Cher facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cher
Cher in 2019
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 songs duo discography videography filmography concerts
Spouse(s)	Sonny Bono ​ ​ (m. 1969; 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 dance
Instruments	Vocals
Labels	Atco Casablanca Columbia Geffen Imperial Kapp MCA Reprise United Artists Warner
Signature

Cher (pronounced SHAIR; born Cheryl Sarkisian, May 20, 1946) is a famous American singer, actress, and TV star. She is often called the "Goddess of Pop" because of her unique deep voice, bold fashion, and many talents. Her movie roles often show her as a strong and honest person. Cher has had a long career for over sixty years by always trying new things and staying popular.

Cher became famous in 1965 as part of the folk rock duo Sonny & Cher. They were early popular figures of the 1960s. Cher also found success as a solo artist at the same time. In the 1970s, she had number-one songs in the US like "Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves", "Half-Breed", and "Dark Lady". After focusing on acting for a while, she returned to music with rock albums like Cher (1987) and Heart of Stone (1989). She had international number-one hits such as "If I Could Turn Back Time" and "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)".

At 52, Cher reached a new high with her dance-pop album Believe (1998). This album introduced the "Cher effect"—a special way of using a sound tool called Auto-Tune to make her voice sound unique. The title track became the number-one song in the US in 1999 and the UK's best-selling single by a female artist. In the 21st century, her albums Closer to the Truth (2013) and Dancing Queen (2018) reached high on the US music charts.

Cher became a TV star in the 1970s with The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour and her solo show Cher. These shows were watched by many millions of people every week. She earned praise for her acting after performing on Broadway and starring in the film Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean (1982). She won an Oscar for Best Actress for Moonstruck (1987) and a Cannes Film Festival's Best Actress Award for Mask (1985). Other popular movies include The Witches of Eastwick (1987) and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018). Her life and career inspired the 2018 musical The Cher Show.

Cher is one of the best-selling music artists in history, having sold over 100 million records. She is the only solo artist with number-one songs on the US Billboard charts in seven decades (1960s–2020s). Her many awards include a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, three Golden Globes, the Billboard Icon Award, and the Kennedy Center Honors. She is the only performer to have won an Academy Award for acting and be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Her 2002–2005 Living Proof: The Farewell Tour was one of the highest-earning concert tours by a female artist at the time. Beyond music and acting, Cher is known for her support of important causes, like equal rights for all people and helping those affected by serious illnesses.

Life and Career

Early Life and Beginnings (1946–1961)

Cheryl Sarkisian was born in El Centro, California, on May 20, 1946. Her father, John Sarkisian, was a truck driver who was not often around. Her mother, Georgia Holt, was a model and actress. Cher's parents divorced when she was ten months old. Her father placed her in a children's home for a few months, which was a difficult time for both Cher and her mother.

In 1951, her mother married actor John Southall, and they had Cher's half-sister, Georganne. Cher later described Southall as her "real father" and a kind man who sometimes became difficult. Her mother remarried and divorced several times, and the family moved often. They often had little money, and Cher remembered using rubber bands to hold her shoes together. While living in Los Angeles, her mother worked as a waitress and sometimes got small TV roles for her daughters.

By fifth grade, Cher organized a class performance of the musical Oklahoma!. She took on male roles when boys did not want to participate. At nine, her voice was unusually deep for a girl. Cher loved film stars and looked up to Audrey Hepburn. She also admired Marlene Dietrich, Bette Davis, and Katharine Hepburn, but felt discouraged by the lack of dark-haired actresses in Hollywood. She once said, "In the Walt 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.'" As a child, she dreamed of fame but felt she was "unattractive" and "untalented." She later said, "I couldn't think of anything that I could do... I just thought, 'I'll be famous'. That was my goal."

In 1961, her mother married Gilbert LaPiere, who adopted Cher (under the name Cheryl LaPiere) and Georganne. He enrolled them in a private school. Coming from a modest background, Cher faced challenges in the upper-class environment. A former classmate remembered Cher's "striking appearance" and "outgoing personality." Cher was known for her creativity and humor. She did well in French and English but struggled with other subjects, later finding out she has dyslexia. Her unique behavior also stood out: she sang for students during lunch and surprised peers when she wore a top that showed her stomach. Cher said she was "always thinking about when I was grown up and famous" instead of focusing on school.

Solo Breakthrough and Sonny & Cher (1962–1967)

At 16, Cher left school and moved out of her mother's house. She took acting classes and supported herself by dancing in clubs. She met performer Sonny Bono, who was 11 years older, in November 1962. Sonny worked for record producer Phil Spector. Cher's friend moved out, and Cher accepted Sonny's offer to be his housekeeper. Sonny introduced Cher to Spector, who used her as a backup singer on many recordings, including the Righteous Brothers' "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" and the Ronettes' "Be My Baby". Spector produced her first single, "Ringo, I Love You", which Cher recorded as Bonnie Jo Mason. Many radio stations did not play the song because they thought Cher's deep voice sounded like a man's, and they misunderstood the song's meaning.

Cher and Sonny became close friends, then fell in love. They had a small, unofficial wedding ceremony in Mexico in 1964. Sonny wanted Cher to be a solo artist, but she encouraged him to perform with her because she was very nervous on stage. She later said she sang to the audience through him. In late 1964, they started as a duo called Caesar & Cleo, but their first songs were not very successful.

Cher signed with Liberty Records' Imperial label in late 1964, and Sonny became her producer. Her second solo single, a cover of Bob Dylan's "All I Really Want to Do", reached number 15 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1965. Meanwhile, the Byrds released their own version of the same song. When their songs competed on the charts, the Byrds' record label decided to promote the other side of their single. Cher's first album, All I Really Want to Do (1965), reached number 16 on the US Billboard 200.

After Cher's solo success, the duo changed their name to Sonny & Cher. They recorded "I Got You Babe" and traveled to England in July 1965. Cher recalled that the Rolling Stones told them Americans did not understand their style. In London, they became stars overnight after being noticed for their unique outfits.

"I Got You Babe" became a number-one hit in the US and one of the most loved pop/rock songs of the mid-1960s. When the song knocked the Beatles off the top of the British charts, English teenagers started copying Sonny & Cher's fashion, like bell-bottoms and fur vests. Back in the US, the duo appeared in the film Wild on the Beach (1965) and on TV shows. Their concerts attracted many fans who copied Cher's style.

Sonny & Cher's first album, Look at Us (1965), stayed at number two on the Billboard 200 for eight weeks, just behind the Beatles' Help!. The duo successfully competed with the British Invasion and Motown music of the time. Their music blended rock, folk themes, and protest lyrics. Between 1965 and 1972, Sonny & Cher had ten top-40 singles, including five top-ten hits. 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.

Their later albums did not do as well as their first, as Cher's solo career grew. Her second solo album, The Sonny Side of Chér (1966), included "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)", which became her first million-selling solo single. Chér (1966) featured the international number-one song "Sunny". With Love, Chér (1967) had songs that were like "little soap-opera stories set to rock music," such as the US top-ten single "You Better Sit Down Kids".

TV Stardom and First Musical Comeback (1971–1974)

CBS offered Sonny and Cher their own TV program after seeing them host The Merv Griffin Show in 1971. The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour premiered on August 1, 1971, and became a full-time show that December.

Watched by more than 30 million viewers weekly, The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour was praised for their funny timing, with Cher playfully teasing Sonny about his height and looks. They showed a warm, playful, and caring side. Viewers loved it even more when their young son, Chaz Bono, appeared on the show. Cher improved her acting skills through funny skits, and her outfits, designed by Bob Mackie, became popular fashion trends in the 1970s.

In 1971, Cher released the single "Classified 1A", a song about a soldier's experience in Vietnam. The song was written by Sonny, but radio stations did not play it much.

Since Sonny's attempts to revive their duo's music career were not working, Kapp Records brought in Snuff Garrett to work with them. He produced Cher's second US number-one single, "Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves". This song showed that Garrett understood Cher's voice and style better than Sonny did. "Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves" was the first single by a solo artist to be number one on both the US Billboard Hot 100 and the Canadian singles chart at the same time. It was on the 1971 album Chér (later called Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves), which was certified gold, meaning it sold many copies. The album's second single, "The Way of Love", reached number seven on the Billboard Hot 100.

In 1972, Cher released the album Foxy Lady, which showed how much her singing had grown. Garrett then stopped working with Cher after disagreeing with Sonny about what kind of songs Cher should record. At Sonny's request, Cher released the album Bittersweet White Light (1973), which was not successful. Later that year, songwriter Mary Dean wrote "Half-Breed" for Cher, a song about the daughter of a Cherokee mother and a white father. Garrett believed the song was perfect for Cher and kept it until she worked with him again. "Half-Breed" became her third US number-one single. Both the album and the single were certified gold.

In 1974, Cher released "Dark Lady" as the main single from the album of the same name. It topped the Billboard Hot 100, making her one of the female solo artists with the most number-one singles in US history at that time. Later that year, she released a Greatest Hits album. Between 1971 and 1973, Sonny & Cher's music career was revived with four albums. Cher later said her busy schedule meant she recorded albums quickly while also touring and filming her TV show.

Divorce and New Beginnings (1974–1979)

Cher and Sonny ended their romantic relationship in late 1972 but remained legally married for a while to protect their careers. Their relationship had faced difficulties for years. By 1973, they were living separately in the same house and seeing other people.

In January 1974, Cher won a Golden Globe Award for her TV show. Sonny filed for separation the next month, and Cher soon after filed for divorce, saying she was not getting her fair share of their earnings. Their show was canceled in April 1974.

During the divorce, Cher found out she was legally an employee of a company mostly owned by Sonny. This meant she had little control over her career or money. Record executive David Geffen helped her break free from the contract. Cher won custody of Chaz after a public legal battle, and their divorce was finalized in June 1975. Cher later ended her relationship with Geffen.

Cher signed a $2.5 million deal with Warner Bros. Records in 1975. She wanted her first album with them, Stars (1975), to show her as a serious rock artist. However, it was not a commercial success.

Cher's solo CBS show, Cher, started on February 12, 1975. The show featured Cher's music, comedy, and many costumes. Critics praised it, and musical guests included David Bowie, Elton John, and the Jackson 5. The show ended after two seasons. TV network rules were stricter with Cher when she was on her own show, seeing her as more daring than when she was with Sonny.

On June 30, 1975, four days after her divorce from Sonny, Cher married musician Gregg Allman. She filed for divorce nine days later, but they got back together quickly. Their son, Elijah Blue Allman, was born in July 1976. Cher's TV reunion with Sonny, The Sonny and Cher Show, started in February 1976. Although it began with high ratings, their on-screen jokes about their divorce and her personal life led to some public criticism, and the show was canceled in August 1977.

In 1976, Mego Toys released Sonny & Cher dolls. The Cher doll became the year's best-selling doll. Cher's next albums, I'd Rather Believe in You (1976) and Cherished (1977), were not successful. Some believed her weekly TV shows might have hurt her record sales.

In 1977, Cher and Allman recorded the duet album Two the Hard Way. They toured Europe to support the album, but audiences had mixed reactions. Their relationship ended soon after, and their divorce was finalized in 1979. In 1978, Cher began a relationship with Kiss member Gene Simmons. She briefly returned to TV with specials like Cher... Special (1978) and Cher... and Other Fantasies (1979).

Second Musical Comeback and Acting Success (1979–1987)

In 1979, she legally adopted the single name Cher. Facing financial challenges as a single mother, she decided to focus on making her music more popular. She signed with Casablanca Records and made a comeback with the single "Take Me Home" and the album of the same name, both of which were very popular during the disco craze. The album's sales were likely helped by the image of Cher in a striking Viking outfit on its cover.

Cher then tried to return to rock music with Prisoner (1979). The album cover showed her in chains, which she said symbolized feeling like a "prisoner of the press" due to intense media attention. This image received criticism from some groups. The single "Hell on Wheels" was featured in the film Roller Boogie (1979). Cher also worked with Giorgio Moroder on "Bad Love" for the film Foxes (1980).

In 1980, Cher formed the rock band Black Rose with guitarist Les Dudek. She adopted a punk-inspired look and cut her long hair to blend in. Even though she was the lead singer, she chose not to be the main name to present the band as equal. Their album, Black Rose, received poor reviews, and the band broke up in 1981.

During this time, Cher also performed regularly at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, earning a lot of money. This residency grew into Cher's first solo tour, the Take Me Home Tour (1979–1982). The concert series led to two TV specials, with one earning her an award for Best Actress in a Variety Program. In 1981, Cher sang with Meat Loaf on "Dead Ringer for Love", which was a hit in the UK. The following year, Cher released the new wave album I Paralyze, which was not commercially successful.

With fewer record sales and less radio play, Cher focused on acting. Her earlier films had not been successful, and Hollywood did not take her seriously as an actress. Cher said she felt unfulfilled despite her success in Las Vegas.

In 1982, Cher moved to New York to study acting. She was cast in Robert Altman's Broadway play Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean. She played a James Dean fan club member and received surprisingly good reviews. Altman later cast her in the film version of the play.

Director Mike Nichols offered her the role of Dolly Pelliker, the roommate of Karen Silkwood (played by Meryl Streep) in the 1983 film Silkwood. Audiences initially doubted Cher's acting ability. For Silkwood, Cher was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and won a Golden Globe Award in the same category.

The film Mask (1985) was Cher's first big success as a leading actress, reaching number two at the box office. Cher played Rusty Dennis, a biker raising a teenage son with a rare condition. For this role, Cher won the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress. Despite predictions, she was not nominated for an Oscar. Some believed her public disagreements with the director and her unique style may have played a part in the Academy's decision. At the 58th Academy Awards, she wore a dramatic, tarantula-like outfit. When presenting an award, Cher joked about her outfit, which gained her a lot of attention.

In May 1986, Cher appeared on Late Night with David Letterman, where she called David Letterman a rude name, which got a lot of media attention. She returned in November 1987, reuniting with Sonny for the last time before his death for a surprise performance of "I Got You Babe." That same month, Cher released The Ugly Duckling, an audiobook of the fairy tale.

Hollywood Stardom and Third Musical Comeback (1987–1992)

Cher starred in three films in 1987. In Suspect, she played a public defender. She then appeared in The Witches of Eastwick. In Moonstruck, she starred as an Italian widow who falls for her fiancé's younger brother. The latter two films were among the top ten highest-earning movies of 1987.

The New York Times said Moonstruck showed that Cher had become a fascinating movie star. For that film, Cher won the Academy Award for Best Actress and a Golden Globe Award. By 1988, Cher was one of the most successful actresses, earning $1 million per film. That year, she released her fragrance Uninhibited, which earned about $15 million in its first year.

By the late 1980s, Cher was known for her striking fashion and relationships with younger men. She dated several people, including actors Val Kilmer, Eric Stoltz, and Tom Cruise, musician Richie Sambora, and baker Rob Camilletti, who was younger than her.

In 1987, Cher signed with Geffen Records and restarted her music career with many successful songs. Jon Bon Jovi, Michael Bolton, Richie Sambora, and Desmond Child produced her first Geffen album, Cher. The album was a commercial success and was certified platinum. It featured the power ballad "I Found Someone", her first US top-ten single in eight years.

Cher won the Favorite All-Around Female Star Award in 1989. Her 19th album, Heart of Stone (1989), reached number one in Australia and the top ten in other countries, including the US, where it was certified triple platinum. The album had three US top-ten singles: "After All" (with Peter Cetera), "Just Like Jesse James", and "If I Could Turn Back Time". The latter became one of her signature songs and caused some discussion for its music video, filmed aboard a battleship. Cher launched the Heart of Stone Tour in 1989.

In Mermaids (1990), Cher's first film in three years, she played a woman who moves her daughters from town to town. She had disagreements with the film's first two directors, who were replaced. The film was a box office success. One of the songs Cher recorded for the film's soundtrack, "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)", topped the UK singles chart.

Cher's final Geffen studio album, Love Hurts (1991), was number one in the UK for six weeks. It produced the UK top-ten single "Love and Understanding". She then launched the Love Hurts Tour (1991–1992) and released a UK-only compilation album Greatest Hits: 1965–1992 (1992), which topped the UK chart. She also released the wellness book Forever Fit (1991) and exercise videos.

Later Career and Comebacks (1992–2015)

In the early 1990s, Cher became very ill, which made her too tired for music or film projects. She turned down major roles in films. To earn money, she appeared in TV commercials for health and beauty products. Some critics thought this meant her film career was ending.

In 1993, Cher re-recorded "I Got You Babe" with the animated duo Beavis and Butt-Head, playfully making fun of her own image. She topped the UK singles chart in 1995 with the charity single "Love Can Build a Bridge". After signing with WEA, Cher released It's a Man's World (1995), an album of songs originally performed by men. Critics praised its R&B influences and Cher's vocal growth. The album featured "Walking in Memphis" and the UK top-ten single "One by One".

In 1996, Cher starred in If These Walls Could Talk, a TV film about women's choices. Cher directed and starred in the final part, playing a doctor who was targeted by a group with different views. The film became HBO's highest-rated original movie at the time. Cher's first leading role in a movie theater in six years was in Faithful (1996), where she played a woman whose husband hired someone to harm her. Although praised for her performance, Cher refused to promote the film, calling it "horrible." Faithful was not successful.

After Sonny Bono's death in a skiing accident in 1998, Cher gave an emotional speech at his funeral. She paid tribute to him by hosting the CBS special Sonny & Me: Cher Remembers. That month, Sonny and Cher received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Later that year, Cher published The First Time, a collection of essays about "first-time" events in her life. Critics praised the book as honest.

Cher's 22nd album, Believe (1998), changed her sound to 1970s disco-inspired dance-pop. It sold 11 million copies worldwide. Entertainment Weekly called it "the most dramatic comeback Hollywood has seen."

The album's title track reached number one in 23 countries and sold over 10 million copies globally. It was the best-selling single of 1998 in the UK and 1999 in the US. "Believe" became the UK's best-selling single by a female artist. In the US, it was number one for four weeks, making Cher, at 52, the oldest woman to top the chart. Pitchfork noted that "coming from Cher—a confident, charismatic, and massively talented woman who'd been subjected to frequent public attention to her personal life—'Believe' took on an extra survivalist edge."

"Believe" won a Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording. The album's second single, "Strong Enough", reached number one in Hungary. In 1999, Cher starred in Franco Zeffirelli's film Tea with Mussolini, playing a flamboyant American socialite.

On January 31, 1999, Cher sang the US national anthem at the Super Bowl XXXIII. She co-headlined VH1 Divas Live '99, which was VH1's highest-rated program at the time. Her Do You Believe? Tour (1999–2000) sold out in every American city. Billboard named Cher the top dance artist of 1999.

In 2000, Cher released Not Commercial, an album she wrote herself. She chose the title after her label said it was "nice, but not commercial." The album had strong themes, including homelessness, challenges faced by veterans, and personal difficulties. She sold it independently on her website.

Cher's dance-focused album Living Proof (2001), reached number one in Greece and number nine in the US. It featured the UK top-ten single "The Music's No Good Without You" and "Song for the Lonely", a tribute to "the courageous people of New York" after the September 11 attacks. Cher received the Artist Achievement Award at the 2002 Billboard Music Awards. That year, her wealth was estimated at $600 million.

Farewell Tours and Film Comeback (2002–2015)

In June 2002, Cher launched Living Proof: The Farewell Tour, which was promoted as her final concert tour. The New York Times praised it as a celebration of Cher's strength. The tour was extended many times. By October 2003, it had become the most successful tour by a female artist, earning $145 million from 200 shows. The NBC special Cher: The Farewell Tour won her an Emmy Award.

After leaving Warner UK in 2002, Cher signed a global deal with Warner Bros. Records in September 2003. Forbes named her the highest-paid female musician of 2003, earning $33.1 million. The compilation album The Very Best of Cher (2003) was certified double platinum. In the film Stuck on You (2003), Cher played a funny version of herself, playing a character who was in a relationship with a younger person, which playfully referenced how the media talked about her own relationships. Cher's Farewell Tour ended in April 2005 after 325 shows, earning $250 million.

After three years of retirement, Cher signed a $60 million deal for a 200-show residency in Las Vegas. Titled Cher (2008–2011), the show featured amazing stage effects and many costume changes. She returned to film in Burlesque (2010), playing a nightclub owner who helps an aspiring performer. Her song "You Haven't Seen the Last of Me" from the soundtrack topped the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart in January 2011, making her the only artist with Billboard number-one singles in six decades.

After voicing Janet the Lioness in Zookeeper (2011), Cher produced the documentary Dear Mom, Love Cher (2013). It showed her efforts to support her mother's dream of becoming a singer. Closer to the Truth (2013), Cher's first studio album since 2001, debuted at number three on the Billboard 200. She performed the lead single "Woman's World" during The Voice finale.

Cher began the Dressed to Kill Tour in March 2014, joking that it would be her "last farewell tour." The tour's first part earned $54.9 million. Later that year, she canceled the remaining dates due to a kidney infection. Cher collaborated with the hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan on their 2015 album Once Upon a Time in Shaolin, which became the most expensive album ever sold.

Recent Projects and Recognition (2015–Present)

Classic Cher, a three-year concert residency in Las Vegas and Washington, D.C., began in February 2017. At the 2017 Billboard Music Awards, Cher performed and received the Billboard Icon Award. In March 2018, Cher headlined the 40th Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.

Cher returned to film in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018), a musical comedy based on ABBA songs. She played Ruby Sheridan, the grandmother of Sophie. Director Ol Parker said, "Cher exists outside of time," explaining her casting as Meryl Streep's mother despite their age difference. Critics praised her performance. For the soundtrack, she recorded two ABBA songs, "Fernando" and "Super Trouper".

While promoting the film, Cher announced she was working on an album of ABBA covers. Released in September 2018, Dancing Queen debuted at number three on the Billboard 200, tying her highest position. It received widespread critical acclaim.

Cher's Here We Go Again Tour ran from 2018 until it was postponed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns. Rolling Stone called the tour proof that Cher "can wipe the floor with any pop star from any generation." The Cher Show, a musical about her life, premiered in Chicago in June 2018 and ran on Broadway. In December 2018, Cher received the Kennedy Center Honors. In 2019, she launched Cher Eau de Couture, a gender-neutral fragrance.

During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Cher worked on projects from home. She released her first Spanish-language song, a cover of ABBA's "Chiquitita", with proceeds going to UNICEF. She also voiced a bobblehead version of herself in Bobbleheads: The Movie and joined a charity supergroup for a cover of Oasis' "Stop Crying Your Heart Out".

In the late 2010s and early 2020s, Cher worked with major fashion brands. She became the face of Marc Jacobs' Fall/Winter campaign and starred in campaigns for Gap, Dsquared2, MAC Cosmetics, and UGG. In September 2022, she walked the runway at Paris Fashion Week for Balmain. That month, Cher confirmed she was dating music executive Alexander Edwards, who is younger than her. Their age difference led to some online comments, which she responded to by saying, "Love doesn't know math."

Recent Milestones (2023–Present)

Cher's first holiday album, Christmas (2023), featured duets with Cyndi Lauper, Stevie Wonder, and Michael Bublé. It reached number one on the Billboard Top Holiday Albums chart. The album's lead single, "DJ Play a Christmas Song", topped the Billboard Adult Contemporary and Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales charts in December 2023. This extended Cher's record as the only solo artist with Billboard number-one singles in seven decades.

In December 2023, Cher criticized the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for not including her earlier, saying she wouldn't want to be in it even for a million dollars, and suggesting they could do something else with their honor. Two months later, she received her first nomination and was 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 out of admiration for her fellow inductees. At the ceremony, she performed "If I Could Turn Back Time" and "Believe" with Dua Lipa.

In May 2024, Cher won a legal case against Mary Bono, Sonny Bono's widow, about money from her old recordings with Sonny. A judge ruled that Cher was owed money and ordered it to be paid. In September, Cher withdrew a request to have legal control over her son Elijah's affairs, which she had filed due to concerns about his well-being. The court had previously said Elijah could manage his own matters, and the issue was resolved privately.

In November 2024, Cher published Cher: The Memoir, Part One, the first part of her autobiography. It covered her childhood, early career, and marriages. The book debuted at number one on The New York Times Best Seller list. The second part is planned for release in May 2026. To celebrate 60 years in music, Cher released the greatest hits album Forever (2024).

Artistry

Music and Voice

Cher has explored many different music styles, including rock, soul, jazz, disco, new wave, and electronic dance music. She always aims to "remain relevant and do work that strikes a chord." Music historian Annie Zaleski noted that Cher sings "nearly every style of music" easily. Cher's music often focuses on themes of heartbreak, independence, and women's empowerment.

Some of Cher's early songs discussed subjects not often heard in popular music, such as divorce and racism. Her ability to sing both male and female ranges allowed her to perform gender-neutral songs.

Cher's deep voice has been praised for being very unique. Ann Powers of The New York Times called it "a quintessential rock voice: impure, quirky [and] a fine vehicle for projecting personality." Zaleski described her voice as "recognizable, dusky and sultry, like exquisite black velvet," with a wide range and a special trembling sound called vibrato. AllMusic's Bruce Eder said her voice's "intensity and passion" are made stronger by her acting skills.

Cher's 1998 song "Believe" was the first commercial recording to use Auto-Tune—a sound tool for correcting singing—as a special effect, creating a robotic, futuristic sound. Cher, who suggested the effect, insisted it stay in the song. This technique, called the "Cher effect," later "revolutionized the sound of popular music" and became "the sound of the 21st century." Cher used Auto-Tune a lot on Living Proof (2001) and later albums.

Acting Style and Screen Persona

Maclean's magazine called Cher "probably the most fascinating movie star of her generation," highlighting her "magnetic" screen presence and her ability to be both "boldly surprising" and "ultimately enigmatic." Film Comment wrote that she manages to be both a character and always herself. New York Post critic David Edelstein said Cher's "top-ranking star quality" comes from her ability to show "honesty, rawness and emotionality."

Author Yvonne Tasker noted that Cher's film roles often reflect her public image as a rebellious, independent, and self-made woman. She often plays women who help others who are not accepted by society. This was seen in The X-Files episode "The Post-Modern Prometheus" (1997), where a creature looks up to Cher because of her role in Mask (1985), where her character cares for her son with a rare condition.

Cher was ranked first by Billboard on its list of "The 100 Best Acting Performances by Musicians in Movies" for her role in Moonstruck. The film was named the eighth-greatest romantic comedy of all time by the American Film Institute. People included Cher among its "100 Greatest Movie Stars of our Time."

Music Videos and Performances

Cher's music videos and live performances have often shown her public image, dealing with themes like self-identity and female identity. Her concerts often include parts that tell her life story and show visuals of her younger self. This helps to bring together different parts of her career.

In her 1991 Cher... at the Mirage concert video, she used a male dancer pretending to be her, dressed in a copy of her 1986 Academy Awards outfit. Cher then appeared in a different costume. This part of the show was seen as Cher telling her own life story, using the impersonator to show how her image was shaped by media and performances. Tony Spilde of The Bismarck Tribune wrote that "[Cher's] lavish concerts have become bigger than the music they're meant to promote."

Cher's 1980 video for "Hell on Wheels" was one of the earliest examples of a modern music video. The 1989 music video for "If I Could Turn Back Time" was the first to be banned by MTV. This was due to discussion over Cher's performance aboard a battleship, where she stood on a cannon in a daring outfit, with images featuring sailors.

Legacy

Ann Powers of the Los Angeles Times called Cher a "mainstream translator" of the 1960s counterculture, meaning she helped bring the ideas of the 1960s youth movement to a wider audience. Music critic Jeff Miers said Cher set the example for many female pop artists who came after her. She mastered grand stage shows, changing between different music styles, and had a talent for being bold without losing her popularity. The New York Times said Cher has "earned her mononym" and inspired many others. Shon Faye of Dazed wrote that Cher's legacy supports many modern pop stars. Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone called her "the one-woman embodiment" of pop music. Cher has been called the "Goddess of Pop" by many publications.

Cher's career has been marked by always trying new things. Professor Richard Aquila called her "the ultimate pop chameleon," and The New York Times called her the "Queen of Comebacks." Cher once said, "It's a thousand times harder to come back than to become." Billboard highlighted her role in expanding visual storytelling in pop music, noting that her ability to change her image on and off stage redefined how performers create their image. The Boston Globe said she was a leader in changing pop music, crediting her with driving her own evolution. Author Craig Crawford described Cher as a "model of flexible career management," showing how she adapted her image to fit cultural trends while keeping a rebellious personality. Author Lucy O'Brien saw her as showing the American Dream of reinventing herself by challenging ideas about getting older in entertainment.

Cher's long success in an entertainment industry mostly run by men has led to discussions about gender roles and independence in entertainment. Billboard said she created a "gender-neutral musical style" that influenced artists like David Bowie and Patti Smith. Goldmine's Phill Marder said Cher advanced "female independence" in 1960s rock, calling her "the prototype of the female rock star." Billboard described her as a "pioneer for women's independence" in the music industry, as her unusual themes challenged what was expected of female artists at the time.

Early in her career, critics often saw Cher's work as being controlled by male collaborators. Cher addressed this directly: "It was a time when girl singers were patted on the head for being good and told not to think." Over time, her image changed, showing her goal to build an acting career "on her own terms" by not depending on a man or the usual roles given to women over 40 in an industry that values youth. AllMusic noted that during her popular 1970s TV shows with Sonny Bono, "he was a smaller, funny partner to Cher's bold and humorous character," changing traditional gender roles. Director George Schlatter said Cher redefined women's roles in TV comedy, stating, "Until Cher, women have been the joke, not told the jokes... She's the first female star to carry a show in the same way that men have."

After winning her Academy Award in 1988, The New York Times compared Cher's impact on women to Jack Nicholson's appeal among men. It said she showed women's "feelings of wanting to prove people wrong" by facing those who underestimated her. Later that year, Ms. magazine praised her as a "true feminist hero" and "the quintessential woman of the '80s." It highlighted her bold style, her public disagreements with David Letterman and TV censors, and her openness about being a single mother, having younger partners, and her efforts to be seen as a serious rock singer and actress. A 1996 interview clip where Cher responded to her mother's advice to "marry a rich man" with "Mom, I am a rich man" became very popular in 2016. Bustle magazine called the quote a challenge to traditional ideas about gender and an important feminist statement.

Cher's public image—known for being defiant, bold, and having a strong sense of self—has become a subject of cultural study.

Achievements

Cher has sold over 100 million records as a solo artist, making her one of the best-selling music artists of all time. She is one of five singer-actors to have earned both an Academy Award for acting and a US number-one single. She is the only Academy Award-winning actor inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Her breakthrough single "I Got You Babe" (1965) is a Grammy Hall of Fame inductee and appeared on Rolling Stone's 2003 list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time". "Believe" (1998), the UK's best-selling single by a female artist, was also on Rolling Stone's updated "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" list in 2021.

Cher is the only solo artist to have achieved a number-one single on a US Billboard chart in seven decades and the only solo artist to have released new material that reached the Official UK Top 40 in seven decades (1960s–2020s). She held the record for the longest time between a first and most recent number-one single on the US Billboard Hot 100—33 years, from "I Got You Babe" (1965) to "Believe" (1999). At 52, she became the oldest female artist to top the Hot 100. In 2023, "DJ Play a Christmas Song" made her the oldest female artist—at 77—to enter the Official UK Top 40.

Cher has received many lifetime and career achievement awards. These include the Vanguard Award at the 1998 GLAAD Media Awards (for supporting equal rights), the Legend Award at the 1999 World Music Awards, and the Icon Award at the 2017 Billboard Music Awards. Her handprints and footprints are set in the forecourt of Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. She has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame as part of Sonny & Cher and was offered a solo star but declined. In 2018, Cher received the Kennedy Center Honors, the highest cultural recognition in the US, and in 2024, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Activism and philanthropy

Cher has advocated for recognition of the Armenian Genocide. At the 2016 premiere of The Promise, a film about the genocide, she criticized Turkey's denial and highlighted how little the public knew. She also discussed her Armenian heritage and her grandparents' survival of the genocide. Cher expressed support for Armenia and Artsakh on Twitter during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war. The following year, she congratulated Joe Biden for being the first US President to formally recognize the Armenian Genocide.

In September 2020, Cher raised nearly $2 million for Biden's presidential campaign. In October, she campaigned for Biden in Nevada and Arizona and released a cover of "Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe" with lyrics updated to be about Biden.

Cher's charity work is done through the Cher Charitable Foundation. This foundation focuses on helping to reduce poverty, supporting medical research, improving health care, and protecting the rights of groups who need support, such as veterans, children, elders, and animals. She has been a strong supporter of American soldiers, returning veterans, and communities affected by war. In 1993, she joined a humanitarian mission to Armenia, delivering food and medical supplies to the war-affected region. She has supported Operation Helmet, which provides free helmet upgrade kits to troops, and contributed to the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, which helps military personnel injured in war.

Since 1990, Cher has been a donor and the National Chairperson for the Children's Craniofacial Association. This organization helps children with facial differences and their families. The annual Cher's Family Retreat brings together craniofacial patients and their families. She also supports the Get A-Head Charitable Trust, which helps people with head and neck diseases.

Cher is a donor, fundraiser, and international spokesperson for Keep a Child Alive, which works to fight AIDS and provides medicine to children and families. In 1996, she hosted the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) Benefit. In 2015, she received the amfAR Award of Inspiration for using her fame to help others in the fight against AIDS.

Cher has served as the Honorary National Chair of Habitat for Humanity's "Raise the Roof" initiative, which helps build and repair affordable homes. In 2007, Cher became the main supporter of the Peace Village School (PVS) in Ukunda, Kenya. This school provides food, medical care, education, and activities for over 300 orphans and vulnerable children. Her support helped the school get land and build permanent housing and school facilities.

In 2016, after lead contamination was found in the drinking water of Flint, Michigan, Cher donated over 180,000 bottles of water to the city. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Cher launched the CherCares Pandemic Resource and Response Initiative (CCPRRI) to distribute $1 million to people who were often overlooked. She said she was trying to get more support from her friends to meet people's needs.

In 2017, Cher helped protect elder rights by executive producing Edith+Eddie, a documentary about an elderly couple. That same year, she co-founded Free the Wild, an international charity dedicated to protecting wild animals in captivity. In 2020, Free the Wild partnered with Four Paws International. Cher traveled to Pakistan to help transfer 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 (2021).

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)

Filmography

Films

Headlining TV Shows and Specials

Tours and Residencies

Headlining Tours

Co-Headlining Tours

• Two the Hard Way Tour (with Gregg Allman as Allman and Woman) (1977)

Residencies

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

Published Works

• The Ugly Duckling (1987)
• Forever Fit (1991)
• The First Time (1998)
• Cher: The Memoir, Part One (2024)

See also

See also

In Spanish: Cher para niños