Entertainer Cher fixes her make up in a dressing room mirror in March 1968.Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty
Born Cherilyn Sarkisian on May 20, 1946, in El Centro, Calif.,Cherdropped out of school at age 16 and moved to Los Angeles. There, she metSonny Bono(who was 11 years her senior) at a cafe in 1962. Bono was working for music producerPhil Spectorat the time when the two were introduced.With her unique contralto voice, Cher’s music career began to take off, finding early success as aduo with Bonowith their chart-topping “I Got You Babe” while also going solo, having hits of her own from the late-’60s and onward.With as much of anewsworthy personal lifeas her professional one, Cher has had hits and misses onstage and off, with a massive comeback in the late-’90s starting with the release of 1998 Grammy-winning album,Believe. Among major accolades, she’s been honored with theBillboardMusic Awards Icon Award,received a Kennedy Center Honorand had her life storyturned into a Broadway jukebox musical.Below, turn back time and reminisce about the life and career of the entertainer who asked if we believed in life after love.
Born Cherilyn Sarkisian on May 20, 1946, in El Centro, Calif.,Cherdropped out of school at age 16 and moved to Los Angeles. There, she metSonny Bono(who was 11 years her senior) at a cafe in 1962. Bono was working for music producerPhil Spectorat the time when the two were introduced.
With her unique contralto voice, Cher’s music career began to take off, finding early success as aduo with Bonowith their chart-topping “I Got You Babe” while also going solo, having hits of her own from the late-’60s and onward.
With as much of anewsworthy personal lifeas her professional one, Cher has had hits and misses onstage and off, with a massive comeback in the late-’90s starting with the release of 1998 Grammy-winning album,Believe. Among major accolades, she’s been honored with theBillboardMusic Awards Icon Award,received a Kennedy Center Honorand had her life storyturned into a Broadway jukebox musical.
Below, turn back time and reminisce about the life and career of the entertainer who asked if we believed in life after love.
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1960s: Cher Gets Her Start
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
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1960: Sonny and Cher
Gunter Zint/K & K Ulf Kruger OHG/Redferns
In 1965, they released their first big hit, “I’ve Got You Babe.”
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1968: Cher’s Solo Career
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty
In 1971, she scored her first No. 1 hit with the title track from her album,Gypsys, Tramps and Thieves.
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1972: ‘The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour’
Sonny and Cher.Martin Mills/Getty
In 1969, the pair welcomed their child, Chaz Bono, and were legally married following the birth.
Though the singers split in 1974, they reunited for the series in 1976, making them the first divorced stars of such a show. The series was canceled in 1977.
05of 291973: Cher at the Academy Awards with Sonny BonoRon Galella Collection via GettyIn 1973, Cher released her 10th studio album — she was busy! —Half-Breed, and the title track was Cher’s second No. 1 hit.She also wore this iconic outfit to the 1973 Academy Awards, cementing place in fashion history.
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1973: Cher at the Academy Awards with Sonny Bono
Ron Galella Collection via Getty
In 1973, Cher released her 10th studio album — she was busy! —Half-Breed, and the title track was Cher’s second No. 1 hit.
She also wore this iconic outfit to the 1973 Academy Awards, cementing place in fashion history.
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1974: Cher at the Grammys
Cher.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty
She wouldn’t win a Grammy until 2000, when she took home the award for best dance recording for “Believe.” She was also nominated for record of the year and best pop vocal album that year.
In 2004, she was nominated once more for best dance recording for her album,Love One Another.
07of 291974: Filing for DivorceRon Galella Collection via GettyThe year 1974 was one of ups and downs for Cher. In January of, Cher earned her first Golden Globe forThe Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour, but then, in February 1974, Sonny filed for separation. The singer then filed for divorce one week later, citing “involuntary servitude” as her reason for the breakup.
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1974: Filing for Divorce
The year 1974 was one of ups and downs for Cher. In January of, Cher earned her first Golden Globe forThe Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour, but then, in February 1974, Sonny filed for separation. The singer then filed for divorce one week later, citing “involuntary servitude” as her reason for the breakup.
08of 291975: Cher’s Relationship with Greg AllmanMichael Ochs Archives/GettyIn 1975, just days after her divorce from Bono was finalized, Cher married Greg Allman of The Allman Brothers band. Cher filed for divorce nine days later. The pair reconciled and Cher welcomed their first child together, a son, Elijah Blue, in July 1976.Cher and Allman would officially divorce in 1979, but not before releasing an album together as Allman and Woman,Two the Hard Way.
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1975: Cher’s Relationship with Greg Allman
In 1975, just days after her divorce from Bono was finalized, Cher married Greg Allman of The Allman Brothers band. Cher filed for divorce nine days later. The pair reconciled and Cher welcomed their first child together, a son, Elijah Blue, in July 1976.
Cher and Allman would officially divorce in 1979, but not before releasing an album together as Allman and Woman,Two the Hard Way.
09of 291975: Cher Goes Her Own WayHarry Langdon/GettyIn 1975, Cher earned an Emmy nomination for her return to the small screen with her variety show,Cher.She would eventually go on to win an Emmy in 2003, for outstanding variety, music or comedy special forCher: The Farewell Tour.
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1975: Cher Goes Her Own Way
Harry Langdon/Getty
In 1975, Cher earned an Emmy nomination for her return to the small screen with her variety show,Cher.She would eventually go on to win an Emmy in 2003, for outstanding variety, music or comedy special forCher: The Farewell Tour.
10of 291983: Cher Stars in ‘Silkwood’Courtesy Everett CollectionIn 1983, the singer set her eyes on an Academy Award when she starred opposite Meryl Streep and Kurt Russell inSilkwood.She won the supporting actress Golden Globe for her performance and was nominated for Best Supporting Actress atthe Oscars.
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1983: Cher Stars in ‘Silkwood’
Courtesy Everett Collection
In 1983, the singer set her eyes on an Academy Award when she starred opposite Meryl Streep and Kurt Russell inSilkwood.
She won the supporting actress Golden Globe for her performance and was nominated for Best Supporting Actress atthe Oscars.
11of 291985: Cher Stars in ‘Mask’Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/GettyIn 1985, Cher nabbed her next big movie role inMask. She also debuted this incredible hair on the red carpet for the premiere. She received a Golden Globe nomination for her performance.
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1985: Cher Stars in ‘Mask’
Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty
In 1985, Cher nabbed her next big movie role inMask. She also debuted this incredible hair on the red carpet for the premiere. She received a Golden Globe nomination for her performance.
12of 291986: Cher Drops Jaws at the OscarsGettyIn 1986, the singer wore a Bob Mackie (who else?) Oscar gownto spite the Academy, after not earning a nomination for her performance inMask.“I had the idea mostly because the Academy didn’t really like me,” Cher said of the now-infamous look. “They hated the way I dressed and I had young boyfriends so they thought I wasn’t serious. So I came out and said, ‘As you can see I got my handbook on how to dress like a serious actress.’ "
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1986: Cher Drops Jaws at the Oscars
Getty
In 1986, the singer wore a Bob Mackie (who else?) Oscar gownto spite the Academy, after not earning a nomination for her performance inMask.
“I had the idea mostly because the Academy didn’t really like me,” Cher said of the now-infamous look. “They hated the way I dressed and I had young boyfriends so they thought I wasn’t serious. So I came out and said, ‘As you can see I got my handbook on how to dress like a serious actress.’ "
13of 291988: Cher’s Relationship with Rob CamillettiAnthony Barboza/GettyThe “young boyfriend” Cher was referring to was Rob Camilletti. Cher, then 40, dated the 22-year-old, and their relationship garnered some serious media scrutiny, with Cher tellingParadein 2010, “They were so mean with Robert — you know, ‘the bagel boy.’ “The pair split in 1989, but Cher toldWomen’s Realmthat he was her “one true love,” and in 2010 revealed toVanity Fairthat Camilletti, who became a pilot, “comes to Christmas dinner.”
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1988: Cher’s Relationship with Rob Camilletti
Anthony Barboza/Getty
The “young boyfriend” Cher was referring to was Rob Camilletti. Cher, then 40, dated the 22-year-old, and their relationship garnered some serious media scrutiny, with Cher tellingParadein 2010, “They were so mean with Robert — you know, ‘the bagel boy.’ "
The pair split in 1989, but Cher toldWomen’s Realmthat he was her “one true love,” and in 2010 revealed toVanity Fairthat Camilletti, who became a pilot, “comes to Christmas dinner.”
14of 291987: Cher Stars in ‘Moonstruck’NY Daily News Archive via GettyIn 1987, Cher starred alongside Nicolas Cage inMoonstruck, a rom-com about a woman who, after losing her husband, is planning on getting married once more, only to find herself falling in love with her fiancé’s estranged younger brother. And boy, does she “love him awful.”
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1987: Cher Stars in ‘Moonstruck’
NY Daily News Archive via Getty
In 1987, Cher starred alongside Nicolas Cage inMoonstruck, a rom-com about a woman who, after losing her husband, is planning on getting married once more, only to find herself falling in love with her fiancé’s estranged younger brother. And boy, does she “love him awful.”
15of 291988: Cher Gets Her Academy AwardJohn Barr/LiaisonHer role inMoonstruckearned her an Academy Award for Best Actress,anda Golden Globe!
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1988: Cher Gets Her Academy Award
John Barr/Liaison
Her role inMoonstruckearned her an Academy Award for Best Actress,anda Golden Globe!
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Late 1980s: Cher’s Return to the Charts
Martina Raddatz/Redferns
In 1987, Cher released her 18th studio album,Cher, and it was a huge success, going platinum and including her hit, like “I Found Someone.”
17of 291990: Cher Stars in ‘Mermaids’Orion Pictures Corp/Courtesy Everett CollectionCher returned to the big screen in 1990, starring alongside Christina Ricci and Winona Ryder inMermaids. The movie’s soundtrack included her hit song, “The Shoop Shoop Song (It’s in His Kiss).”
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1990: Cher Stars in ‘Mermaids’
Orion Pictures Corp/Courtesy Everett Collection
Cher returned to the big screen in 1990, starring alongside Christina Ricci and Winona Ryder inMermaids. The movie’s soundtrack included her hit song, “The Shoop Shoop Song (It’s in His Kiss).”
18of 291990s: Cher’s Health StrugglesRon Davis/GettyIn the early 1990s, Cher contracted Epstein-Barr virus, which led to her developing chronic fatigue syndrome, both of which made it difficult for her to work. In that time, she did infomercials, which led toSNLparodies and were a real hit to her career.She toldEntertainment Weeklyin 1996, “The infomercials were just devastating to my career. I’m kind of stupid when it comes to things. I’ve always just done what I wanted and it’s just worked out. Not this time. I really screwed up.”
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1990s: Cher’s Health Struggles
Ron Davis/Getty
In the early 1990s, Cher contracted Epstein-Barr virus, which led to her developing chronic fatigue syndrome, both of which made it difficult for her to work. In that time, she did infomercials, which led toSNLparodies and were a real hit to her career.
She toldEntertainment Weeklyin 1996, “The infomercials were just devastating to my career. I’m kind of stupid when it comes to things. I’ve always just done what I wanted and it’s just worked out. Not this time. I really screwed up.”
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1998: The Death of Sonny Bono
Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty
20of 29Early 2000s: Cher’s Next Big ComebackShowBizIreland.com/GettyIn October 1998, Cher releasedBelieve, which would become her next big hit. The album earned her a Grammy Award and went quadruple platinum. She followed up the album’s success with the release ofLiving Proofin 2001, and with a farewell tour: Living Proof: The Farewell Tour. The tour ran from 2002 to 2005.
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Early 2000s: Cher’s Next Big Comeback
ShowBizIreland.com/Getty
In October 1998, Cher releasedBelieve, which would become her next big hit. The album earned her a Grammy Award and went quadruple platinum. She followed up the album’s success with the release ofLiving Proofin 2001, and with a farewell tour: Living Proof: The Farewell Tour. The tour ran from 2002 to 2005.
21of 292002: Cher Is Honored at the Billboard Music AwardsJim Smeal/Ron Galella Collection via GettyIn December 2002, Cher brought one of her sons, Elijah Blue Allman, as her date to the Billboard Music Awards, where she was honored with the special Artist Achievement Award
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2002: Cher Is Honored at the Billboard Music Awards
Jim Smeal/Ron Galella Collection via Getty
In December 2002, Cher brought one of her sons, Elijah Blue Allman, as her date to the Billboard Music Awards, where she was honored with the special Artist Achievement Award
22of 292010: Cher Stars in ‘Burlesque’Screen Gems/Courtesy Everett CollectionIn 2010, Cher returned to the big screen to star alongside Stanley Tucci and Christina Aguilera inBurlesque. The film marked her first debut movie musical.
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2010: Cher Stars in ‘Burlesque’
Screen Gems/Courtesy Everett Collection
In 2010, Cher returned to the big screen to star alongside Stanley Tucci and Christina Aguilera inBurlesque. The film marked her first debut movie musical.
23of 292017: Cher Reaches Icon StatusEthan Miller/GettyThough she was already considered an icon, Cher was honored at the 2017 Billboard Music Awards with the Icon Award, and performed her greatest hits on stage. She even donned the infamous “If I Could Turn Back Time” leotard three decades after the music video’s release!And she earned that honor: Did you know that Cher is the only artist to have had a No. 1 single on aBillboardchart in every decade from the 1960s to the 2010s?
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2017: Cher Reaches Icon Status
Ethan Miller/Getty
Though she was already considered an icon, Cher was honored at the 2017 Billboard Music Awards with the Icon Award, and performed her greatest hits on stage. She even donned the infamous “If I Could Turn Back Time” leotard three decades after the music video’s release!
And she earned that honor: Did you know that Cher is the only artist to have had a No. 1 single on aBillboardchart in every decade from the 1960s to the 2010s?
24of 292017: Cher at the Women’s March with Her Son, Chaz BonoKevin Mazur/WireImageIn January 2017, Cher and her firstborn, Chaz Bono, attended the Women’s March together in Washington, D.C.
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2017: Cher at the Women’s March with Her Son, Chaz Bono
Kevin Mazur/WireImage
In January 2017, Cher and her firstborn, Chaz Bono, attended the Women’s March together in Washington, D.C.
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2018: Cher in ‘Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again’
Universal Pictures
26of 292018: Another Tour for CherHannah Peters/GettyShe followed up her appearance inMamma Mia: Here We Go Again, withan album of ABBA covers and a tour.
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2018: Another Tour for Cher
Hannah Peters/Getty
She followed up her appearance inMamma Mia: Here We Go Again, withan album of ABBA covers and a tour.
27of 292018: Cher Is Honored at the Kennedy CenterJohn Paul Filo/CBS via GettyThe year 2018 was a busy one for Cher, whoreceived a Kennedy Center Honor.“It can get exhausting being Cher, especially when you’re older and you’re still doing the same things,” shetold PEOPLEin 2018. “But I still have a great time. To have the stamina, and also to have the audience … You forget that people just do regular jobs that they don’t get applause for.”
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2018: Cher Is Honored at the Kennedy Center
John Paul Filo/CBS via Getty
The year 2018 was a busy one for Cher, whoreceived a Kennedy Center Honor.
“It can get exhausting being Cher, especially when you’re older and you’re still doing the same things,” shetold PEOPLEin 2018. “But I still have a great time. To have the stamina, and also to have the audience … You forget that people just do regular jobs that they don’t get applause for.”
28of 292018: The Cher ShowCher with Stephanie J. Block and the cast ofThe Cher Show.Andrew Lipovsky/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via GettyIn December 2018, Cher wasimmortalized on Broadway with a jukebox musicalfollowing her life and career, simply titledThe Cher Show.
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2018: The Cher Show
Cher with Stephanie J. Block and the cast ofThe Cher Show.Andrew Lipovsky/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty
In December 2018, Cher wasimmortalized on Broadway with a jukebox musicalfollowing her life and career, simply titledThe Cher Show.
29of 292021: Cher Attends the The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Opening GalaMatt Winkelmeyer/WireImageFrom her political activism — she helped campaign for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in 2020 — to her Here We Go Again! tour restarting in 2022, the icon hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down.She even confirmed in 2021 that abiopic about her life and careeris in the works with Universal Pictures. Happy Birthday, Cher!
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2021: Cher Attends the The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Opening Gala
Matt Winkelmeyer/WireImage
From her political activism — she helped campaign for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in 2020 — to her Here We Go Again! tour restarting in 2022, the icon hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down.
She even confirmed in 2021 that abiopic about her life and careeris in the works with Universal Pictures. Happy Birthday, Cher!
source: people.com
