Cher Then and Now: Goddess of Pop's transformation over the years
Cher, the singer, the actress and fashion icon, over the years
Cher, whose birth name is Cherilyn Sarkisian, is undoubtedly the one and only "Goddess of Pop." Her illustrious career has continued without any significant pauses for over five decades. What is more, Cher has left an indelible mark in the realms of music, television, film, and fashion. As we "turn back time," in the words of the pop icon, let's take a visual journey through the life and career of Cher through photos.
Cher's iconic career kickstarted in the 1960s
The journey of Cher's iconic career began in the 1960s. Born in 1946 in El Centro, California, Cher dropped out of school at the age of 16 and headed to Los Angeles. There, she crossed paths with Sonny Bono, who was 11 years her senior and working with producer Phil Spector. Cher started her career by providing backup vocals on famous tracks like 'Be My Baby' by the Ronettes and 'You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'' by the Righteous Brothers. In the early 1960s, the duo initially performed as 'Caesar and Cleo' but found limited success. It wasn't until 1964, when they adopted the stage names Sonny and Cher, that they recorded 'Baby Don't Go' and gained recognition. They also married in 1964, although the union was not legally recognized. In 1965, they achieved their first major hit with 'I've Got You Babe'.
Cher's solo career after 1965
Cher also pursued her solo career alongside her work with Sonny. Her early albums in 1965 such as 'All I Really Want to Do', 'The Sonny Side of Cher', and 'Cher', primarily featured cover songs. However, in 1966, her song 'Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)' from her second album became her first No. 2 single.
From Cher’s first child in 1969 to her No. 1 hit in 1971
The years 1969 to 1974 saw Cher’s whirlwind of ups and down in music and personal life. In 1969, Cher and Sonny welcomed their child, Chaz Bono, and subsequently legalized their marriage. In 1971, Cher reached the pinnacle of success with her first No. 1 hit, 'Gypsys, Tramps and Thieves'.
Sonny and Cher become household names thanks to TV fame
By 1972, Sonny and Cher had transitioned into television with 'The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour'. Although they had enjoyed immense musical success in the 1960s with hits like 'The Beat Goes On' and 'Little Man', their music career as a duo began to wane. They ventured into Las Vegas with a variety show, which evolved into 'The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour'. This show earned them four Emmy nominations. Cher received Grammy nominations in 1972 both as a solo artist and as part of a duo with Sonny.
Cher’s jaw-dropping impression at Academy Awards in 1973
Cher released her 10th studio album, 'Half-Breed', and its title track became her second No. 1 hit. She also made a lasting impression at the 1973 Academy Awards with her iconic outfit. Cher had her share of ups and downs in her personal life. She earned her first Golden Globe for 'The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour' but also filed for divorce from Sonny Bono in 1974, citing 'involuntary servitude'.
Cher's second marriage and TV comeback in 1975
Cher married Greg Allman in 1975, only to file for divorce nine days later. However, they reconciled, and Cher gave birth to their son, Elijah Blue, in 1976. They officially divorced in 1979. On a lighter note, 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 for ‘Cher: The Farewell Tour’.
1980s: Cher conquers Hollywood with Oscar win for 'Moonstruck'
Cher rebranded herself as a serious actress rather than just a singer trying her hand at acting in the 80s. She won a Golden Globe and was nominated for an Oscar for her supporting role in Silkwood, starring Meryl Streep. She followed this up with 1985's 'Mask'. The hits kept coming — in 1987, she starred in three big box office hits: 'The Witches of Eastwick' with Jack Nicholson; 'Suspect' with Dennis Quaid and finally 'Moonstruck'. When the 1988 Oscars rolled around, Cher won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in 'Moonstruck' opposite Nicolas Cage.
Cher faces health challenges in the 90s as ex Sonny dies
However, she faced health challenges in the early 1990s, contracting Epstein-Barr virus and developing chronic fatigue syndrome. Cher's ex-husband Sonny Bono also died in a skiing accident on January 5, 1998. Cher and Sonny were posthumously honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Cher experiences new career high in 2000s
By the 2000s, Cher was relevant again. Her career resurgence had a lot to do with her album 'Believe', that released late in 1998. The album's lead single, also titled 'Believe' became a club anthem in 1999. It marked not only a major comeback for Cher, but also earned her a Grammy Award for or 'Best Dance Recording'. Her farewell tour, 'Living Proof: The Farewell Tour', ran from 2002 to 2005.
2010s: Iconic moments
Cher starred in 'Burlesque' (2010) and was honored with the Icon Award at the 2017 Billboard Music Awards. She participated in the Women's March in 2017 and starred in 'Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again' (2018). Cher also released an album of ABBA covers and embarked on a tour. In 2018, she received a Kennedy Center Honor and was celebrated with a Broadway musical, 'The Cher Show'. In 2021 Cher remained active in political activism and music, with her 'Here We Go Again!' tour continuing in 2022. She confirmed that a biopic about her life and career is in the works with Universal Pictures in 2021.
Cher find love again with Alexander Edwards in 2022
Cher hit the headlines again in November 2022, she began 'officially' dating the much younger Alexander Edwards. The 40-year age gap between the two had already set tongues wagging after they two met during Paris Fashion Week in March 2022. Cher confirmed her relationship with him when she shared a photo of him writing "Alexander" with a red heart. In another tweet, she said, "Love doesn't know math." There were speculations about an engagement, but TMZ sources in May 2023 clarified that they were never engaged. The two split after six months of dating.
Cher asks fans to join her for 'Christmas' in 2023
The pop icon teased the release of her first Christmas album both on Instagram and on X (formerly Twitter) on September 7, 2023. The singer shared the album's coverand asked fans in the caption, "Are you spending Christmas with me?" Back in April 2023, Cher also attended the Los Angeles premiere of 'Chevalier,' where she was all smiles and posed with actress Minnie Driver on the red carpet. Cher continues to enjoy her life and career, making appearances, keeping active on social media and enjoying her moments in the spotlight.