Cher facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cher
Cher in 2020
Born	Cheryl Sarkisian (1946-05-20) May 20, 1946 (age 79) El Centro, California, US
Other names	Cherilyn Sarkisian Cheryl LaPiere Bonnie Jo Mason Chér Cher Bono Cher Allman
Occupation	Singer actress television personality
Years active	1963–present
Works	Albums singles duo discography videography filmography concerts
Spouse(s)	Sonny Bono ​ ​ (m. 1964; div. 1975)​ Gregg Allman ​ ​ (m. 1975; div. 1979)​
Partner(s)	Alexander Edwards
Children	Chaz Bono Elijah Blue Allman
Parent(s)	Georgia Holt (mother)
Awards	Full list
Musical career
Genres	Pop rock folk disco dance
Instruments	Vocals
Labels	Atco Casablanca Columbia Geffen Imperial Kapp MCA Reprise United Artists Warner
Signature

Cher (born Cheryl Sarkisian on May 20, 1946) is an American singer, actress, and TV star. People call her the "Goddess of Pop." She is famous for her unique deep voice, her many different careers, and her bold style. She often plays strong, independent women in her movies. Cher is great at changing her style and music, which has helped her stay popular for a long time. She is the only solo artist to have a number-one song on Billboard charts in seven decades, from the 1960s to the 2020s!

Cher has won many important awards. These include an Academy Award (for movies), a Primetime Emmy Award (for TV), a Grammy Award (for music), and three Golden Globe Awards. She also received the Billboard Icon Award and was honored at the Kennedy Center Honors. She was even inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Cher is one of the best-selling music artists ever, selling over 100 million records worldwide.

Cher first became famous in 1965 as part of the folk-rock duo Sonny & Cher with her husband, Sonny Bono. She also had solo hits like "All I Really Want to Do" and "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)". In the 1970s, after divorcing Sonny, she had more number-one songs in the US. These included "Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves", "Half-Breed", and "Dark Lady". At that time, she was the female solo artist with the most number-one hits in US history.

After taking a break to focus on acting, Cher returned to music. She released rock-style albums like Cher (1987) and Heart of Stone (1989). She had international number-one hits with "If I Could Turn Back Time" and "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)".

Cher's album Believe (1998) was a huge success. It used a special vocal effect called the "Cher effect," which made her voice sound unique. The song "Believe" was the number-one song in the US in 1999. It also became the UK's best-selling song by a female artist. Her albums Closer to the Truth (2013) and Dancing Queen (2018) both reached number three on the Billboard 200 chart. Her "Living Proof: The Farewell Tour" (2002–2005) was the highest-earning concert tour by a female artist at the time.

In the 1970s, Cher became a TV star with The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour and her own show, Cher. Millions of people watched these shows every week. She started acting on Broadway in 1982 and then in movies. Cher was nominated for two Academy Awards for her roles in Silkwood (1983) and Moonstruck (1987). She won the Academy Award for Best Actress for Moonstruck. She also won an award at the Cannes Film Festival for her role in Mask (1985). Other popular movies she starred in include The Witches of Eastwick (1987), Mermaids (1990), and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018). Her life story even inspired a musical called The Cher Show in 2018. Cher also speaks out about her beliefs, supporting LGBTQ+ rights and HIV/AIDS prevention.

Cher's Life and Career

Early Life (1946–1961)

Cher was born Cherilyn Sarkisian in El Centro, California, on May 20, 1946. Her father, John Sarkisian, was a truck driver. Her mother, Georgia Holt, was a former model and actress. Cher's parents divorced when she was very young. Her mother later married John Southall, and they had Cher's half-sister, Georganne.

Cher's family moved around a lot, including to New York, Texas, and California. They often didn't have much money. Once, her mother had to leave Cher at an orphanage for a few weeks. Even though they saw each other every day, it was a difficult experience for both of them.

When Cher was in fifth grade, she put on a musical play called Oklahoma! for her class. She directed and choreographed the dances. She even played the boy parts because no boys wanted to join. By age nine, she had a very deep voice. Cher loved movie stars like Audrey Hepburn and Marlene Dietrich. She wanted to be famous since she was a child, even though she felt she wasn't pretty or talented. She once said, "I couldn't think of anything that I could do... I didn't think I'd be a singer or dancer. I just thought, well, I'll be famous. That was my goal."

In 1961, Cher's mother married Gilbert LaPiere, who adopted Cher and Georganne. They went to a private school in Encino. Cher stood out because of her unique look and outgoing personality. A classmate said, "She was like a movie star, right then and there... She said she was going to be a movie star and we knew she would." Cher was smart and creative, doing well in French and English. As an adult, she found out she had dyslexia.

Early Music Success and Sonny & Cher (1962–1967)

When Cher was 16, she left school and moved out. She took acting classes and danced in nightclubs. She met Sonny Bono in 1962, who worked for a record producer. Cher became Sonny's housekeeper. Sonny introduced Cher to the producer, who used her as a backup singer on many songs. Cher even recorded her first song, "Ringo, I Love You," under the name Bonnie Jo Mason. Some radio stations didn't play it because they thought her deep voice belonged to a man.

Cher and Sonny became close friends and then fell in love. They had an unofficial wedding in Mexico in 1964. Sonny wanted Cher to be a solo artist, but she was shy. She asked him to sing with her, and he started joining her on stage. They first called themselves Caesar & Cleo, but their songs didn't do well.

In late 1964, Cher signed with Imperial Records, and Sonny became her producer. Her song "All I Really Want to Do" became a hit in 1965, reaching number 15 in the US and number nine in the UK. Her first album, All I Really Want to Do (1965), was also successful.

In early 1965, Caesar and Cleo changed their name to Sonny & Cher. Their song "I Got You Babe" became a number-one hit in the US. It was one of the most popular pop/rock songs of the mid-1960s. When they returned to the US, they appeared on TV shows and toured. Girls started copying Cher's style, straightening and dyeing their hair black and wearing vests and bell-bottoms.

Sonny and Cher's first album, Look at Us (1965), was number two on the Billboard 200 chart. They had many top 40 songs between 1965 and 1972. At one point, they had five songs in the top 50 at the same time, a feat only matched by The Beatles and Elvis Presley. They became a very famous couple in rock music.

Cher also had success with her solo songs. The Sonny Side of Chér (1966) included "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)", which sold over a million copies. With Love, Chér (1967) featured "You Better Sit Down Kids", a top-ten hit in the US.

TV Stardom and First Music Comeback (1971–1974)

In 1971, a TV executive saw Sonny and Cher and offered them their own show. The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour started in August 1971 and was a big hit. Over 30 million people watched it every week. Cher was known for her funny jokes about Sonny and her amazing outfits designed by Bob Mackie. Their young son, Chaz, also appeared on the show, making them seem like a perfect family. Cher improved her acting skills through comedy sketches.

In 1971, Cher released the song "Classified 1A." It was about a soldier in Vietnam, but radio stations didn't play it. Since Sonny and Cher's music wasn't doing well, a new producer, Snuff Garrett, started working with Cher. He produced her second US number-one song, "Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves". This song proved that Garrett understood Cher's voice better than Sonny did. "Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves" was a huge success and was called "one of the 20th century's greatest songs" by Billboard. The album of the same name also sold very well. Her next single, "The Way of Love", reached number seven.

In 1973, Cher released "Half-Breed", a song written just for her about a girl with a Cherokee mother and a white father. It became Cher's third US number-one song. Both the song and the album were very popular.

In 1974, Cher released "Dark Lady", which became her fourth number-one hit. This made her the female artist with the most number-one songs in US history at the time. She also released a Greatest Hits album, showing she was a consistent hitmaker. During this busy time, Cher had to record whole albums in just a few days while also touring and filming her TV show.

Divorce, New Music, and TV Shows (1974–1979)

Cher and Sonny had problems in their marriage since 1972, but they kept it a secret. In 1974, Sonny filed for separation, and Cher filed for divorce. They fought over money and the custody of their son, Chaz, which Cher won. Their divorce was final in June 1975.

During this time, Cher had a relationship with music executive David Geffen. He helped her get out of a difficult business deal with Sonny. Cher won a Golden Globe Award for her TV show in 1974. Sonny tried his own TV show, but it was canceled quickly.

In 1975, Cher signed a big deal with Warner Bros. Records. She wanted to be taken seriously as a rock star. Her album Stars (1975) was not a big success at first, but later became a favorite among fans.

Cher started her solo TV show, Cher, in February 1975. It was very popular and featured her music, comedy, and amazing costumes. Critics loved it, with one saying, "Cher without Sonny... could be the best thing that's happened to weekly television this season." However, the show ended within a year because Cher found it too much to handle alone.

On June 30, 1975, just four days after her divorce, Cher married rock musician Gregg Allman. They had a son, Elijah Blue, in 1976. Sonny and Cher reunited for a new TV show in 1976, but it was canceled in 1977.

In 1976, a company released Sonny & Cher dolls. The Cher doll was the best-selling doll that year, even more popular than Barbie. Cher's next albums, I'd Rather Believe in You (1976) and Cherished (1977), were not successful. Some thought her TV shows might have hurt her music sales because people could watch her for free.

In 1977, Cher and Gregg Allman released a duet album called Two the Hard Way. They toured Europe, but the concerts were difficult, and their relationship ended soon after. Their divorce was final in 1979.

Disco Success and Rock Band (1979–1982)

In 1979, Cher officially changed her name to just Cher. As a single mom with two kids, she needed to make more money. She decided to try disco music. She signed with Casablanca Records and released the song "Take Me Home" and the album of the same name. Both were instant hits and sold very well. Cher had not wanted to do disco at first, but after its success, she said, "It's terrific! It's great music to dance to."

After the success of Take Me Home, Cher wanted to return to rock music with her album Prisoner (1979). Critics found the mix of rock and disco confusing, and the album didn't sell well. She also sang "Hell on Wheels" for a movie soundtrack, which fit her love for roller-skating.

In 1980, Cher formed a rock band called Black Rose with guitarist Les Dudek. She cut her long hair and adopted a punk look to fit in with the band. Even though she was the lead singer, she didn't want to be the only star. The band struggled to get concerts, and their album, Black Rose, received bad reviews. Cher said critics attacked her for singing rock music. Black Rose broke up in 1981.

While with Black Rose, Cher also performed in Las Vegas, earning a lot of money. This led to her first solo tour, the Take Me Home Tour, which went to many cities and countries. The concerts were huge and led to two TV specials. In 1981, Cher sang a duet with Meat Loaf called "Dead Ringer for Love", which was a hit in the UK. In 1982, Cher released the new wave album I Paralyze, which was not a commercial success.

Acting Breakthrough and Music Break (1982–1987)

With her music sales going down, Cher decided to focus on acting. Her earlier movies hadn't done well, and Hollywood didn't take her seriously as an actress. Cher said she felt unfulfilled even though she was making a lot of money performing in Las Vegas. In 1982, she moved to New York to study acting. She was cast in a Broadway play called Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean. She also starred in the movie version of the play.

Director Mike Nichols saw Cher in the play and offered her a role in the movie Silkwood (1983). When the movie came out, some people doubted Cher's acting skills. Cher remembered that the audience laughed when they saw her name in the credits. But her performance earned her a nomination for an Academy Award and she won a Golden Globe Award.

Cher's next movie, Mask (1985), was a big success. It reached number two at the box office, and Cher won an award at the Cannes Film Festival. However, she had disagreements with the director and was not nominated for an Oscar for this role. She wore a very unique outfit to the 58th Academy Awards, which many called her "Oscar revenge dress." She joked about it, saying, "As you can see, I did receive my Academy booklet on how to dress like a serious actress." This created a lot of buzz.

In 1986, Cher made a memorable appearance on the talk show Late Night with David Letterman. She returned in 1987 and sang "I Got You Babe" with Sonny, which was their last time performing together before his death.

Hollywood Star and Third Music Comeback (1987–1992)

Cher starred in three movies in 1987. In Suspect, she played a lawyer. In The Witches of Eastwick, she was one of three women who meet a mysterious man. In Moonstruck, she played an Italian widow who falls in love with her fiancé's younger brother. The last two movies were among the top ten highest-earning films of 1987.

The New York Times said Moonstruck proved that Cher had become a fascinating movie star. For Moonstruck, Cher won the Academy Award for Best Actress and a Golden Globe Award. By 1988, Cher was one of the most in-demand actresses, earning $1 million per movie.

In 1987, Cher signed with Geffen Records and started her music career again. Critics said she had her "most impressive string of hits" and became a "serious rock and roller." Her first Geffen album, Cher, was a commercial success and sold over a million copies. It included the rock ballad "I Found Someone", which was Cher's first US top-ten song in over eight years.

Cher's album Heart of Stone (1989) sold over three million copies. Its song "If I Could Turn Back Time" was number one in Australia for seven weeks and reached number three in the US. Other top-ten songs from the album were "After All" and "Just Like Jesse James". Cher won an award at the 1989 People's Choice Awards and started the Heart of Stone Tour. A TV special, Cher... at the Mirage (1991), was filmed during a concert.

In Mermaids (1990), Cher played a woman who moves her daughters around after bad relationships. She had some disagreements with the directors, but the movie was a box office success. One of the songs she recorded for the movie, "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)", was number one in the UK for five weeks.

Cher's last album with Geffen Records, Love Hurts (1991), was number one in the UK for six weeks. Cher later said her Geffen years were important because she loved the songs she was singing. In 1991, she released an exercise book and fitness videos. In 1992, she went on the Love Hurts Tour and released a greatest hits album in the UK.

Infomercials and Sonny's Death (1992–1998)

After the success of Moonstruck, Cher became very careful about choosing movie roles. She turned down big roles in movies like Thelma & Louise. In the early 1990s, she got sick with a virus that made her very tired. To earn money, she appeared in infomercials for health and beauty products, earning nearly $10 million. Some critics thought this meant her film career was over. Cher later said, "Suddenly I became the Infomercial Queen... people stripped me of all my other things."

Cher made small appearances in the movies The Player (1992) and Prêt-à-Porter (1994). In 1995, she had a number-one hit in the UK with the charity song "Love Can Build a Bridge". That year, she released It's a Man's World (1995), an album of songs originally sung by men. Critics praised her singing and the R&B influences. The album included "Walking in Memphis" and the UK top-ten song "One by One".

In 1996, Cher starred in the TV movie If These Walls Could Talk, which was very popular. She also appeared in the movie Faithful. Cher's music was featured in an episode of The X-Files in 1997, where a character admired her role in Mask.

After Sonny Bono died in a skiing accident in 1998, Cher gave a heartfelt speech at his funeral. She hosted a TV special called Sonny & Me: Cher Remembers. That month, Sonny and Cher received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Later that year, Cher published her book The First Time, which shared stories about her life.

Fourth Music Comeback and Songwriting (1998–2002)

Cher's album Believe (1998) was a huge success. It had a new dance-pop sound, different from her previous rock music. It sold 10 million copies worldwide. Entertainment Weekly called it "the most dramatic comeback Hollywood has seen" and said it introduced Cher to a new generation of fans.

The song "Believe" was number one in 23 countries and sold over 10 million copies. It was the best-selling song of 1998 in the UK and 1999 in the US. In the UK, it was number one for seven weeks and became the UK's best-selling song by a female artist. In the US, it was number one for four weeks, making Cher, at 52, the oldest female artist to top the chart. "Believe" won a Grammy Award and a Billboard Music Award.

In 1999, Cher sang the US national anthem at the Super Bowl XXXIII. She also performed at VH1 Divas Live '99, which was watched by 19.4 million people. Her Do You Believe? Tour (1999–2000) sold out everywhere. Billboard named Cher the top dance artist of 1999.

Cher starred in the movie Tea with Mussolini (1999), where she played a lively American socialite. Critics praised her performance.

In 2000, Cher released Not Commercial, an album she mostly wrote herself. Her record label didn't want to release it because they thought it wasn't commercial enough, so she sold it on her website. Her next dance album, Living Proof (2001), debuted at number nine on the Billboard 200. It included the UK top-ten song "The Music's No Good Without You" and "Song for the Lonely", a tribute to New York after the September 11 attacks. Cher was named Billboard's top dance artist of 2002 and received an Artist Achievement Award. In 2002, her wealth was estimated at $600 million.

Farewell Tours and Return to Acting (2002–2018)

In June 2002, Cher started her Living Proof: The Farewell Tour, saying it would be her last concert tour. However, she planned to keep recording and acting. Critics praised the tour, saying Cher looked amazing and performed wonderfully. The tour was extended many times. By October 2003, it was the most successful tour by a female artist, earning $145 million from 200 shows. The TV special of the tour won Cher an Primetime Emmy Award.

After leaving Warner UK, Cher signed a new deal with Warner Bros. Records in 2003. Forbes magazine named her the highest-paid female musician of 2003, earning $33.1 million. Her greatest hits album, The Very Best of Cher (2003), reached number four on the Billboard 200. In the movie Stuck on You (2003), Cher played a funny version of herself. Cher's Farewell Tour ended in April 2005 after 325 shows, earning $250 million.

After three years, Cher started a new concert series in Las Vegas in 2008, performing 200 shows over three years. In Burlesque (2010), her first musical movie since 1967, she played a nightclub owner. Her song "You Haven't Seen the Last of Me" from the movie's soundtrack was number one on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart in 2011. This made Cher the only artist with Billboard number-one songs in six decades (1960s–2010s).

In 2011, Cher voiced a lioness in the movie Zookeeper. She also produced a documentary about her mother, Dear Mom, Love Cher, which aired in 2013. Cher's album Closer to the Truth (2013) debuted at number three on the Billboard 200, her highest solo album position ever. Cher performed her song "Woman's World" on The Voice, her first live TV performance in over ten years. She also became an adviser on the show.

In 2013, Cher performed at a benefit celebrating LGBTQ+ Pride Day. She started the Dressed to Kill Tour in March 2014, joking that it would be her "last farewell tour." The first part of the tour earned $54.9 million. However, she had to cancel the rest of the tour due to a kidney infection. In 2015, Cher worked with the hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan on their album Once Upon a Time in Shaolin. This album was sold as a single copy and became the most expensive album ever sold.

In 2017, Cher started a new concert series in Las Vegas and Washington, D.C. At the 2017 Billboard Music Awards, Cher performed "Believe" and "If I Could Turn Back Time." She received the Billboard Icon Award, with Gwen Stefani calling her the "definition of the word Icon." In 2018, Cher performed at the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, with tickets selling out quickly.

ABBA Projects and Fashion (2018–2022)

Cher returned to movies in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018), a musical movie based on ABBA songs. She played Ruby Sheridan, the mother of Donna (Meryl Streep). Critics loved Cher's performance. For the movie's soundtrack, she recorded two ABBA songs, "Fernando" and "Super Trouper".

While promoting the movie, Cher announced she was making an album of ABBA covers. Dancing Queen was released in September 2018 and debuted at number three on the Billboard 200. It had the biggest first-week sales for a pop album by a female artist that year. Critics praised the album, saying Cher made the ABBA songs sound like her own.

Cher started the Here We Go Again Tour in 2018, which continued until 2020 when it was stopped due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Cher Show, a musical about Cher's life, opened in Chicago in 2018 and later on Broadway. In December 2018, Cher received the Kennedy Center Honor for her amazing contributions to culture. In 2019, Cher launched her second perfume, Cher Eau de Couture, which she described as "genderless".

During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Cher worked on projects from home. She released her first Spanish song, "Chiquitita" (an ABBA cover), with money going to UNICEF. She also joined a charity group called BBC Radio 2 Allstars for a song that became a UK top-ten hit. Cher voiced a bobblehead version of herself in the animated movie Bobbleheads: The Movie (2020).

In the early 2020s, Cher worked with big fashion brands like Dsquared2, MAC Cosmetics, and UGG. For Pride Month in 2022, Cher partnered with Versace to create a special clothing collection, with money going to an LGBTQIA+ charity. In September 2022, she walked the runway at Paris Fashion Week.

Recent Years: Christmas Album and Hall of Fame (2023–present)

Cher's first holiday album, Christmas (2023), featured duets with famous singers like Stevie Wonder and Cyndi Lauper. Its first song, "DJ Play a Christmas Song", topped two Billboard charts in December 2023. This extended Cher's record as the only solo artist with number-one songs in seven decades.

In December 2023, Cher spoke out about not being in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She said she wouldn't join even if they offered her a million dollars. However, two months later, she was nominated and inducted on October 19, 2024. She became the first musician-actor to win an Academy Award for acting and join the Hall of Fame. Cher decided to accept the honor because she admired the other people being inducted. At the ceremony, she performed her hits "If I Could Turn Back Time" and "Believe" (with Dua Lipa).

In November 2024, Cher published Cher: The Memoir, Part One, the first part of her autobiography. It covers her childhood, early career, and marriages. The book was a number-one best-seller. The second part is planned for 2025. To celebrate 60 years in music, Cher released a greatest hits album called Forever (2024).

Cher's Artistry

Music and Voice

Cher has explored many different music styles. These include rock, soul, jazz, disco, and dance music. She always tries to "remain relevant and do work that strikes a chord." Music historian Annie Zaleski said Cher sings "nearly every style of music" easily. Cher's songs often talk about heartbreak, being independent, and women's strength.

Cher's deep voice is very unique and has been praised by many. The New York Times described it as "a quintessential rock voice: impure, quirky [and] a fine vehicle for projecting personality." Zaleski called her voice "recognizable, dusky and sultry, like exquisite black velvet." Critics say her voice shows "intensity and passion" and can express "vulnerability, vengeance and pain" at the same time.

Cher's 1998 song "Believe" was the first commercial song to use Auto-Tune as a special effect. This made her voice sound robotic and futuristic. Cher wanted the effect to stay in the song, even when her label resisted. This "Cher effect" later became very popular and changed the sound of pop music. Cher used Auto-Tune a lot on her later albums. In 2023, an AI version of Cher's voice sang a Madonna song, which Cher found "shocking." She worried about AI doing her singing.

Films and Performances

Cher is known as a fascinating movie star because she is both bold and mysterious. Film critics say she projects "honesty, rawness and emotionality" in her roles.

Cher's movie roles often show her public image as a strong, independent woman. In her films, she often helps male characters who are struggling. For Moonstruck, Cher was ranked number one on Billboard's list of "The 100 Best Acting Performances by Musicians in Movies." Moonstruck was also named the eighth best romantic comedy film of all time by the American Film Institute.

Cher's public image is also seen in her music videos and live shows. Singer Pink was inspired by Cher's "Farewell Tour" to learn aerial silks, which became a big part of her own shows. Cher is seen as a pioneer in stadium-sized concerts.

Cher was ranked 17th on VH1's list of the "50 Greatest Women of the Video Era." Her 1980 video for "Hell on Wheels" was one of the first music videos ever.

Cher's Activism

Helping Others

Cher helps others through her Cher Charitable Foundation. This foundation works to fight poverty, support medical research, improve health care, and help vulnerable groups. These groups include veterans, children, LGBTQ+ individuals, elders, and animals.

Cher has always supported American soldiers and veterans. In 1993, she went on a humanitarian trip to Armenia, bringing food and medical supplies to the war-torn area. She has also supported groups that help injured military personnel.

Since 1990, Cher has been a big supporter of the Children's Craniofacial Association. This group helps children with facial differences and their families. Cher's Family Retreat is held every June, allowing these families to meet and connect. She also supports a trust that helps people with head and neck diseases.

Cher is a donor and spokesperson for Keep a Child Alive, which fights HIV/AIDS. In 1996, she hosted a benefit for the American Foundation for AIDS Research. In 2015, she received an award for using her fame to help in the fight against AIDS.

Cher has helped Habitat for Humanity build and repair homes for families in need. In 2007, she became the main supporter of the Peace Village School in Kenya. This school provides food, medical care, and education for over 300 orphans. Her support helped the school build permanent buildings.

In 2016, after lead was found in the drinking water in Flint, Michigan, Cher donated over 180,000 bottles of water to the city. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Cher launched an initiative to give $1 million to people in need. She said she was trying to get her friends to donate more so they could help more people.

In 2017, Cher produced a documentary about elder rights called Edith+Eddie. That same year, she co-founded Free the Wild, a charity that protects wild animals in captivity. In 2020, Cher traveled to Pakistan to help move Kaavan, an elephant who had been in a zoo for 35 years, to a wildlife sanctuary. This effort was shown in the documentary Cher & the Loneliest Elephant.

Cher's older child, Chaz Bono, came out as a lesbian at age 17. Cher was initially scared but soon accepted it. She realized that LGBTQ+ people didn't have the same rights as everyone else, and she thought that was unfair. She became a strong supporter of LGBTQ+ rights. In 1998, she received an award for promoting equal rights for lesbians and gay men. In 2009, Chaz came out as a transgender man.

Political Views

Cher has said she is not a registered Democrat, but she supports the Democratic Party. She has been open about her progressive political views. She has criticized the conservative movement. She once said she didn't understand why anyone would vote Republican, especially if they were a minority.

In 2003, Cher anonymously called a TV program to talk about visiting injured soldiers. She criticized the lack of media attention given to them. She later explained her 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."

Cher supported Hillary Clinton in her 2008 presidential campaign and later supported Barack Obama. In 2013, Cher turned down an invitation to perform at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Russia. She did this because of Russia's controversial anti-LGBTQ+ laws. In 2015, she criticized Donald Trump on Twitter. In 2018, she called Brazilian politician Jair Bolsonaro a "politician from hell."

Cher has spoken out about the Armenian Genocide. At a movie premiere in 2016, she criticized Turkey for not recognizing the events as genocide. She talked about her Armenian heritage and how her grandparents survived the genocide. In 2021, she thanked Joe Biden for being the first US President to formally acknowledge the Armenian Genocide.

In 2020, Cher raised almost $2 million for Joe Biden's presidential campaign. She also campaigned for him in Nevada and Arizona. She released a song with updated lyrics about Biden. In 2020, Cher also supported Armenia and Artsakh during the Nagorno-Karabakh war.

In 2022, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Cher showed her support for Ukraine. She called Russian President Vladimir Putin a "despot" and said she planned to offer shelter to Ukrainian refugees in her home.

Cher's Legacy

Rolling Stone magazine said there are no other careers like Cher's in pop music. They called her "the one-woman embodiment of the whole gaudy story of pop music." Goldmine magazine called her "one of the Rock Era's most dominant figures." They said she was a leader in the 1960s for "feminine rebellion in the rock world." She set the standard for how female rock stars looked and acted.

Billboard magazine said, "there's divas, and then there's Cher." The New York Times said Cher has earned her single name because her fame is so strong. Dazed magazine said that if other pop stars were playing football, Cher would be the stadium and the sun. Cher has influenced many artists, including Beyoncé, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Lady Gaga, Madonna, and Taylor Swift.

Cher is often called the "Goddess of Pop." She has changed her style many times, which is why a professor called her "the ultimate pop chameleon." Entertainment Weekly said Cher has "floated through generation after generation, scooping up new fans, thrilling old ones, reinventing her own myth." The New York Times called her the "Queen of the Comeback."

Cher's ability to have a very successful and long career as a woman in the entertainment world has been noticed by feminist critics. Ms. magazine called her an "authentic feminist hero" and a role model for women in the 1980s.

Achievements

Cher has sold 100 million records worldwide, making her one of the best-selling music artists ever. She is one of the few artists to win three of the four major American entertainment awards: an Emmy, a Grammy, and an Oscar. She is also one of only five actor-singers to have a US number-one song and win an acting Academy Award.

Her first big hit, Sonny & Cher's "I Got You Babe," is in the Grammy Hall of Fame. Billboard called her 1971 song "Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves" "one of the 20th century's greatest songs." Her 1998 song "Believe" is the biggest-selling song by a female artist in the UK. It was voted the world's eighth favorite song in a BBC poll in 2003. In 1988, Cher became the first performer to win an Academy Award for acting and have a gold album in the same year.

Cher is the only solo artist to have a number-one song on a Billboard chart in seven decades (1960s to 2020s). She held the record for the longest time between two number-one hits on the Billboard Hot 100: 33 years between "I Got You Babe" (1965) and "Believe" (1999). With "Believe," she became the oldest female artist at 52 to have a US number-one song in the rock era. Billboard ranked her number 43 on their "Greatest Hot 100 Artists of All Time" list.

Cher has received many awards, including the GLAAD Vanguard Award (1998), the Legend Award at the 1999 World Music Awards, and the Billboard Icon Award (2017). In 2010, Cher placed her handprints and footprints in cement at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. Her name is also on a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame with Sonny & Cher. In 2018, she received the Kennedy Center Honor, the highest cultural award in the US. In 2024, Cher was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

In 2003, VH1 ranked Cher number 41 on their list of "The 200 Greatest Pop Culture Icons." She was also ranked 31st on VH1's list of "The 100 Greatest Women in Music." Esquire magazine placed her at number 44 on their list of "The 75 Greatest Women of All Time."

Discography

Solo Studio Albums

Collaborative Studio Albums

• Two the Hard Way (with Gregg Allman as Allman and Woman) (1977)
• Black Rose (as lead vocalist of Black Rose) (1980)

Tours and Residencies

Headlining Tours

Collaborative Tours

• Two the Hard Way Tour (with Gregg Allman as Allman and Woman) (1977)
• The Black Rose Show (as lead vocalist of Black Rose) (1980)

Residencies

• Take Me Home Tour (1979–1982)
• Cher (2008–2011)
• Classic Cher (2017–2020)

Filmography

Films

Headlining Television Shows and Specials

Images for kids

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  Cher on the set of the television series The Man from U.N.C.L.E., 1967

• Cher performing in London during her Here We Go Again Tour in 2019.jpg

  Cher performing during her Here We Go Again Tour in 2019

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  Cher performing at a campaign rally during Joe Biden's 2020 presidential campaign

See also

In Spanish: Cher para niños