Cher, whose birth name is Cherilyn Sarkisian, was born on May 20, 1946. She is a multifaceted American entertainer, celebrated for her remarkable contributions to the music, film, and television industries. Often hailed as the “Goddess of Pop” by the media, Cher is renowned for embodying female empowerment in an industry traditionally dominated by men.
Her illustrious career has spanned over six decades, characterized by her distinctive contralto singing voice, versatility, and ever-evolving style.
Cher’s journey to stardom began in 1965 when she teamed up with her husband, Sonny Bono, to form the folk-rock duo “Sonny & Cher.” Their collaboration yielded success and recognition. Shortly after, She ventured into her solo career and achieved her first solo top-ten hits with “Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)” and “You Better Sit Down Kids.”
Throughout the 1970s, Cher dominated the US Billboard Hot 100 with chart-topping singles like “Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves,” “Half-Breed,” and “Dark Lady.” She became the female solo artist with the most number-one singles in US history at that time. Following her divorce from Sonny Bono in 1975, Cher continued her musical journey, releasing the successful disco album “Take Me Home” in 1979.
Cher’s music career experienced a revival in 1987 with the release of rock-infused albums such as “Cher” (1987), “Heart of Stone” (1989), and “Love Hurts” (1991). These albums produced hit singles like “I Found Someone,” “If I Could Turn Back Time,” and “Love and Understanding.” In 1998, Cher reached new heights with the release of the dance-pop album “Believe,” featuring the pioneering use of Auto-Tune known as the “Cher effect.”
The title track became the number-one song of 1999 in the US and the highest-selling single by a female artist in the UK. Cher’s musical journey continued with the albums “Closer to the Truth” (2013) and “Dancing Queen” (2018), both of which debuted at number three on the Billboard 200, marking her highest-charting solo albums in the US.
Beyond her music career, Cher made a significant impact on television in the 1970s with her CBS shows, “The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour,” which garnered over 30 million viewers weekly during its three-year run, and “Cher.”
In 1982, she made her Broadway debut in the play “Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean” and starred in its film adaptation. Cher earned critical acclaim for her performances in films like “Silkwood” (1983), “Mask” (1985), “The Witches of Eastwick” (1987), and “Moonstruck” (1987), which earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress.
Cher also contributed to the soundtrack of her film “Mermaids” (1990), which produced the UK number-one single “The Shoop Shoop Song (It’s in His Kiss).” In 1996, she made her directorial debut with a segment in the abortion-themed anthology “If These Walls Could Talk.”
In the 2010s, Cher continued her acting career with starring roles in films like “Burlesque” (2010) and “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again” (2018).
Cher’s enduring influence in the world of entertainment cements her status as a true icon, with a legacy that transcends generations.