Cher (born Cherilyn Sarkisian on May 20, 1946 in El Centro, California) is an American singer, actress, and television personality who has been one of the most prominent figures in the entertainment industry for more than six decades. Known as the "Goddess of Pop," she has throughout her career been a trailblazer both in music and in cultural norms, especially when it comes to women's autonomy and challenging gender roles.
Early years
Cher grew up in modest circumstances. Her mother, Georgia Holt, was an actress and model with Irish, English, and German roots, while her father, John Sarkisian, was a truck driver of Armenian origin. Her parents divorced early on, and Cher and her sister grew up primarily with their mother, who struggled financially and moved frequently. Despite the difficulties, Georgia encouraged her daughter to dream big and follow her artistic ambitions.
Cher was a good student, but she struggled with dyslexia and the school's conventional way of teaching. She was fascinated by film and music from an early age and dreamed of one day becoming a famous star. At the age of 16, she left school and moved to Los Angeles to make her dreams come true.
Sonny and Cher
Her career took off when Cher met the then relatively unknown producer and singer Sonny Bono in 1962. The two began a personal and professional relationship and together they formed the duo Sonny & Cher. In 1965, they released their biggest hit, "I Got You Babe," which was a massive success and reached number one on several charts. The song became a hallmark of 1960s hippie culture and cemented Sonny & Cher as one of the decade's most famous musical couples.
They followed up with more hits, including "The Beat Goes On" and "Baby Don't Go," while also developing a brand style in which Sonny was most often the comedic and light-hearted figure, while Cher was the elegant and cool one, often dressed in flamboyant costumes that challenged conventional beauty norms.
Solo artist and early film career
Although Sonny & Cher continued to have success together, Cher began to develop her solo career in the early 1970s. She released several solo albums and songs such as "Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves" (1971), "Half-Breed" (1973) and "Dark Lady" (1974) became big hits. These songs, with strong narrative lyrics and Cher's unique voice, helped her create an identity as a solo artist, especially in the thriving pop and folk rock scene at the time.
Cher also began an acting career in earnest during this period. After making a number of television appearances on Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour, she began to get roles in movies. One of her first successful film roles was in "Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean" (1982), which was followed by a host of other acclaimed performances.
Return and acting success in the 1980s
After divorcing Sonny Bono in 1975 and with a period of career slump in the late 1970s, Cher made a remarkable comeback in the 1980s, both in music and film. She made her breakthrough as an actress with films such as "Silkwood" (1983), in which she starred opposite Meryl Streep and received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Her strong performances in films such as "Mask" (1985), "The Witches of Eastwick" (1987) and, above all, "Moonstruck" (1987), where she won an Academy Award for Best Actress, cemented her as one of Hollywood's most versatile actresses.
Musically, she also made a strong return in the 1980s with the album "Cher" (1987) and songs such as "I Found Someone", which marked her entry into the world of rock music and showed that she was able to adapt to new trends.
"Believe" and the digital era of music
One of Cher's most iconic returns occurred in 1998 with the megahit "Believe," a song that revolutionized pop music's use of Auto-Tune and electronic effects. "Believe" became a worldwide success and Cher, at over the age of 50, became the oldest woman to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100. The song and album of the same name sold millions of copies and introduced Cher to a new generation of fans.
"Believe" also represented Cher's ability to adapt to changing musical styles and technological innovations. She became an icon in gay culture and an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, inspired in part by her own son Chaz Bono, who came out as transgender.
Later career and Las Vegas
In the 2000s, Cher continued to reinvent herself. She undertook successful world tours, including the "Farewell Tour" (2002–2005), which was a huge commercial success. Although Cher declared that it would be her last tour, she returned to the stage again and for several years had a residency in Las Vegas with the show "Cher at the Colosseum", which ran from 2008 to 2011.
Cher returned to film again with a prominent role in the musical "Burlesque" (2010), where she starred opposite Christina Aguilera and the film became a cult classic.
Privacy
Cher's personal life has often been in the spotlight. She was married twice—first to Sonny Bono and later to rock guitarist Gregg Allman, with whom she had a son, Elijah Blue Allman. Her relationship with Sonny Bono continued to be central to her life even after their divorce and his tragic death in a skiing accident in 1998 touched her deeply. Their shared son, Chaz Bono, has also had a public journey with his gender transition, something Cher has openly supported, which has contributed to her status as a human rights advocate.
Cher has also become a fashion icon and a pioneer in style and design. Her collaborations with designer Bob Mackie in the 1970s and 1980s created some of the most memorable and daring outfits in pop culture history, and her unique sense of fashion has inspired generations.
Inheritance and influence
Cher is not only one of the most successful female artists of all time, she is also a cultural idol whose career spans music, film, and television. With over 100 million records sold and several major awards, including an Oscar, an Emmy, a Grammy, and three Golden Globe Awards, she has demonstrated an impressive ability to adapt and innovate herself through different eras and genres.
Her influence extends far beyond the world of music – Cher is known for her sharp personality, political stances, and work to challenge gender roles and fight for social rights.
Foto; Ian Smith from London, England
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