literally overnight, they were stars. London went gaga for the heretofore-unseen S&C look, which was neithermod norrocker.[37]
"I Got You Babe" reached number one on theBillboard Hot 100 chart[38] and became, according to AllMusic's Bruce Eder, "one of the biggest-selling and most beloved pop/rock hits of the mid-'60s".[24] As the song displaced the Beatles at the top of the UK charts, English teenagers began emulating Sonny & Cher's fashion—bell-bottoms, striped pants and fur vests.[39] According toTime'sGinia Bellafante, they became "rock's'it' couple".[40] After returning to the US in late 1965, the duo made their film debut with a cameo inWild on the Beach (1965),[41] appeared on teen-oriented TV shows such asHullabaloo andShindig![42] and toured major arenas across the country.[43] Their concerts drew numerous Cher look-alikes, with girls straightening and dyeing their hair black and adopting her signature vests and bell-bottoms.[44]
Sonny & Cher's debut album,Look at Us (1965),[24] spent eight weeks at number two on theBillboard 200, behind the Beatles'Help!.[45]Cashbox magazine described Sonny & Cher, the Beatles and the Rolling Stones as "global stars" whose success in both the US and UK showed that national origin was no longer a barrier to international stardom.[46] Despite the dominance of theBritish Invasion andMotown, the duo emerged as major chart competitors.[47] Author Joseph Murrells called them "leading exponents of the rock-folk-message type of song", blending rock instrumentation,folk themes andprotest lyrics,[48] whileThe Guardian'sAlexis Petridis described their music as "the sound of the growing60s counterculture".[49]
Following Sonny & Cher's breakthrough, Reprise reissued "Baby Don't Go", which became their second consecutive US top-ten single.[50] At one point, five of their songs appeared simultaneously in theBillboard Hot 100's top 50—a feat previously achieved only byElvis Presley and the Beatles.[51] Their next studio albums wereThe Wondrous World of Sonny & Chér (1966) andIn Case You're in Love (1967), the latter featuring the US top-ten single "The Beat Goes On" and the international number-one single "Little Man".[52][53]
Cher's solo career progressed in parallel.[24] Her second studio album,The Sonny Side of Chér (1966), includes "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)", which reached number one in Italy,[54] number two in the US and number three in the UK, becoming her first million-selling solo single.[55] Her third studio album,Chér (1966), features the international number-one single "Sunny"[56] and theBurt Bacharach andHal David composition "Alfie"—the first US recording of the song, which was featured in the American release of the 1966 filmAlfie.[55] Her fourth studio album,With Love, Chér (1967), presents songs described by biographerMark Bego as "littlesoap-opera stories set to rock music", among them the US top-ten single "You Better Sit Down Kids".[55]
Sonny committed the duo to a feature film in 1965 during their commercial peak, and production on themusicalGood Times ran through 1966. As the press circulatedstudio stills throughout that year, their public image moved away from thebohemian look that had defined their early success.[57] Journalists viewed their new Hollywood-oriented presentation as out of step with theyouth culture they had once symbolized. Their monogamous lifestyle during thesexual revolution, along with their anti-drug stance amid widespread drug use, further distanced them from the counterculture.[58][59] Bego later wrote that "in spite of their revolutionaryunisex clothes, Sonny and Cher were quite 'square' when it came to sex and drugs."[59]
Directed byWilliam Friedkin,Good Times was released in May 1967 and failed commercially at a moment when their record sales were already sliding. By early 1968 the duo's singles had stopped charting.[57] Berman observed that the "heavy, loud sound" of newer acts such asJefferson Airplane andCream made their folk rock seem "too bland".[57] Cher later said she "loved" theelectric guitar-driven style ofLed Zeppelin andEric Clapton and wanted to adapt, but Sonny refused.[60]
Cher's fifth studio album,Backstage (1968), which explores a range of styles includingbossa nova andanti-war protest songs, did not chart.[61] In 1969, Cher was dropped by Imperial Records, and Sonny & Cher were dropped by Atco. Atco then offered Cher a solo deal.[62] Her sixth studio album,3614 Jackson Highway (1969), recorded atMuscle Shoals Sound Studio without Sonny's involvement, marked a shift towardR&B andsoul. Decades later, AllMusic called it "the finest album of her career" and "still a revelation".[63] Displeased with the album, Sonny blocked Cher from releasing further recordings for Atco.[62]
Meanwhile, Sonny dated others and by the end of the 1960s their relationship had begun to unravel. According toPeople, "[Sonny] tried desperately to win her back, telling her he wanted to marry and start a family."[64] They officially married after Cher learned she was pregnant,[65] and she gave birth toChaz Bono on March 4, 1969.[64] In an effort to regain their young audience, the duo spent $500,000 and mortgaged their home to make the filmChastity (1969). Written and produced by Sonny, it tells the story of a young woman, played by Cher, searching for the meaning of life.[66] The art film failed commercially, putting the couple $190,000 in debt with back taxes. Some critics noted that Cher showed acting potential;[43]Cue magazine wrote, "Cher has a marvelous quality that often makes you forget the lines you are hearing."[57]
At the lowest point in their career, the duo developed a nightclub act with a more adult sound and style.[67] According to writer Cintra Wilson, "Their lounge act was so depressing, people started heckling them. Then Cher started heckling back. Sonny ... reprimanded her; then she'd heckle Sonny".[37] The heckling became a highlight of the act and began drawing audiences.[37] TV executives took notice, and the couple began appearing on prime-time shows with a "new, sophisticated and mature" image.[68] Cher adopted alluring, low-cut gowns that became her signature look.[68]
CBS head of programmingFred Silverman offered Sonny and Cher their own TV program after he noticed them as guest-hosts onThe Merv Griffin Show in 1971.[69][e]The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour premiered as a summer replacement series on August 1, 1971 and had six episodes. Following its ratings success, the couple returned that December with a full-time show.[43]
Watched by more than 30 million viewers weekly during its three-year run,[67]The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour was praised for the comedic timing, as a deadpan Cher mocked Sonny about his looks and short stature. According to Berman, they "exuded an aura of warmth, playfulness and caring that only enhanced their appeal. Viewers were further enchanted when a young [Chaz] appeared on the show. They seemed like a perfect family."[71] Cher honed her acting skills throughcomedy sketches,[72] including her original character Laverne LaShinsky, a brash and over-the-top housewife,[73] while herBob Mackie-designed outfits set1970s fashion trends.[74]
In 1971, Sonny and Cher signed with theKapp Records division ofMCA Records and Cher released the single "Classified 1A", in which she sings from the point of view of a soldier who bleeds to death in Vietnam. Written by Sonny, who felt that her first solo single on the label had to be poignant and topical, the song was rejected by radio station programmers as uncommercial.[75]
Since Sonny's first attempts at reviving their recording career as a duo had also been unsuccessful, Kapp Records recruitedSnuff Garrett to work with them. He produced Cher's second US number-one single, "Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves", which "proved that ... Garrett knew more about Cher's voice and her persona as a singer than Sonny did", wrote Bego.[75] "Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves" was the first single by a solo artist to rank number one on the USBillboard Hot 100 chart at the same time as on theCanadian singles chart.[76] It was featured on the 1971 albumChér (later reissued under the titleGypsys, Tramps & Thieves), which was certifiedgold by theRecording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[77] Its second single, "The Way of Love", reached number seven on theBillboard Hot 100 chart[78] and established Cher's more confident sound as a recording artist.[24]
In 1972, Cher released the all-ballad albumFoxy Lady, demonstrating the evolution of her vocal abilities, according to Bego.[79] Following its release, Garrett quit as producer after disagreeing with Sonny about the kind of material Cher should record.[80] At Sonny's insistence, Cher released thestandards albumBittersweet White Light (1973), which was commercially unsuccessful.[81] Later that year, lyricist Mary Dean brought Garrett "Half-Breed", a song about the daughter of a Cherokee mother and a white father, which she had written for Cher. Although no longer working with her, Garrett believed the song was a perfect fit and held onto it until Cher dismissed Sonny as producer and rejoined him.[80] "Half-Breed" became the title track ofher 10th studio album and her third US number-one single.[82] Both the album and the single were certified gold by the RIAA.[83]
Cher's next single, "Dark Lady", was released in December 1973[84] as the lead single from her 11th studio album,Dark Lady (1974).[82] It became her second consecutive and fourth overall number-one on theBillboard Hot 100, tying her withRosemary Clooney,Patti Page andConnie Francis for the most number-one singles by a female solo artist in US history at the time.[f] Later that year, she released aGreatest Hits album that, according toBillboard, proved her to be "one of the most consistent hitmakers of the past five years", as well as a "proven superstar who always sells records".[88]
1974–1979: Divorce, marriage to Gregg Allman and media scrutiny
Cher and Sonny ended their relationship in late 1972 but stayed legally married for two more years to protect their careers.[92] Their relationship had been troubled for years due to Sonny's infidelity and controlling behavior.[93] By 1973, they lived in the same house while dating other people. "The public still thinks we are married," Sonny wrote in his diary, "[and] that's the way it has to be."[92]
Cher performing withDavid Bowie (in his American TV debut) on the variety showCher, 1975
During divorce proceedings, Cher learned she was legally an employee of Cher Enterprises, a company 95% owned by Sonny and 5% by his lawyer. She was also required to work exclusively for Sonny's company, leaving her with no career or financial control.[98] Record executiveDavid Geffen, with whom Cher had begun a relationship in 1973, helped her break free from the contract.[99] Cher won custody of Chaz after a highly publicized legal battle,[95] and their divorce was finalized on June 26, 1975.[100] Geffen hoped to marry Cher, but she ended the relationship due to his possessiveness and struggles with his sexuality.[g]
Cher debuted her solo CBS show,Cher, on February 12, 1975.[103] The show showcased Cher's music, comedy, monologues and an extensive wardrobe—the largest for a weekly TV series.[104][105] Critics praised it, with theLos Angeles Times stating, "Sonny without Cher was a disaster. Cher without Sonny ... could be the best thing that's happened to weekly television this season."[105] Musical guests includedDavid Bowie (in his American TV debut),Ray Charles,Elton John,Bette Midler,Tina Turner andthe Jackson 5, withBillboard crediting Cher for bringing "a rock sensibility toprime-time TV".[106]
Despite high ratings, theCher show ended after two seasons, replaced by a reunion show with Sonny.[107]The Ringer's Lindsay Zoladz commented thatnetwork censors were stricter with Cher as a single woman, viewing her as more provocative alone than as Sonny's wife.[108] Cher later reflected, "Doing a show alone was more than I could handle."[107]
In 1975, Cher signed a $2.5 million contract withWarner Bros. Records,[109] aiming to establish herself as a serious rock artist rather than "just a pop singer".[110] Influenced by the introspective style of singer-songwriters such asJoni Mitchell,Carly Simon andJames Taylor, she recorded her 12th studio album,Stars (1975).[110] Richard Seeley of theDaily Breeze praised the album as "an important link between therock and roll subculture and the masspopular music audience", noting that Cher showed "real talent" by choosing lesser-known rock songwriters over "surefire hit makers likeJohn [Lennon] and[Paul] McCartney".[111] In contrast,Janet Maslin ofThe Village Voice argued that she lacked rock credibility, writing that "image, not music, is Cher Bono's main ingredient for both records and TV."[112] ThoughStars was a commercial failure, it later developed acult following and has been regarded as one of her best works.[113]
On June 30, 1975, four days after finalizing her divorce from Sonny, Cher married rock musicianGregg Allman, co-founder ofthe Allman Brothers Band,[114] whom she had been dating since January, shortly after ending her relationship with Geffen.[115] She filed for divorce nine days later due to his heroin and alcohol problems, but they reconciled within a month.[116] Their son,Elijah Blue Allman, was born on July 10, 1976.[117] Cher's TV reunion with Sonny,The Sonny and Cher Show, debuted on CBS in February 1976—the first show ever to star a divorced couple. Although it premiered to strong ratings,[118] their biting onscreen banter about the divorce[107] along with her troubled relationship with Allman sparked a public backlash[119] that contributed to the show's cancellation in August 1977.[118]
In 1976,Mego Toys released a line ofSonny & Cher dolls. The Cher doll outsoldBarbie, becoming the year's best-selling doll.[120] Under pressure from Warner Records to return to her earliernarrative pop style, Cher recorded her 13th and 14th studio albums,I'd Rather Believe in You (1976) andCherished (1977), neither of which charted.[121]Orange Coast writer Keith Tuber suggested that her weekly TV shows may have hurt record sales by giving audiences regular access to her music.[122] Reviews were largely negative:Larry Rohter of theHouston Chronicle calledI'd Rather Believe in You "atrocious", citing "dreary vocals" and describing it as "one of the lamest records of the year",[123] while Christine Brown of theMiami Herald wrote ofCherished, "It might help to stare at the album cover as you listen ... It takes your mind off what you're hearing."[124]
In 1977, under the rubric Allman and Woman, Cher and Allman recorded the duet albumTwo the Hard Way.[116] The couple toured Europe to support the album,[125] though audience reception was mixed.[126] With a combination of Cher fans and Allman Brothers fans in attendance, fights frequently broke out at venues, prompting Cher to cancel the tour.[127] Their relationship ended soon after the tour's cancellation,[128] and their divorce was finalized in 1979.[129] In 1978, Cher began a two-yearlive-in relationship withKiss memberGene Simmons.[130] She briefly returned to prime-time TV with the specialsCher... Special (1978)—featuring a segment in which she performs all of the roles in her version ofWest Side Story—andCher... and Other Fantasies (1979).[131][132]
1979–1982: Second musical comeback—from disco diva to rock frontwoman
In 1979, shelegally adopted themononym Cher, with no surname.[2] Facing financial pressures as a single mother of two, she decided to steer her singing career toward greater commercial success. Temporarily setting aside her desire to be a rock singer, she signed withCasablanca Records and launched a comeback with the single "Take Me Home" and thealbum of the same name, both of which capitalized on thedisco craze.[133] The album and single became instant successes, remained bestsellers for more than half of 1979 and were certified gold by the RIAA.[83][133] The album's sales were likely enhanced by the image of a scantily clad Cher in aViking outfit on its cover.[133][134]
Encouraged by the popularity ofTake Me Home, Cher sought a return to rock with her 16th studio album,Prisoner (1979).[135] The album cover, showing her naked and draped in chains, symbolized her struggle as a "prisoner of the press" amid intensetabloid scrutiny.[136] The imagery drew criticism fromfeminist groups for her perceived portrayal of asex slave, while critics found the album's mix of rock and disco tracks inconsistent, contributing to its commercial failure.[136] The single "Hell on Wheels", featured on the soundtrack of the filmRoller Boogie (1979), reflected Cher's personal embrace of the late 1970sroller-skating craze, which she had helped popularize.[113] Cher collaborated withGiorgio Moroder to write "Bad Love", her final Casablanca disco track, for the filmFoxes (1980).[137]
In 1980, Cher formed the rock band Black Rose with guitarist and then-partnerLes Dudek. To blend in and avoid overshadowing the group with her celebrity status, she adopted apunk-inspired look, cutting her signature long hair. Although she was the lead singer, she chose not to take top billing to present the band as equal. Despite TV appearances, the band struggled to book concerts.[138] Their album,Black Rose, received poor reviews; Cher toldRolling Stone, "[Critics] didn't attack the record, they attacked me. It was like, 'How dare Cher sing rock & roll?'"[67] Black Rose disbanded in 1981.[139]
1982–1987: Broadway debut, acting breakthrough and musical hiatus
With declining record sales and radio airplay, Cher shifted her focus to acting.[156] Despite earlier aspirations, her only film credits,Good Times andChastity, were critical and commercial failures, and Hollywood did not take her seriously as an actress.[156] Reflecting on this period, Cher said, "I was dropped by my [label] and couldn't get a job ... [so] I went to Las Vegas", which she likened to an "elephant's graveyard" for fading stars.[149] Despite her success performing there, she felt unfulfilled: "I was making a fortune ... but I was dying inside."[157]
The biopicMask (1985) marked Cher's first critical and commercial success as a leading actress,[158] reaching number two at the box office.[161] During production, Cher clashed with directorPeter Bogdanovich, refusing to support his call to boycott the film's promotion in protest ofUniversal Pictures' edits to the final cut.[162] While promoting the film, she remarked, "From working with Peter, it's no surprise to me that he would serve his own interests before those of the film."[163]
For her portrayal ofRusty Dennis, a drug-addicted biker raising adisfigured teenage son, Cher won theCannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress.[158] Despite critical predictions, she was ultimately left off the Oscar nomination list.[164] Bego suggested that her public feud with Bogdanovich and unconventional image may have contributed to the Academy's decision.[165] At the58th Academy Awards, she wore a dramatic, tarantula-like outfit, whichVanity Fair's Esther Zuckerman later called Cher's "Oscar revenge dress".[166] Presenting theBest Supporting Actor nominees, Cher quipped,"As you can see, I did receive my Academy booklet on how to dress like a serious actress".[167] The incident garnered her much publicity.[168]
Cher's May 1986 guest appearance onLate Night with David Letterman, during which she calledDavid Letterman "anasshole", attracted much media coverage. Letterman later recalled, "It did hurt my feelings. Cher was one of the few people I've really wanted to have on the show ... I felt like a total fool, especially since I say all kinds of things to people."[169] She returned in November 1987, reuniting with Sonny for the last time before his death for an impromptu performance of "I Got You Babe". Reflecting in 2015,Rolling Stone's Andy Greene wrote, "They weren't exactly the best of friends at this point, but both of them knew it would make for unforgettable television. HadYouTube existed back then, this would have gone insanely viral the next morning."[170] That same month, Cher releasedThe Ugly Duckling, anaudiobook adaptation of the1843 fairy tale.The Washington Post praised her as "a warm, unaffected storyteller" whose voice was "particularly suited for very young listeners".[171]
1987–1992: Hollywood stardom and third musical comeback
The New York Times' Janet Maslin wroteMoonstruck "offers further proof that Cher has evolved into the kind of larger-than-life movie star who's worth watching whatever she does".[173] For that film, Cher won theAcademy Award for Best Actress[174] and theGolden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy.[94] By 1988, Cher had become one of the most bankable actresses of the decade, commanding $1 million per film.[158] That year, she released the fragrance Uninhibited, which earned about $15 million in its first year sales.[175]
By the late 1980s, Cher had developed a reputation for her exhibitionist fashion, plastic surgeries and relationships with younger men.[176] She dated actorsVal Kilmer,Eric Stoltz andTom Cruise,Bon Jovi guitaristRichie Sambora, hockey playerRon Duguay, film producerJoshua Donen and Rob Camilletti, a baker 18 years her junior—dubbed the "Bagel Boy" by the media—whom she was with from 1986 to 1989.[177]
In 1987, Cher signed withGeffen Records and revived her musical career with what music critics Johnny Danza and Dean Ferguson described as "her most impressive string of hits to date", establishing her as a "serious rock and roller ... a crown that she'd worked long and hard to capture".[113]Jon Bon Jovi,Michael Bolton, Richie Sambora andDesmond Child produced her first Geffen album,Cher.[113] Despite facing strong retail and radio airplay resistance upon its release,[178] the album proved to be a commercial success, certified platinum by the RIAA.[83]Cher features thehair metal power ballad "I Found Someone",[179] her first US top-ten single in eight years.[113]
InMermaids (1990), Cher's first film in three years, she drew inspiration from her mother to portray a woman who moves her daughters (Winona Ryder,Christina Ricci) from town to town after failed relationships.[190] She clashed with the film's first two directors,Lasse Hallström andFrank Oz, who were replaced byRichard Benjamin.[191] Producers, seeing Cher as the star attraction, granted her creative control.[192] The film was a box office success and received positive reviews.[193][194] One of the two songs Cher recorded for the film'ssoundtrack, a cover ofMerry Clayton's "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)", topped the UK singles chart for five weeks.[195]
1992–1998: From A-list actress to "Infomercial Queen"; death of Sonny Bono
In the early 1990s, Cher contracted theEpstein–Barr virus and developedmyalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, leaving her too exhausted for music or film projects.[191][201] She declined leading roles inThelma & Louise andThe War of the Roses.[191] Her next film appearances werecameos in Robert Altman'sThe Player (1992) andPrêt-à-Porter (1994).[198] To generate income, she appeared ininfomercials for health, beauty and diet products, earning nearly $10 million.[202][203] Critics saw it as a sellout and speculated her film career was over,[203][204] withEntertainment Weekly stating she had eroded her "hard-wonA-list actress status".[191] The ads were parodied onSaturday Night Live and referenced inClueless (1995), where protagonist Cher Horowitz jokes she was named after a "great [singer] of the past who now does infomercials".[205][206] Cher later reflected, "Suddenly I became the Infomercial Queen ... people stripped me of all my other things."[202]
Cher performing in New York, 1996
In 1993, Cher re-recorded "I Got You Babe" withMTV's animated duoBeavis and Butt-Head,mocking her own image as they introduce her as "a chick that's got tattoos on her butt ... who's older ... done it a lot of times [and] used to be married to some dork" (referring to Sonny Bono).[207] She topped the UK singles chart in 1995 with the charity single "Love Can Build a Bridge", alongsideChrissie Hynde,Neneh Cherry and Eric Clapton.[208] After signing with Warner Music UK'sWEA label, Cher releasedIt's a Man's World (1995), an album of songs originally performed by men.[196] Critics praised its R&B influences and Cher's vocal growth,[209] withStephen Holden ofThe New York Times calling it a "soulful collection of grown-up pop songs".[210] The album features "Walking in Memphis", certifiedsilver by theBritish Phonographic Industry (BPI), and the UK top-ten single "One by One".[32]Man's World reached the top 10 in Austria[211] and the UK.[32] A remixed US version, shifting from rock to a more radio-friendly sound, was commercially unsuccessful, peaking at number 64 on theBillboard 200.[212][213]
In 1996, Cher appeared alongsideDemi Moore andSissy Spacek inIf These Walls Could Talk, a three-partanthologyTV film aboutabortion. The project marked Cher's directorial debut, as she both directed and starred in the film's final segment, playing a doctor targeted by ananti-abortion group.[209]Walls becameHBO's highest-rated original movie to date, drawing 6.9 million viewers.[214][215]Cher's first leading role in atheatrical release in six years came withPaul Mazursky'sdark comedyFaithful (1996), in which she played a suicidal woman whose husband hires a hitman (Chazz Palminteri) to kill her.[216] Although praised for her performance, withThe New York Times noting she "does her game best to find comic potential in a victim's role", Cher refused to promote the film, calling it "horrible".[191]Faithful was both a critical failure and abox-office bomb, grossing $2 million.[217]
Following Sonny Bono's death in a skiing accident in 1998, Cher delivered a tearfuleulogy at his funeral, calling him "the most unforgettable character" she had met.[218] She paid tribute to him by hosting the CBS specialSonny & Me: Cher Remembers, which aired on May 20, 1998.[219] That month, Sonny and Cher received a star on theHollywood Walk of Fame for their work on television.[220] Later that year, Cher publishedThe First Time, a collection of autobiographical essays of "first-time" events in her life. Critics praised the book as sincere and relatable.[221] Themanuscript was nearly complete when Sonny died, and Cher was initially reluctant to include his death, concerned it might appear exploitative. She toldRolling Stone, "I might have [ignored it] if I cared more about what people think than what I know is right for me."[222]
1998–2002: Fourth musical comeback and songwriting debut
Cher performing "Believe" duringWKTU's Miracle on 34th Street concert in 1998
Cher's 22nd studio album,Believe (1998), marked a shift from her previous rock sound to 1970s disco-inspireddance-pop.[113] It sold 11 million copies worldwide,[223] earning quadruple platinum certification in the US and gold, platinum or multi-platinum status in 39 countries.[83][224]Entertainment Weekly described the album as "the most dramatic comeback Hollywood has seen", emphasizing its role in introducing her to a new generation of fans who "hadn't yet been born when 'I Got You Babe' ruled the charts in 1965".[225]
The album'stitle track reached number one in 23 countries and sold over 10 million copies globally.[226][227][228] It was the best-selling single of 1998 in the UK and of 1999 in the US.[226][229] "Believe" debuted at number one in the UK, held the position for seven weeks and becamethe country's best-selling single by a female artist.[230] In the US, it led theBillboard Hot 100 for four weeks,[231] making Cher, at 52, the oldest woman to top the chart.[i][233]Pitchfork wrote that "coming from Cher—a confident, charismatic, and massively talented woman who'd been subjected to frequentpublic ridicule over her personal life—'Believe' took on an extra survivalist edge".[234]
In 2000, Cher releasedNot Commercial, an album she wrote after attending a songwriting conference in 1994. She chose the title after her label's chief dismissed the project as "nice, but not commercial" and rejected it for itsexplicit language and unsparing themes, including thesuicide of Kurt Cobain, homelessness,veteran neglect and personal trauma. She sold it independently on her website, an unusual move for an artist under contract with a major label. The song "Sisters of Mercy", which describes the nuns who prevented her mother from retrieving her from a Catholic orphanage as "daughters of hell", drew condemnation from the Catholic Church.[255]
In June 2002, Cher launchedLiving Proof: The Farewell Tour,[263] promoted as herfinal concert tour, though she planned to keep recording and acting.[264]Jon Pareles ofThe New York Times praised it as a celebration of Cher's resilience, highlighting her ability to "triumph over restraint, aging and gravity" and calling her "a hit machine immune to sagging flesh".[265] Initially set for 49 shows, the tour was repeatedly extended.[266] By October 2003, it had become the most successful tour by a female artist, grossing $145 million from 200 shows with 2.2 million attendees.[267] TheNBC specialCher: The Farewell Tour drew 17 million viewers,[268] becoming the highest-rated network concert special of 2003 and earning Cher thePrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special.[269][270]
After leaving Warner UK in 2002, Cher signed a global deal with Warner Bros. Records in September 2003.[271]Forbes named her thehighest-paid female musician of 2003, earning $33.1 million.[272] The compilation albumThe Very Best of Cher (2003) peaked at number four on theBillboard 200[273] and was certified triple platinum by the RIAA.[83] In theFarrelly brothers' comedyStuck on You (2003), she played a satirical version of herself in a relationship with a high schooler (Frankie Muniz), referencing media scrutiny of her relationships with younger men.[274]
Cher's Farewell Tour concluded in April 2005 after 325 shows, drawing over 3.5 million attendees and grossing $250 million, ranking amongthe top-ten highest-grossing tours of the 2000s.[275][276] After three years of retirement,[277] she signed a $60 million deal for a 200-show residency atthe Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.[278] TitledCher (2008–2011), the production featured advanced stage effects and over 20 costume changes.[279][280]
Cher returned to film inBurlesque (2010)—her first musical sinceGood Times (1967)—playing an intimidating nightclub owner who mentors an aspiring performer (Christina Aguilera).[281] Initially met with mixed reviews and modest box office results, the film was later reassessed;Entertainment Weekly called it "acampy,niche classic [that] inspired everything, from drag queen revues to viral internet moments".[282] Her ballad "You Haven't Seen the Last of Me", from thesoundtrack, topped theBillboard Dance Club Songs chart in January 2011, making her the only artist withBillboard number-one singles in six consecutive decades (1960s–2010s).[c] Aftervoicing Janet the Lioness inZookeeper (2011),[283] she produced the documentaryDear Mom, Love Cher (2013). It follows her efforts to support her mother Georgia Holt's dream of becoming a singer, culminating in the release ofHolt's debut album at age 87.[284]
Closer to the Truth (2013), Cher's first studio album since 2001'sLiving Proof, debuted at number three on theBillboard 200—her highest position on that chart to date[45]—and reached the top 10 in Canada,[34] Germany,[34] Scotland[32] and the UK.[32]The Boston Globe wrote that "Cher's 'Goddess of Pop' sash remains in little danger of undue snatching; at 67, she sounds more convincing thanJ-Lo orMadonna reporting from 'the club'".[285] She premiered the lead single "Woman's World" during theseason four finale ofThe Voice—her first live TV performance in over a decade[286]—and returned inseason five as team adviser to judgeBlake Shelton.[287]
In June 2013, Cher headlined the annualDance on the Pier benefit, celebrating LGBTQPride Day, achieving the event's first full-capacity crowd in five years.[288] She embarked on theDressed to Kill Tour in March 2014, over a decade after announcing her "farewell tour",[289] joking during shows that this would be her last farewell tour whilecrossing fingers.[290] The tour's first leg, comprising 49 sold-out shows in North America, grossed $54.9 million.[289] Later that year, she canceled all remaining dates due to a kidney infection.[291] Cher collaborated with Americanhip hop groupWu-Tang Clan on their 2015 albumOnce Upon a Time in Shaolin, credited under her 1964 alias, Bonnie Jo Mason.[292] The album, produced as a single copy and sold via online auction,[293] became the most expensive album ever sold.[294]
2015–2022: ABBA-inspired projects and fashion ventures
Cher performing during herClassic Cher residency in 2017
Cher returned to film after nearly a decade inMamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018), ajukebox musical romantic comedy based on the songs ofABBA. Serving as both a prequel and a sequel to the 2008 filmMamma Mia!, it features Cher as Ruby Sheridan, the grandmother of Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) and mother of Donna (Meryl Streep).[298] DirectorOl Parker addressed casting Cher as Streep's mother despite their three-year age difference by stating, "Cher exists outside of time."[299] Critics highlighted her performance as a standout, withVulture remarking, "Every single movie ... would be infinitely better if it included Cher."[300] For thesoundtrack, she recorded two ABBA songs, "Fernando" and "Super Trouper".[301]Björn Ulvaeus of ABBA commented, "She makes 'Fernando' her own. It's her song now."[302]
While promotingMamma Mia! Here We Go Again, Cher announced that she was recording an album of ABBA covers.[303] Her 26th studio album,Dancing Queen (2018), debuted at number three on theBillboard 200, tying with 2013'sCloser to the Truth as her highest-charting solo album in the US.[304] With first-week sales of 153,000 units, it achieved the year's largest sales week for a pop album by a female artist.[304]Dancing Queen received widespread critical acclaim;Rolling Stone wrote that Cher makes the ABBA songs sound as if they were written for her,[305] andEntertainment Weekly called it her "most significant release since 1998'sBelieve".[306]
Cher'sHere We Go Again Tour ran from 2018 until its indefinite postponement in 2020 due to theCOVID-19 pandemiclockdowns.[307][308]Rolling Stone deemed the tour proof that Cher "can wipe the floor with any pop star from any generation".[309]The Cher Show, a jukebox musical with three actresses playing Cher at different stages of her life, premiered in Chicago in June 2018 and ran onBroadway from December 2018 to August 2019,[310][311] later touring the UK, Ireland and the US.[312][313] On December 2, 2018,Whoopi Goldberg presented Cher with theKennedy Center Honors for her "extraordinary contributions to culture",[314] with tribute performances byAdam Lambert,Cyndi Lauper andLittle Big Town.[315] In 2019, she launched Cher Eau de Couture, a "genderless" follow-up to her 1988 fragrance Uninhibited.[316]
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Cher focused on projects that could be completed from home. In May, she released her first Spanish-language song, a cover of ABBA's "Chiquitita", with proceeds donated toUNICEF.[317] Later that year, she voiced abobblehead version of herself inBobbleheads: The Movie[318] and joined thecharity supergroup BBC Radio 2 Allstars for a cover ofOasis' "Stop Crying Your Heart Out". The recording, made in support of theChildren in Need charity,[319] became a UK top-ten single.[320] Cher was featured inThe New York Times Magazine's annual "Best Actors" list for 2020,[321] becoming the first actor included without appearing in a theatrical release that year;[322] her performance inMoonstruck (1987) was praised as "radiant" and a source of comfort duringquarantine.[321]
In the late 2010s and early 2020s, Cher collaborated with major fashion brands. After attending the 2015Met Gala asMarc Jacobs' guest, Cher became the face of his Fall/Winter campaign.[323] She then starred alongside rapperFuture inGap's Fall 2017 campaign,[324] followed byDsquared2's Spring/Summer 2020 campaign,[325]MAC Cosmetics' "Challenge Accepted" campaign in January 2022 andUGG's "Feel" campaign the same month.[326][327] ForPride Month in June 2022, Cher partnered withVersace to launch the "Chersace"capsule collection, with proceeds benefiting the LGBTQIA+ charity Gender Spectrum.[328] In September 2022, she walked the runway atParis Fashion Week, closingBalmain's Spring/Summer 2023 show, and in November, she starred in the brand's "Balmain Blaze" campaign.[329][330] That month, Cher confirmed she was dating music executive Alexander Edwards, 40 years her junior. Their age gap sparked criticism online, which she addressed by tweeting, "Love doesn't know math."[331] Cher's mother, Georgia Holt, died in December 2022 at the age of 96.[332]
2023–present: Christmas album, Rock Hall induction and memoirs
In December 2023, Cher criticized theRock and Roll Hall of Fame for excluding her since becoming eligible in 1990, saying, "I wouldn't be in it now if they gave me a million dollars", and suggesting the institution "can just you-know-what themselves".[336] She received her first nomination two months later and wasinducted on October 19, 2024, becoming the first performer to have won an Academy Award for acting and been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.[337][338][339] Cher decided to accept the honor out of admiration for her fellow inductees.[338] At the ceremony, she performed "If I Could Turn Back Time" and "Believe", the latter as a duet withDua Lipa.[338]
In May 2024, Cher won a legal dispute againstMary Bono, the widow of Sonny Bono, over royalties from her recordings with him. Under a 1978 divorce settlement, Cher was entitled to half the publishing revenue, but Mary Bono stopped payments in 2021 after invoking a copyright termination clause. A federal judge ruled that the royalties were a separate contractual obligation and ordered her to pay Cher around $418,000 in withheld earnings.[340] In September, Cher withdrew aconservatorship petition over her son Elijah, originally filed in December 2023 due to concerns about his ongoing substance abuse. The court had earlier denied her requests for temporary control, citing Elijah's demonstrated ability to manage his affairs. The matter was resolved privately.[341]
To celebrate 60 years in music, Cher released the compilation albumForever (2024), available as a 21-track standard edition and a 40-track digital edition,Forever Fan, featuring Sonny & Cher songs and lesser-known tracks curated by Cher.[342]Rolling Stone noted the absence of "Half-Breed", her thirdBillboard Hot 100 number-one, linking it to a trend of artistsreevaluating their catalogs in light of changingcultural sensitivities.[342] In November 2024, she publishedCher: The Memoir, Part One, the first of a two-part autobiography covering her childhood and early career.[343] Written over seven years,[343] it debuted at number one onThe New York Times Best Seller list, holding the position for three weeks.[344] The second part is set for release on May 19, 2026, on the eve of her 80th birthday.[345]
Artistry
Music and voice
Cher has explored diverse musical styles, includingrock (folk,punk,arena andpop subgenres),soul,jazz,disco,new wave,power ballads,hip hop andelectronic dance music,[339][346] aiming to "remain relevant and do work that strikes a chord".[347] Music historianAnnie Zaleski wrote in Cher's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction essay that she sings "nearly every style of music" effortlessly.[339] Cher's music often centers onheartbreak, independence andwomen's empowerment, making her a "brokenhearted symbol of a strong but decidedly single woman", according toOut's Judy Wieder.[348]Goldmine's Phill Marder credited Cher's musical success to her "nearly flawless" song selection, noting that while Sonny Bono contributed to early hits, most of her solo successes came from independent songwriters she chose.[349] Her 2000 albumNot Commercial, largely self-written, has a "1970ssinger-songwriter feel" that highlights herstorytelling skills, according to AllMusic'sJose F. Promis.[350]
Cher performing on the Here We Go Again Tour in 2019
Robert Hilburn of theLos Angeles Times wrote, "There were a lot of great records by female singers in the early days of rock ... None, however, reflected the authority and command that we associate with rock 'n' roll today as much as [Cher's] key early hits".[351] Some of Cher's early songs discuss subjects rarely addressed in American popular music such as divorce, prostitution, unplanned and underaged pregnancy, and racism.[349] According to AllMusic's Joe Viglione, the 1972 single "The Way of Love" is "either about a woman expressing her love for another woman or a woman saying au revoir to a gay male she loved".[352] Her ability to carry both male and female ranges allowed her to sing solo inandrogynous and gender-neutral songs.[352]
Cher'scontralto voice has been praised for its distinctiveness.[353] Ann Powers ofThe New York Times described it as "a quintessential rock voice: impure, quirky [and] a fine vehicle for projecting personality."[354] Zaleski called hertimbre "recognizable, dusky and sultry, like exquisite black velvet", with awide range and "warbling"vibrato.[339] AllMusic's Bruce Eder stated that her voice's "intensity and passion" are amplified by her acting skills, creating "an incredibly powerful experience for the listener".[355]The Guardian's Laura Snapes called her voice "miraculous", capable of expressing "vulnerability, vengeance and pain" simultaneously.[356] Zaleski added that her vocal delivery feels like "a direct line to her soul",[339] while author Paul Simpson observed that "she spits out the words ... with such conviction you'd think she was delivering an eternal truth about the human condition".[357]
Writing about Cher's musical output during the 1960s, Hilburn stated that "no one matched the pure, seductive wallop of Cher".[351] By contrast, her vocal performances during the 1970s were described by Eder as "dramatic, highly intense ... [and] almost as much 'acted' as sung".[24] First heard in the 1980 recordBlack Rose,[358] Cher employed sharper, more aggressive vocals on her hard rock-oriented albums, establishing her sexually confident image.[197] For the 1995 albumIt's a Man's World, she restrained her vocals, singing in higher registers and without vibrato.[196]
Cher's 1998 song "Believe" was the first commercial recording to useAuto-Tune—anaudio processor for correctingoff-key vocals—as a stylistic effect, creating a robotic, futuristic sound.[359][360] Cher, who proposed the effect,[361] faced resistance from her label but insisted it remain, saying, "You can change [the song] over my dead body".[361] Dubbed the "Cher effect",[359] the technique was later described byPitchfork'sSimon Reynolds as having "revolutionized the sound of popular music" and as "the sound of the 21st century".[362] Cher used Auto-Tune extensively onLiving Proof (2001) and later albums.[306]
Cher inGood Times (1967), her first leading film role
Maclean's magazine's Barbara Wickens described Cher as "probably the most fascinatingmovie star of her generation", highlighting her "magnetic" screen presence and her ability to be both "boldlyshocking" and "ultimately enigmatic".[363]Film Comment wrote, "For Cher is a star. That is, she manages the movie star trick of being at once a character and at the same time never allowing you to forget: that's Cher."[245]New York Post criticDavid Edelstein attributed Cher's "top-rankingstar quality" to her capacity for projecting "honesty, rawness and emotionality", adding that she "wears her vulnerability on her sleeve".[363]New York magazine'sDavid Denby pointed to her distinctive appearance as a key factor in her appeal, describing her look as "odd, a bit oriental and snaky" and suggesting that it aligns with "the traditional definition of a Hollywood star—that you always want to see more".[363]
Author Yvonne Tasker noted that Cher's film roles mirror her public image as a rebellious, sexually autonomous andself-made woman.[364] She often portrays women who helpmarginalized male characters navigate mainstream society.[365] This perception was reinforced inThe X-Files episode "The Post-Modern Prometheus" (1997), which follows a scientist's grotesque creature who idolizes Cher because of her role inMask (1985), where her character cares for her disfigured son.[366][367] Film criticKathleen Rowe wrote ofMoonstruck (1987) that the depiction of Cher's character as "a 'woman on top' [is] enhanced by the unruly star persona Cher brings to the part'".[368]
Cher was ranked first byBillboard on its list of "The 100 Best Acting Performances by Musicians in Movies" for her role inMoonstruck, with the performance described as "the standard by which you mentally check all others".[369] The film was named the eighth-greatestromantic comedy of all time by theAmerican Film Institute.[370]People included Cher among its "100 Greatest Movie Stars of our Time"[371] andBiography ranked her the third-favorite leading actress of all time, behind Katharine Hepburn and Audrey Hepburn.[372]
Cher performing on the Dressed to Kill Tour in 2014
Cher's music videos and live performances have frequently reflected her public image, addressing themes such asself-construction,female sexuality and thepursuit of perfection.[373] Her concerts often include biographical montages andself-referential visuals. Author Diane Negra described them as multimedia retrospectives that merge different phases of her career into a cohesive stage narrative and frame performance as a form of autobiography.[374]The New York Times observed that Cher's onstage appearances alongside projected images of her younger selves function to reaffirm and reclaim earlier identities,[265] while theLos Angeles Times described her shows as rooted in "her larger-than-life story [and]mythology of self-reinvention".[375]
In her 1991Cher... at the Mirage concert video, she subverted the typical staging of female pop performances by replacing female backup dancers with amale dancer impersonating her. Dressed in a replica of her 1986 Academy Awards outfit, the impersonator initially appeared to be Cher. Cher then emerged in a different costume and began performing, while the impersonator interacted with oversizedprops symbolizing fame and media attention.[373] Negra interpreted this segment as Cher casting herself as the narrator of her own life story, using the impersonator to emphasize her status as a "fictionalized production" shaped by media and performance—a dynamic she described as offering audiences a "pleasurable plurality".[374] Commenting on the scale of her shows, Tony Spilde ofThe Bismarck Tribune wrote that "[Cher's] lavish concerts have become bigger than the music they're meant to promote".[376] James Sullivan of theSan Francisco Chronicle credited her with influencing the development of stadium-scale concerts, stating, "She's comfortable enough to see such imitation as flattery, not theft."[377]
Cher's 1980 video for "Hell on Wheels" employed cinematic techniques,[378] and film historianLawrence J. Quirk described it as one of the earliest examples of a modernmusic video.[379] The 1989 music video for "If I Could Turn Back Time" was the first to be banned by MTV,[373] due to controversy over Cher's performance aboard the battleshipUSS Missouri, where she straddled a cannon in a leather thong that revealed her tattooed buttocks,[187] accompanied byhomoerotic imagery featuringsailors.[380]
Avedon photographed Cher in a beaded and featherednude gown byBob Mackie for the cover ofTime in 1975;[384]Billboard called it "one of the most recreated and monumental looks of all time".[385] Cher had first worn the gown to the 1974Met Gala. According toAndré Leon Talley ofVogue, "it was really the first time a Hollywood celebrity attended and it changed everything. We are still seeing versions of that look on The Met red carpet 40 years later."[385]Billboard wrote that Cher has "transformed fashion and [become] one of the most influential style icons in red carpet history".[385]
The Hamilton Spectator declared Cher "theIt Girl of the '70s".[386] She became asex symbol through her TV shows, wearing inventive and revealing Mackie-designed outfits and successfully fighting network censors to bare hernavel.[176] Because she did so by choice rather than at the direction of male producers, Cher is often credited as the first woman to expose her navel on TV.[j][388]People dubbed Cher the "pioneer of the belly beautiful".[389] In 1972, after she was featured on theInternational Best Dressed Hall of Fame List, Mackie stated: "There hasn't been a girl like Cher since [Marlene] Dietrich and[Greta] Garbo. She's a high-fashion star who appeals to people of all ages."[390]
In 1999, after theCouncil of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) honored Cher with its Influence on Fashion Award,Robin Givhan of theLos Angeles Times called her a "fashion visionary" for "striking just the right note of contemporary wretched excess".[391] Givhan noted that designers such asTom Ford,Anna Sui andDolce & Gabbana have cited Cher as "source of inspiration and guidance".[391] She added that "Cher's Native American showgirl sexpot persona now seems to epitomize the fashion industry's rush to celebrateethnicity, adornment and sex appeal."[391]Vogue proclaimed Cher "[their] favorite fashion trendsetter", calling her "eternally relevant [and] the ruler of outré reinvention".[392]The Independent's Alexander Fury traced her influence on celebrities includingBeyoncé,Halle Berry, Jennifer Lopez andKim Kardashian, stating, "They all graduated from the Cher school of never sharing the stage with anyone."[393]
Physical appearance
Cher has attracted media attention for her physical appearance, including her youthful looks, hairstyles and tattoos. Journalists have often called Cher the "poster girl" of plastic surgery.[394] Cher has admitted to plastic surgery but criticized media speculation, denying most rumored procedures. She stated she doesn't need to justify her choices, saying in 2002, "If I want to put my tits on my back, it's nobody's business but my own."[395]
Author Caroline Ramazanoglu wrote that Cher's appearance has evolved from "a strong, decidedly 'ethnic' look [to] a more symmetrical, delicate ... and ever-youthful version of female beauty". She argued that Cher'sidealized beauty "now acts as a standard against which other women will measure, judge, discipline and 'correct' themselves".[396] Paddy Calistro of theLos Angeles Times wrote that during Cher's rise as a movie star in the 1980s, her "highly articulated bone structure captured audience attention", which led to an increased number of medical requests for "surgically inserted 'cheekbones'".[397]
"The Cher Hair", Cher's signature hairstyle, in 1971
Cher with a blonde wig at a 2019 performance
Cher's signature hairstyle, known as "the Cher hair"—long, straight, jet-black hair parted in the center—was a 1970s fashion trend that saw multiple revivals in later decades.[391][398][399] In the 1970s, she started wearingwigs on her TV shows to play various characters in the same episode.[400] By the 1990s, wigs became a staple of her public appearances, enabling her to experiment with colors and lengths.[401] She has stated that wigs help her "stay current" while protecting her natural hair.[401] ProfessorKatrin Horn fromUniversity of Greifswald wrote that Cher's use of wigs has surpassed typical celebrity fashion, elevating her into "the realms offeminine drag".[380]
Cher has six tattoos.The Baltimore Sun called her the "Ms. Original Rose Tattoo".[402] She got her first tattoo in 1972.[402] According to Sonny Bono, "Calling her butterfly tattoos nothing was like ignoring a sandstorm in theMojave. That was exactly the effect Cher wanted to create. She liked to do things for the shock they created."[403] In the late 1990s, she began having laser treatments to remove her tattoos.[404] She commented, "When I got tattooed, only bad girls did it: me andJanis Joplin andbiker chicks. Now it doesn't mean anything. No one's surprised."[405]
Cher was the inspiration forMother Gothel, a fictional character who appears inWalt Disney Pictures' animated feature filmTangled (2010). DirectorByron Howard stated that Gothel's exotic appearance was based on Cher's "exotic and Gothic looking" appearance, continuing that the singer "definitely was one of the people we looked at visually, as far as what gives you a striking character".[406] In 1992,Madame Tussauds wax museum honored Cher as one of the five "most beautiful women of history" by creating a life-size statue.[407]
Social media presence
Cher's social media presence has been noted for its unconventional and candid style.Time named Cher "Twitter's most outspoken (and beloved) commentator",[381] whileThe New York Times'J Wortham highlighted her authenticity, contrasting it with the heavily curatedonline personas typical of celebrity accounts. Wortham described Cher as "an outlier, perhaps the last unreconstructed high-profile Twitter user", whose posts combine "nakedness and honesty" that is "rarely celebrated" in mainstream culture.[408] Similarly,The Guardian'sMonica Heisey described Cher's Twitter account as "a jewel in the bizarro crown of the internet", noting, "While many celebrities use Twitter for carefully crafted self-promotion, Cher just lets it all hang out."[409] Journalists have also remarked on her frequent use ofemojis, which Cher has linked to herdyslexia, describing them as intuitive tools for visualizing emotions.[410]
Cher is revered by theLGBTQ community, a status attributed to her career accomplishments, distinctive style and enduring longevity.[411] Many of her songs are consideredgay anthems, including "If I Could Turn Back Time",[412] "Believe",[413] "Strong Enough"[414] and "Song for the Lonely".[415] She is regarded as agay icon and is frequently imitated bydrag queens.[416] According toSalon writer Thomas Rogers, drag queens emulate figures likeJudy Garland,Dolly Parton and Cher because they "overcame insult and hardship on their path to success"—narratives that resonate with the struggles many gay men face when coming out.[416]
Maclean's journalist Elio Iannacci stated that Cher was "one of the first to bring drag to the masses", hiring two drag queens to perform with her during herLas Vegas residency in 1979.[417]The Advocate's Jeff Yarbrough described Cher as "one of the first superstars to 'play gay' with compassion and without a hint ofstereotyping", as she portrays a lesbian in the 1983 filmSilkwood.[418] Cher's social activism has further solidified her status as a gay icon.[419] As the mother of atrans man, Chaz Bono, Cher has advocated for visibility and support for trans families.[420]
Ann Powers of theLos Angeles Times called Cher a "mainstream translator" of1960s counterculture, underscoring her role as the link betweenteenage rebellion and marketability.[375] Music critic Jeff Miers credited Cher with setting the template for generations of female pop artists, citing her mastery oftheatrical presentation, seamlessgenre shifts and knack for provoking without losing mainstream appeal.[425] According toThe New York Times, Cher "earned hermononym" and inspired "an entire industry of imitators, both figurative and literal".[426]Shon Faye ofDazed wrote that her legacy underpins many modern pop stars: "If Madonna andLady Gaga andKylie Minogue and Cyndi Lauper were playing football, Cher would be the stadium they played on and the sun that shone down on them."[299]Rob Sheffield ofRolling Stone called her "the one-woman embodiment" ofpop music.[179] Cher has been referred to as the "Goddess of Pop" in publications such asThe Washington Post,Time andBillboard.[k]
Cher's career has been marked by continual reinvention;[443]Richard Aquila described her as "the ultimate pop chameleon",[444] whileThe New York Times dubbed her the "Queen of theComeback".[210]The Atlantic's Sophie Gilbert wrote, "Decades before Madonna had reinventions andTaylor Swift haderas, Cher had comebacks—triumphs over decline in which she'd reemerge stronger, shinier, and more resolute than ever."[445] Cher remarked, "It's a thousand times harder to come back than to become. Becoming famous is hard, but making a comeback is almost impossible."[446]
Cher's sustained success in amale-dominated entertainment industry has invited discussion aroundgender roles and autonomy in entertainment.[425][450]Billboard credited her with establishing an "androgynous musical identity" that predated and influenced artists such asDavid Bowie andPatti Smith.[451]Goldmine's Phill Marder said Cher advanced "feminine rebellion" in 1960s rock, calling her "the prototype of thefemale rock star".[349]Billboard described her as a "pioneer of female autonomy" in the music industry, as her unconventional themes—including racism and prostitution[349]—challenged expectations forfemale artists in a "male-driven" era.[452] Marder tied this perception of autonomy to her commanding, "neardominatrix" stage persona alongside Sonny Bono and her rise to greater prominence as a solo act.[349]
Early in her career, Cher's critics often framed her output as an extension of male collaborators,[453] a view Cher addressed directly: "It was a time when girl singers were patted on the head for being good and told not to think".[210] Over time, her image evolved, reflecting what professorYvonne Tasker described as her ambition to build an acting career "on her own terms" by rejecting both "dependence on a man [and] the conventional role assigned to women [over 40] in an industry that fetishises youth".[454]AllMusic noted that during her popular 1970s TV shows with Sonny Bono, "he was a diminutivefoil to Cher's sexually provocative comedienne", reversing traditional gender dynamics and positioning her as the comedic lead.[455] DirectorGeorge Schlatter credited Cher with redefining women's roles inTV comedy, stating, "Until Cher, women have been the joke, notdone the joke ... She's the first female star to carry a show in the same way that men have".[456]
Following her 1988 Academy Award win,The New York Times' Stephanie Brush compared Cher's impact on women toJack Nicholson's cultural appeal among men, stating that she embodied women's "revenge fantasies" by confronting those who underestimated her: "You need to be more than beautiful to get away with this. You need to have been Cher for 40 years."[58] Later that year,Ms. magazine praised her as an "authenticfeminist hero" and "the quintessential woman of the '80s", emphasizing her refusal to conform to expectations of feminine decorum—both in appearance and behavior.[457] It cited her flamboyant self-presentation, her public confrontations with David Letterman, TV censors andpatronizing film directors, as well as her candor about single motherhood, younger partners, cosmetic surgery and her struggle to be taken seriously as a rock singer and actress.[457] A 1996Dateline NBC interview clip featuring Cher's response to her mother's advice to "marry a rich man"—"Mom, I am a rich man"—wentviral in 2016.[458]Bustle magazine described the quote as a subversion of traditional gender norms and a landmark feminist statement.[459]
Cher's public image—marked by defiance, flamboyance and an unwaveringsense of self—has itself become a subject of cultural study and popular fascination.[411][460] Gilbert described Cher as "a walking, singingeye roll [who] has never met an obstacle without theatrically raising amiddle finger."[445] InRolling Stone,Jancee Dunn noted her enduringcoolness, attributing it to her refusal to conform: "Hermotto is, 'I don't give a shit what you think, I'm going to wear this multicolored wig.'"[461]Alexander Fury ofThe Independent described her celebrity as "seemingly immortal" and operating at a "omnipotent,uni-monikered level",[393] whileFrank Bruni ofThe New York Times wrote that she personifies "a magnitude ofcelebrity for which the word fame is pathetically insufficient".[462] Bego emphasized hermultifaceted career: "No one in the history of show business has had a career of the magnitude and scope of Cher's. She has been a teenage pop star, a television hostess, a fashion model, a rock star, a Broadway actress, an Oscar-winning movie star, a disco diva and the subject of a mountain of press coverage."[463] Lynch concluded, "The world would certainly be different if she hadn't stayed so irrevocably Cher from the start."[451]
Cher is the only solo artist to have achieved a number-one single on aUSBillboard chart in seven consecutive decades[c][472] and the only solo artist to have released new material that reached theOfficial UK Top 40 in seven consecutive decades (1960s–2020s).[473] She held the previous record for the longest span between a first and most recent number-one single on theUSBillboard Hot 100—33 years, seven months and three weeks—from "I Got You Babe" (August 14, 1965) to the final week at number one for "Believe" (April 3, 1999).[l][231] At 52, she became the oldest female artist to top the Hot 100.[i][233] In 2023, "DJ Play a Christmas Song" made her the oldest female artist–at 77–to enter the Official UK Top 40.[473]
Cher has said that she is not a registered Democrat, but has attended manyDemocratic events.[482] Herprogressive political views have attracted media attention and she has been an outspoken critic of theconservative movement.[464] She has commented that she did not understand why anyone would be a Republican because eight years under theadministration of George W. Bush "almost killed [her]".[483] During the2000 United States presidential election,ABC News wrote that she was determined to do "whatever possible to keep [Bush] out of office".[482] She said, "If you're black ... a woman [or] any minority in this country at all, what could possibly possess you to vote Republican? ... You won't have one fucking right left."[482] She added, "I don't like Bush. I don't trust him ... He's stupid. He's lazy."[482]
On October 27, 2003, Cher anonymously called aC-SPAN phone-in program to recount a visit she made to maimed soldiers at theWalter Reed Army Medical Center and criticized the lack of media coverage and government attention given to injured servicemen. Although she identified herself as an unnamed entertainer, she was recognized by the C-SPAN host, who questioned her about her 1992 support for independent presidential candidateRoss Perot. She said:
When I heard him talk right in the beginning, I thought that he would bring some sort of common-sense business approach and also less partisanship, but then ... I was completely disappointed like everyone else when he just kind of cut and run and no one knew exactly why ... Maybe he couldn't have withstood all the investigation that goes on now.[484]
Cher in 2000 with PresidentBill Clinton and First LadyHillary Clinton at her birthday celebration in New York
In a 2006Stars and Stripes interview, Cher elaborated on her "against thewar in Iraq butfor the troops" position: "I don't have to be for this war to support the troops because these men and women do what ... they're told to do ... They do the best they can. They don't ask for anything."[485]
Cher supportedHillary Clinton in her 2008 presidential campaign.[464] After Obama won the Democratic nomination, she supported his candidacy.[486][487] In a 2010 interview withVanity Fair, she commented that she "still thinks Hillary would have done a better job", although she "accepts the fact that Barack Obama inherited insurmountable problems".[464] During the2012 United States presidential election, Cher and comedianKathy Griffin released apublic service announcement titled "Don't Let Mitt Turn Back Time on Women's Rights", criticizingRepublican presidential nomineeMitt Romney for his support ofRichard Mourdock, the US Senate candidate who suggested that pregnancies resulting from rape were "part of God's plan".[488]
In September 2013, Cher declined an invitation to perform at the2014 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Russia due to the country'scontroversial anti-LGBTQ legislation that overshadowed preparations for the event.[489] In June 2015, afterDonald Trump announced his candidacy for president, she made critical comments on Twitter, stating that "Donald Trump's punishment is being Donald Trump".[490] She endorsed Clinton in her2016 presidential campaign.[491] In 2018, after the victory in Brazil's presidential election ofright-wing populistJair Bolsonaro, Cher called him a "pig" and "a politician from hell", before declaring that Bolsonaro should be "locked in prison for the rest of his life".[492]
Cher during her July 12, 2006, visit atLandstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany, which treats injured US military personnel serving in Afghanistan and Iraq
Cher's philanthropic work is channeled through the Cher Charitable Foundation, which focuses oncombating poverty, advancingmedical research, improvinghealth care and supporting the rights ofvulnerable groups such asveterans,children,LGBTQ individuals,elders andanimals.[503] She has been a vocal advocate for American soldiers, returning veterans and communities affected by war. In 1993, she joined a humanitarian mission to Armenia, delivering food and medical supplies to thewar-torn region.[504] She has supported Operation Helmet, which provides free helmet upgrade kits to troops inIraq andAfghanistan, and contributed to theIntrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, aiding military personnel severely injured in war-related operations.[505]
Cher is a donor, fundraiser and international spokesperson forKeep a Child Alive, which seeks to combatAIDS, including providingantiretroviral medicine to children and their families.[505] In 1996, she hosted theAmerican Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) Benefit alongsideElizabeth Taylor at the Cannes Film Festival.[506] In 2015, she received the amfAR Award of Inspiration for "her willingness and ability to use her fame for the greater good" and for being "one of the great champions in the fight against AIDS".[507]
Cher has served as the Honorary National Chair ofHabitat for Humanity's "Raise the Roof" fundraising initiative, aimed at supporting the construction and repair of affordable homes for families in need.[505] In 2007, Cher became the primary supporter of the Peace Village School inUkunda, Kenya, which "provides nutritious food, medical care, education and extracurricular activities for more than 300 orphans and vulnerable children".[505] Her support enabled the school to acquire land and build permanent housing and school facilities and in partnership withMalaria No More and other organizations, she piloted an effort to eliminatemalaria mortality and morbidity for the children, their caregivers and the surrounding community.[505]
In 2016, after the discovery oflead contamination in the drinking water of Flint, Michigan, Cher donated more than 180,000 bottles of water to the city.[508] During the COVID-19 pandemic, Cher launched the CherCares Pandemic Resource and Response Initiative (CCPRRI) alongsideDr. Irwin Redlener, the head ofColumbia University's Pandemic Resource and Response Center, to distribute $1 million to "chronically neglected and forgotten people" through theEntertainment Industry Foundation (EIF). Cher toldBillboard, "There are rural areas where people of color and Latinos and Native Americans were getting no services. It's not a lot of money—$1 million goes in the blink of an eyelash!—so now I'm trying to get my friends to make it a lot more so we can do something that will really meet people's needs."[317]
In 2017, Cher weighed in on the need to protect elder rights as she executive producedEdith+Eddie, a documentary about a nonagenarian interracial couple, which was nominated for theAcademy Award for Best Documentary Short.[509] That same year, she co-founded Free the Wild, an international charity dedicated to protecting wild animals in captivity.[510][511] In 2020, Free the Wild partnered withFour Paws International, prompting Cher to travel toPakistan to advocate for and work with the country's government for the transfer ofKaavan, an elephant confined to a zoo for 35 years, to a wildlife sanctuary inCambodia.[512] This effort was chronicled in the documentaryCher & the Loneliest Elephant, released onParamount+ in 2021, which detailed her collaboration with animal aid groups and veterinarians to free Kaavan.[513]
Cher's older child, Chaz Bono, first came out as a lesbian at age 17, which reportedly caused Cher to feel "guilt, fear and pain".[419] She later accepted Chaz's sexual orientation and came to the conclusion that LGBTQ people "didn't have the same rights as everyone else, [and she] thought that was unfair".[514] Cher was the keynote speaker for the 1997 national Parents, Families, & Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) convention and has since become one of the LGBTQ community's most vocal advocates.[514] In May 1998, she received theGLAAD Vanguard Award for having "made a significant difference in promoting equal rights for lesbians and gay men".[475] On June 11, 2009, Chaz came out as atransgender man and his transition from female to male was legally finalized on May 6, 2010.[515]
^abcdCher's birth certificate lists her name as Cheryl Sarkisian, contrary to the long-reported Cherilyn. Cher later discovered this when formally changing her name to "Cher", attributing the discrepancy to her mother's recollection of naming her after actressLana Turner's daughter,Cheryl Crane, and her grandmother, Lynda.[3]
^After "I Got You Babe" topped theUSBillboard Hot 100, "Just You" debuted on the same chart in August 1965—four months after its original release—and eventually peaked at number 20.[34]
^On May 31, 1971, Sonny and Cher starred inThe Sonny & Cher Nitty Gritty Hour, a Canadian TV special recorded in 1970 and sometimes described as a precursor to theirCBS series. In 2015,David Winters claimed he created the comedy-music format and pitched it toABC, which opted for theSmothers Brothers instead. Winters said CBS later used his concept to developThe Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour. He considered legal action but ultimately did not pursue it, maintaining that the show was based on his idea.[70]
^Some sources credit Cher as the female solo artist with the mostUSBillboard Hot 100 number-one singles by the time she released "Dark Lady" in 1974—countingSonny & Cher's "I Got You Babe" as her first number one.[85][86] This claim likely stems fromBillboard's current rules, which credit a song to a solo artist if their name appears in the official billing.Billboard's reporting in 1974 did not include "I Got You Babe" among Cher's solo number ones, suggesting that the current rules did not apply at the time and are not applied retroactively.[87]
^According to biographerTom King, Cher's relationship withDavid Geffen began when he confided in her about his struggles with his sexual identity and his hope that a relationship with a woman might lead to true love. Moved by his honesty, she entered the relationship while in the final stages of her marriage toSonny Bono. They planned to marry within a year, but Cher reconsidered due to Geffen's controlling behavior—similar to Sonny's—and his persistent attraction to men. Geffen later came out as gay.[101][102]
^abCher's 1979–1982 concert series had no official name but was promoted under various titles, such as "Cher",[142] "Cher in Concert",[143] "The Cher Show"[144] and "The Cher Tour".[145] It later became known as theTake Me Home Tour, a name adopted by Cher[146] and biographers.[147] The tour had dates in North America, Europe, South Africa and Australia, with extended stays in venues includingCaesars Palace in Las Vegas.[147] Though combining elements of bothtours andresidencies, the media often called it a Vegas residency, referring to shows outside Las Vegas as extensions of her "Vegas act".[148] At the time, Vegas residencies were seen as signs of career decline, influencing public perception and Cher's career choices.[149] Consequently, the concert series is also listed among her residencies.
^Harvilla, Rob (November 19, 2024)."14 Stunning Stories From Cher's (First) Memoir".Vulture.Archived from the original on November 22, 2024. RetrievedNovember 22, 2024.Cher writes that when she later formally changed her name, she found out that the name on her birth certificate was, to her own mom's surprise, not Cherilyn but Cheryl. 'I was only a teenager and I was in a lot of pain,' Cher's mother told her. 'Give me a break.'
^abcdefghi"Cher – Chart History".Billboard.Archived from the original on December 4, 2024. RetrievedMarch 9, 2025.Billboard and international chart history can be accessed via the drop-down menu on theBillboard artist webpage. Select the relevant chart for details.
^Lichtman, Irv (November 27, 1965)."Patterns of Change"(PDF).Cashbox. Vol. 27, no. 19. p. 3.Archived(PDF) from the original on September 20, 2024. RetrievedSeptember 8, 2025.
Number one in Sweden:"Sweden's Best Sellers"(PDF).Cashbox. Vol. 28, no. 15. October 29, 1966. p. 79.Archived(PDF) from the original on September 10, 2024. RetrievedAugust 30, 2025.
Number one in the Netherlands:"Holland's Best Sellers"(PDF).Cashbox. Vol. 28, no. 17. November 12, 1966. p. 57.Archived(PDF) from the original on August 11, 2024. RetrievedAugust 30, 2025.
Number one in Norway:"Norway's Best Sellers"(PDF).Cashbox. Vol. 28, no. 17. November 12, 1966. p. 56.Archived(PDF) from the original on August 11, 2024. RetrievedAugust 30, 2025.
^"Italy's Best Sellers"(PDF).Cashbox. Vol. 28, no. 23. December 24, 1966. p. 128.Archived(PDF) from the original on August 6, 2025. RetrievedOctober 25, 2025.
Number one in Norway:"Norway's Best Sellers"(PDF).Cashbox. Vol. 28, no. 15. October 29, 1966. p. 79.Archived(PDF) from the original on September 10, 2024. RetrievedApril 1, 2025.
Number one in the Netherlands:"Holland's Best Sellers"(PDF).Cashbox. Vol. 28, no. 17. November 12, 1966. p. 79.Archived(PDF) from the original on August 11, 2024. RetrievedApril 1, 2025.
^Fisher, Lauren Alexis (June 19, 2015)."An Ode to Cher's Twitter".Harper's Bazaar.Archived from the original on July 19, 2020.With the Goddess of Pop's natch for reinventing herself each decade, it's safe to say that this time she's coming back as a social media superstar.
^Bardsley, Ella (February 4, 2020)."Sonny and Cher who? The Goddess of Pop fronts Dsquared2's SS20 campaign".Love. Archived fromthe original on November 4, 2020.In 1995 ... Dean and Dan Caten had no idea they'd be swarmed by a rush of buyers keen to snap up their covetable designs. Fast forward 25 years, and the Goddess of Pop, Cher, stars in their 2020 campaign.
^Hernando, Sara (June 30, 2020)."5 veces en las que Cher se adelantó a las tendencias del verano 2020" [5 times Cher was ahead of summer 2020 trends].Vogue España (in Spanish).Archived from the original on July 4, 2020.Excéntrica y osada, la diosa del pop se atrevió, en los años 70, con los colores y las prendas más arriesgadas de esta temporada. [Eccentric and daring, the goddess of pop boldly experimented in the '70s with this season's most daring colors and garments.]
^Polus, Sarah (April 22, 2016)."Celeb endorsement of the week: Cher for Hillary Clinton".The Washington Post.Archived from the original on January 16, 2025.While it's unclear whether [Cher's] endorsement will noticeably help Clinton's campaign, it's safe to say the free publicity from the goddess of pop won't hurt the Democratic front-runner.
^Flanagan, Hanna (June 28, 2024)."The Cher Lookbook".The Cut.Archived from the original on June 28, 2024.Often referred to as the Goddess of Pop, Cher is a true triple threat[.]
^Kirk, Kamala (November 18, 2014)."The 9 Biggest Divas in the History of Forever".E!.Archived from the original on July 15, 2018.Nicknamed the 'Goddess of Pop', [Cher]'s been able to establish herself across multiple music genres and has a huge fan base.
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