Cher

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Cheryl Sarkisian LaPiere (better known as Cher) (born on May 20, 1946), is an American actress, singer, songwriter, and entertainer. Among her many accomplishments in music, television, and film, she has won an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award and three Golden Globe Awards.

Cher first rose to prominence in 1965 as one half of the pop/rock duo Sonny & Cher. She also established herself as a solo recording artist, releasing 26 albums, numerous compilations and tallying 22 Billboard Top 40 entries over her career. These include twelve Top 10 singles and four number one singles.

She became a successful television star in the 1970s, and a well-regarded film actress in the 1980s. In 1988, she won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in the romantic comedy Moonstruck.

In a career that has now surpassed 40 years, Cher has established herself as a legendary pop culture icon and one of the most popular female artists in music history. Since her debut in 1964 Cher has sold over 180 million[4] albums worldwide solo and 80 million as part of duo, Sonny & Cher.

Early life

Cher was born in El Centro, California, on May 20, 1946 at 7:25 a.m. Her mother, Georgia Holt (née Jackie Jean Crouch), an aspiring actress and occasional model, is of Cherokee, Irish, German, and English descent. Her father was John Sarkisian, an Armenian refugee. Cher's mother and father separated when she was young and she was raised primarily by her mother. The early days for Cher and her mother were often difficult financially and led to Georgia placing Cher in foster care for a brief period of time as a child. However, Cher was enamored of seeing her mother on stage and dreamed of one day becoming famous. Later, Georgia was able to provide her daughter with acting lessons to help guide her career. In those years Cher had a relationship with the actor Warren Beatty. Due to severe, undiagnosed dyslexia, she left Fresno High School at the age of sixteen.

Career

1962-1964: Career beginnings

Cher first met Sonny Bono in Los Angeles' Aldo's coffee shop in November 1962 when she was sixteen. The much older Sonny (he was already 27) was working for legendary record producer Phil Spector at Gold Star Studios in Hollywood. Sonny and Cher became fast friends, eventual lovers, and later married. Through Sonny, Cher (as she was called early on, for short) started as a session singer, and would sing backup on several of Spector’s classic recordings, including The Righteous Brothers' "You've Lost That Loving Feeling", The Crystals' "Da Doo Ron Ron" and The Ronettes’ "Be My Baby".

Her first solo recording was the unsuccessful novelty single "Ringo, I Love You," released under the pseudonym of Bonnie Jo Mason and produced by Phil Spector. Her second attempt was "Dream Baby", released under the name "Cherilyn", was written and produced by Sonny Bono. Both were released in 1964.

With Sonny continuing to write, arrange and produce the songs, Sonny and Cher’s first incarnation was as the duo "Caesar and Cleo." They received little attention, despite releasing the single "The Letter" in late 1964 which featured the B-side "Baby Don't Go".

1965-1967: Career development

Now calling themselves Sonny & Cher, the duo released their first album Look at Us in the summer of 1965. This album contained the overnight smash single "I Got You Babe" (1965) which would reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Cher was 19 years old. A re-released "Baby Don't Go", peaked at number eight.

Several more hits would follow, most notably "Just You" (no. 20, 1965) "But You're Mine" (no. 15, 1965), "What Now My Love" (no. 14, 1966) "Little Man" (no. 21, 1966) and "The Beat Goes On" (no. 6, 1967). Sonny and Cher charted a total of 11 Billboard Top 40 hits between 1965 and 1972 and 6 Top 10 hits.

The duo became a sensation, traveling and performing around the world. Following an appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show in the fall of 1965 in which Mr. Sullivan had infamously pronounced her name 'Chur' during their introduction, the singer began spelling her name with a (misleading) acute accent: Chér. The couple soon appeared on other hit television shows of the era including American Bandstand, Top of the Pops, Hollywood a Go-Go, Podunk, Hollywood Palace, Hullabaloo, Beat Club, Ready Steady Go! and Shindig!.

While initially perceived as the slightly awkward and less important half of the popular singing duo, Cher disguised her stage fright and nervousness with quick-witted barbs directed at her partner. She soon rose to prominence as the more outspoken, daring and provocative half of the team. With her dark, exotic looks, she became a fashion trendsetter, helping to popularize fashions such as bellbottoms, and incorporating "hippie" attire and eccentric gowns and elaborate costumes into their live shows.

Later in 1965, Cher released her debut solo album, titled All I Really Want to Do which reached number 16 on the Billboard 200 album chart. The gold-certified album contained a cover of the Bob Dylan song "All I Really Want to Do" which peaked at number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100.
In 1966 Cher released her second solo album on the Atco Records label, The Sonny Side of Cher.

It peaked at number 26 in the U.S. charts, and number 11 in the UK chart. It contained the singles "Where Do You Go (#25 on the Billboard Hot 100, as well as "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)", both were written and produced by Sonny Bono. In the United States, the latter was Cher's biggest solo hit of the 1960s. Other artists to record versions of the song include Frank Sinatra, Nancy Sinatra, Cliff Richard, Petula Clark, and Terry Reid. Also in 1966 she released another album, Cher; The album itself was not as successful as its two predecessors. However it did manage to provide the European top ten hit "Sunny".

In an attempt to capitalize on the duo’s initial success, Sonny speedily arranged a film project for the duo to star in. But the 1967 feature, Good Times, was a flop. Cher continued to establish herself as a solo artist and released the album Backstage. The album was a flop.

1968-1969: Career woes

Sonny and Cher's career had stalled by 1968, as album sales dried up. Their gentle, easy-listening pop sound and drug-free life had become "unhip" in an era becoming increasingly consumed with psychedelic rock, and the overall evolutionary change in the American pop culture landscape during the late 1960s.

Sonny and Cher's only child together, Chastity Bono, was born on March 4, 1969. The duo made another unsuccessful foray into film later in 1969 with Bono writing and producing the film Chastity, intended as a dramatic debut for Cher as an actress. That film (directed by first and only-time director Alessio De Paulo) was also a commercial failure.

In 1970, Sonny and Cher starred in their first television special, The Sonny and Cher Nitty Gritty Hour. A mixture of slapstick comedy, skits and live music, the appearance was a critical success, which led to numerous guest spots on other television shows.

Sonny and Cher caught the eye of CBS head of programming Fred Silverman while guest-hosting The Merv Griffin Show, and Silverman offered the duo their own variety show. The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour debuted in 1971 as a summer replacement series. The show returned to prime time later that year and was an immediate hit, quickly reaching the Top 10 in its time slot. The show received 15 Emmy Award nominations during its run, winning one for direction.

Among the many guests who appeared on The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour were Chuck Berry, Carol Burnett, George Burns, Glen Campbell, Dick Clark, Tony Curtis, Bobby Darin, Phyllis Diller, Merv Griffin, The Jackson Five, Jerry Lee Lewis, Liberace, Steve Martin, Ronald Reagan, Burt Reynolds, Neil Sedaka, Dinah Shore, The Supremes, Sally Struthers, The Righteous Brothers and Racquel Welch.

The duo also revived their recording career, releasing four more albums that included two more Top 10 hits: "All I Ever Need Is You" (no. 7, 1971) and "A Cowboy's Work Is Never Done" (no. 8, 1972).

Now 25, Cher continued to establish herself as a solo recording artist, enlisting the help of hit producer Snuff Garrett. Her first solo number one hit was the song "Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves" (no. 1, 1971). Released in September 1971, the album of the same name peaked at number 16 on the Billboard 200, and remained on the chart for 45 weeks. Another single from the album, "The Way of Love (no. 7, 1972)" peaked at number seven in February 1972.

Cher scored her second number one with "Half-Breed" (no. 1, 1973) which became a signature song from the gold-certified album Half-Breed. In 1974, Cher had her third number one solo hit with the song "Dark Lady" (no. 1, 1974), also from the album of the same name. Cher's first Greatest Hits album was released in 1974.

By the third season of the Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour, the marriage of Sonny and Cher began to fall apart; the duo separated later that year. The show also imploded, even while still in the top 10 of the ratings. What followed was a nasty and very public divorce (finalized on June 27, 1975). Cher won a Golden Globe Award for Best Performance By an Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy for The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour in 1974.

Bono launched his own show, The Sonny Comedy Revue, in the fall of 1974 while Cher also announced plans to host and star in a new variety TV series of her own. Bono’s show was abruptly cancelled, however, after only six weeks.

1975-1979: Solo career and misses

The Cher show debuted as an elaborate, all-star television special on February 16, 1975 featuring Flip Wilson, Bette Midler and special guest Elton John. Cloris Leachman and Jack Albertson both won Emmy Awards for their appearances as guest stars a few weeks later, and the series received 4 additional Emmy nominations that year. Other guests included Pat Boone, David Bowie, Ray Charles, Dion, Patti Labelle, Cheryl Ladd, Wayne Newton, Linda Ronstadt, Lily Tomlin and Frankie Valli. The variety series' debut season ranked 22nd in the year-end Nielsen ratings.

A good deal of press was generated throughout 1975 regarding Cher's exposed navel, and the daring ensembles created by famed designer Bob Mackie. Her show featured numerous outlandish costume changes, even more than typical variety shows. The Cher show ran for two half-seasons, before a pregnant Cher pulled the plug herself, deciding instead to reunite with her ex-husband for a revamped version of The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour.

On June 30, 1975, three days after her divorce from Sonny was final, Cher married rock musician Gregg Allman, a founding member of the Allman Brothers Band. They had one son, Elijah Blue Allman born July 10, 1976. Together, they released the album, Two the Hard Way, under the rubric Allman and Woman, which featured a cover of the Smokey Robinson hit "You've Really Got a Hold on Me". This project was not considered a critical or commercial success. They were divorced by 1977.

From 1975 to 1978 Cher released a series of unsuccessful albums: Stars, I'd Rather Believe in You and Cherished.

On February 2, 1976 The Sonny and Cher Show debuted with a Top 10 rating and high expectations. Some of the guests who appeared on The Sonny and Cher Show included Frankie Avalon, Muhammed Ali, Raymond Burr, Ruth Buzzi, Charo, Barbara Eden, Farrah Fawcett, Terri Garr, Bob Hope, Don Knotts, Jerry Lewis, Tony Orlando, The Osmonds, Debbie Reynolds, The Smothers Brothers, Tina Turner, Twiggy, and Betty White. However, ratings soon fell, and the show was cancelled after its second season.

Their overall television success, though brief, was unique in that variety programming in general was no longer attracting viewers, other than The Carol Burnett Show.

Cher continued to release numerous solo albums during this period, though none matched the critical or commercial success of her earlier 70s recordings. She made a brief return to prime time starring in the television specials Cher…Special in 1978 (for which guest star Dolly Parton was nominated for an Emmy Award) and Cher…and Other Fantasies in 1979. One highlight for her fans was a song and dance number based on the classic musical West Side Story in which Cher portrayed each of the main characters.

In 1979 she legally changed her name to "Cher", with no surname or middle name.[1] Sonny and Cher performed together for the last time on The Mike Douglas Show in the spring of 1979 (until their much-discussed 1987 Letterman appearance), singing a medley of "United We Stand" and "Without You".

Later in 1979, Cher would capitalize on the disco craze, signing with Casablanca Records, and racking up yet another Top 10 single with "Take Me Home" (no.8, 1979). Sales of the album Take Me Home may have been boosted by the image of a scantily-clad Cher in a Viking outfit on the album’s cover. The album was certified gold. For her second Casablanca release, Prisoner (1979), Cher appeared on the album's cover virtually naked and wrapped in chains, spurring controversy among some women's rights groups for her perceived "sex slave" image. This album produced no hit singles.

1980-1987: Film stardom and musical breakout

In 1980, Cher, at age 34, formed the rock band Black Rose with her then-partner, guitarist Les Dudek, and released the album Black Rose by year's end. The album failed to sell, despite an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, and the band broke up the following year. In 1980 Cher also penned a song for the film "Foxes", called "Bad Love". The song can be found on the international version of The Very Best of Cher.

In 1981 she released her first Top 5 hit in UK in ten years: "Dead Ringer for Love" a duet with Meat Loaf for his album Dead Ringer. In 1982, Cher released I Paralyze, promoting it on American Bandstand and The Tonight Show, but critics panned the album and sales were disappointing.

With album sales and hit singles again at a standstill, Cher decided to expand her career into serious film acting. Her earliest entertainment ambitions had always lain in film, as opposed to music. However, she soon found herself in an uphill battle trying to land credible roles for a woman now in her mid-30s with little acting experience. At the time, she was quoted as saying that she didn’t really care if she ever made another record.

In 1982, at 36, Cher landed her first major role in an off-Broadway production of Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean. Her performance was critically praised and she was later cast in the film version, directed by acclaimed Hollywood director Robert Altman. She was next cast alongside Meryl Streep and Kurt Russell in the critically hailed drama Silkwood (1983) in which her character was a lesbian. She received her first Academy Award nomination as Best Supporting Actress. She later won the Golden Globe Award as Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama for her performance.

Cher's next film was a starring role in the critically acclaimed Mask (1985), directed by Peter Bogdanovich. The film also starred Eric Stoltz, Laura Dern and Sam Elliott, and was considered her first critical and commercial success as a leading actress. For her role as a mother of a severely disfigured boy, Cher won the Best Actress prize at the Cannes Film Festival.

In 1985, Cher was honored with Harvard University's Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year Award.

In 1987, she starred in three films: the thriller Suspect, with Dennis Quaid; the fantasy film The Witches of Eastwick, with Jack Nicholson, Susan Sarandon and Michelle Pfeiffer; and the romantic comedy Moonstruck with Nicolas Cage and Olympia Dukakis. For Moonstruck, directed by Norman Jewison, she won the 1988 Academy Award for Best Actress, the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Musical/Comedy and the Favorite Film Actress award at the People’s Choice Awards. Dukakis also won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Cher's mother in the film. 1987 was also noteworthy for the resurgence in Cher's recording career. After signing on with David Geffen's label (Geffen Records) Cher released a self-titled album late that year which spawned her first major hit since 1979's gold single "Take Me Home". The song was "I Found Someone" which returned her to the Top 10 of Billboard's Hot 100. The Cher album was the very first 'platinum' certification (though not the last) of Cher's entire career.

On May 22, 1986, Cher made her infamous first appearance on Late Night with David Letterman. In her pre-interview with the show's producers, Cher had referred to host David Letterman with a derogatory term when asked why she had previously declined to appear on his program. He later confronted her about this on air during their interview, asking why she had refused so many earlier invitations. As she thought of an appropriate answer, he pushed her further saying, "Because you thought..." to which she suddenly blurted "You were an asshole!" to a shocked Letterman. She received a mixture of boos and laughter from the audience for the remark; however, Letterman quickly played off the incident as just fun. They patched up their differences for a 1987 show that had Cher and Sonny Bono reuniting to sing "I Got You, Babe" for what would be the last time. She has since made multiple appearances on Letterman's CBS show.

This was not the only time a chat show clash like this occurred. In 2001, Cher was interviewed by British talk show host and television presenter Clive Anderson (most famous for having the Bee Gees get up and walk out on a live interview after Anderson insulted them while they were on his show). Anderson sparked fury almost right away by saying, "Wow, Cher, you look like a million dollars... is that how much it cost?"

1987-1989: Return to musical success

In 1987, at the age 41, Cher revived her recording career after a five-year hiatus, under the coordination of rock producer and A&R man John Kalodner. Now with Geffen Records, Cher released the first of three highly successful rock albums, produced by Kalodner and featuring songwriting contributions from the likes of Diane Warren, Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Desmond Child, and Michael Bolton. Darlene Love and Bonnie Tyler provided guest vocals. Cher was released in 1987, and featured the comeback single "I Found Someone" (previously a basic flop for Laura Branigan), as well as "We All Sleep Alone" (no. 14, 1988). The album was Cher's biggest yet, being certified triple-platinum in U.S. and selling 10 million copies worldwide.

Cher experienced her most successful comeback yet in 1989. At age 43, she released the album Heart of Stone. As on her previous album, Michael Bolton, Jon Bon Jovi, Diane Warren and Desmond Child returned for songwriting and/or producing duties. The album was originally released with cover artwork featuring Cher sitting in front of a heart made of stone, creating the illusion of a skull. Heart of Stone became her most successful album to date, selling eleven million copies worldwide, and being certified 3x Platinum by the RIAA.

The album sparked four hit singles: "If I Could Turn Back Time" (no. 3), "Just Like Jesse James" (no. 8), "Heart of Stone" (no. 20), and a duet with Peter Cetera, "After All" (no. 6). The video for "If I Could Turn Back Time" caused controversy because in it Cher wore a very thin, skimpy, see-through outfit. Many networks on television, including MTV, initially refused to air the video. MTV network eventually played the video, but only after 9 p.m. This was the first video to be banned by MTV. Cher also launched the Heart of Stone Tour, which played throughout 1989 and 1990 in various parts of the world. She also starred in the television special Cher - Live at the Mirage, which was filmed during a live concert in Las Vegas.

1990-1992: Artistic development and commercial hits

In 1990 Cher starred in the box office modest success Mermaids with Bob Hoskins, Winona Ryder, and a then 9-year-old Christina Ricci, and contributed two songs to its soundtrack. "Baby I'm Yours" and the album's second single "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)" which reached number one in twelve countries around the globe and became her most successful single at that time, selling over six million copies worldwide.

In 1991, Cher completed her Geffen recording contract by releasing the album Love Hurts. This album had a big impact in Europe, particularly in the UK where it debuted at number one. Unlike her previous two records, Love Hurts received less attention in the United States where it was certified gold whereas in European countries the album was certified multi-platinum. The European cover of the album was different from the American release, featuring Cher lying on a white background wearing a red wig.

The European release also included the worldwide hit, "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)". The album also sparked four other singles, "Love and Understanding", "Save Up All Your Tears", "Love Hurts", and "Could've Been You". Love Hurts has sold over 10 million copies worldwide. Cher embarked on the Love Hurts Tour throughout 1992.

In 1991 and in 1992 Cher released two VHS fitness programs, Cherfitness: A New Attitude and Cherfitness: A Body Confidence.

In 1992 the European compilation Greatest Hits: 1965-1992 became a huge success, peaking at number one in the United Kingdom for seven non-consecutive weeks, and charting in the Top 10 in several other countries. The album, which contained three newly-recorded tracks, "Oh No Not My Baby", "Many Rivers to Cross" and "Whenever You're Near" was only available in the United States as an import.

1992-1996: Commercial ups-and-downs and controversies

In 1992, at age 46, Cher took some time off, following what was widely reported as a case of Epstein-Barr Virus or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. She made few public appearances during this period with the exception of appearing in a series of infomercials launching hair-care products for her friend Lori Davis, and for the sweetener Equal. It has been said that this had a negative impact on her career. Cher made cameo appearances in the Robert Altman films The Player (1992) and Pret-a-Porter (1994).

In 1994 she collaborated with MTV's cartoons Beavis and Butt-head for a rock version of Sonny & Cher's "I Got You Babe". The next year she with Chrissie Hynde, Neneh Cherry and Eric Clapton topped the UK Singles Chart for one week with charity single "Love Can Build a Bridge".

At age 50, she released an album, mainly of covers, titled It's a Man's World. The album was released in Europe at the end of 1995, while in North America in the summer of 1996. On the album, Cher sings 'unconventionally', stretching her vocals to sing in an unusually high voice. The album sparked two European hits "Walking in Memphis" and "One by One". It's a Man's World was a moderate success, with over three million copies worldwide. However, Cher's sales in the United States were slow.

She starred in the poorly-received film Faithful (1996) with Ryan O'Neal and Chazz Palminteri. Also in 1996, Cher co-executive-produced the highly anticipated, controversial HBO abortion drama If These Walls Could Talk, with actress Demi Moore. She also co-starred in and directed one of the film’s three segments, earning a Golden Globe Nomination as Best Supporting Actress in a made-for-television movie.

1998: Sonny Bono dies

Cher was in London, England in January 1998 when a call from her daughter Chastity brought her the shocking news of Sonny Bono's death in a skiing accident. He was 62. Photographed in tears as she dashed through Heathrow Airport back to Los Angeles, California, the media seemingly appointed Cher as his widow, even though they had been apart for 24 years and each had remarried since (Sonny twice). At the time of his death, Sonny Bono, by then a popular California congressman, was married to his fourth wife, Mary Bono. Nonetheless, Cher accepted an invitation to deliver the eulogy. The funeral, unbeknownst to Cher, was broadcast live on CNN. In front of millions, she tearfully and effusively praised the man who had been a father figure, friend, partner, lover, husband, and antagonist.

Despite charges of opportunism, Cher continued to openly mourn, also paying tribute to Bono in the sentimental CBS special Sonny and Me: Cher Remembers (1998), calling her grief "something I never plan to get over."

Sonny & Cher received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Television in 1999. Cher appeared at the event with Mary Bono, who accepted the award on behalf of her late husband.

1998-1999: Definitive worldwide popularity

Cher's 23rd studio album 1998's Grammy Award-nominated Believe marked an extreme departure for Cher, as the record was a sparkling collection of up-tempo dance tracks. The album was a critical and commercial success, and reached the top spot and the Top 10 in several charts around the globe. Believe has been certified 4x Platinum in the U.S. and has sold 20 million copies worldwide. The Grammy Award-winning first single and title track was a worldwide smash, easily becoming the biggest hit of her entire career. The song reached number one in 23 countries around the world, including the United States where it remained for a month, "Believe" made Cher the oldest woman (at age 52) to have a number one hit in the rock era. It also gave her the distinction of having the longest span of number one hits (more than 33 years) and the largest gap between number ones (10 days short of 25 years). Cher is also the only female artist to have solo Top 10 hits in the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. On the UK Singles Chart, "Believe" claimed the number one slot for seven weeks, and also became the biggest-selling UK single ever by a solo female artist. "Believe" is also the third most successful song released by a solo female musician worldwide, the biggest selling single ever for Warner Bros. Records and the biggest selling dance song ever having sold over 10 million copies worldwide. From the album, three other successful singles were released, "Strong Enough", "All or Nothing" and "Dov'è L'Amore".

Cher published her first memoir in late 1998, titled The First Time. Rather than a tell-all, the book was an intriguing collection of Cher's most significant 'first-time' memories from her childhood, life and Hollywood career. In January 1999, Cher performed "The Star-Spangled Banner" in front of the huge Super Bowl XXXIII television audience. Cher also performed on the highly-rated television special VH1 Divas Live 2, performing alongside contemporaries Tina Turner, Elton John, Chaka Khan, Faith Hill, Mary J. Blige, LeeAnn Rimes, Brandy and Whitney Houston . Later in 1999, Cher co-starred in the well-received Franco Zeffirelli film Tea With Mussolini (1999) with Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Joan Plowright and Lily Tomlin. Her successful worldwide Do You Believe? Tour travelled throughout the U.S., Canada, and Europe, with the Emmy-nominated television special Cher: Live at the MGM Grand In Las Vegas airing by year's end.

On November 30, 1999 she released a compilation album The Greatest Hits. The album peaked at number seven on the official UK Albums Chart, and reached the number 1 and the top 10 in several countries across Europe and the rest of the world. This compilation was released only outside North America, due to the release of the North American only compilation, If I Could Turn Back Time: Cher's Greatest Hits which was released that same year.

2000-2002: Career established

The Do You Believe? Tour continued throughout 2000 and became her most successful tour to that time. In May 2000, Cher was presented with the Lifelong Contribution to the Music Industry Award, at the World Music Awards.

She released an independent alternative-rock album entitled Not.com.mercial (pronounced "not-dot-com-mercial"). This album was written mostly by Cher after attending a songwriting retreat in France in 1994. The album was quickly rejected by record labels for being "not commercial". Cher chose instead to sell the recording exclusively through her website. This also marked the first time that Cher had written a majority of the material for one of her albums.

In February 2002, still in a dance mode, she released the highly anticipated follow-up to Believe. Living Proof entered the Billboard 200 at number nine, making it her highest-charting album debut and extending her album chart span to over 37 years. While not as commercially successful as its predecessor, and having no singles reach the Top 40 of the Hot 100, Living Proof still included several re-mixed songs which found their way onto the Hot Dance, Maxi-Single Sales, Club Play and Adult Contemporary charts. The lead off single for Europe was The Music's No Good Without You, while Song for the Lonely served as the first American single. The album was eventually certified gold in U.S., and sold over 6 million copies worldwide.

That year she won the Dance/Club Play Artist of the Year, and was presented with a special Artist Achievement Award at the Billboard Music Awards.

In May 2002, Cher again performed on the VH1 television special VH1 Divas Las Vegas, with Shakira, Celine Dion, The Dixie Chicks, Anastacia, Cyndi Lauper and Mary J. Blige. In June, she announced plans for the Living Proof: The Farewell Tour which she claimed would be the final live concert tour of her career, though she vowed to continue recording and releasing music.

2002-2005: The Farewell Tour era

The show itself was a tribute to her nearly 40 years in show business. It featured vintage performance and video clips from the 1960s onward, highlighting her successes in music, television, and film, all set amongst an elaborate backdrop and stage set-up, complete with backing band, singers and dancers, including aerial acrobatics. Dates were added, and the tour was extended several times, covering virtually all of the U.S and Canada (plus 3 shows in Mexico City), several cities in Europe, as well as the major cities of Australia and New Zealand. Going well past its original cutoff date, it was eventually redubbed the "Never Can Say Goodbye Tour".

In April 2003, The Very Best of Cher, a CD collection of all of her greatest hits spanning her entire career, was released. The album peaked at number four on the Billboard 200 album chart, extending her album chart span to over thirty-eight years. The compilation has been certified double platinum and has sold 3.5 million copies worldwide.

She found success on television once again in the spring of 2003, with Cher: The Farewell Tour Live, an NBC special taped on 7 and 8 November 2002 at Miami's AmericanAirlines Arena that attracted 17.3 million viewers. It earned Cher her first Emmy Award as Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special. She released the album Live: The Farewell Tour later in 2003, a collection of live tracks taken from the tour. She was also seen, as herself, in the Farrelly Brothers comedy Stuck on You (2003) with Matt Damon and Greg Kinnear. In the film, she spoofed her own image, appearing in bed with a high school boyfriend. Also in 2003, Cher recorded a duet of "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered" for Rod Stewart's As Time Goes By... The Great American Songbook Volume II album.

In February 2004, at 57, she received another Grammy Award nomination for Best Dance Recording for her song "Love One Another". During 2004 a Sonny & Cher DVD was released with nine Sonny & Cher shows, during the 1970s. Also in 2004 Cher appeared for a few seconds in the last ABBA video.

Also in 2004, Cher released the album Gold, a 2-CD collection of all her greatest hits, spanning from her days as one-half of Sonny & Cher to her Living Proof era. It was only a year following the release of her multi-platinum The Very Best of Cher album, though All Music Guide nevertheless gave it four and a half out of five stars.

Cher closed the farewell tour in April 2005 at the Hollywood Bowl, after 325 dates. According to the 2007 edition of the Guinness Book of World Records, Cher's Living Proof: The Farewell Tour was the highest grossing tour by a female artist, based on US $192.5 million through 273 shows. However, in September 2006 Billboard magazine awarded the same designation to Madonna's Confessions Tour after it grossed a higher amount.

Current projects

Cher is now working on a new album.

Cher has been in New York recently working on a video shoot for a commercial for her new scent. The name of Cher’s new fragrance has yet to be named. Cher’s new perfume will be released later this year.

There has been widespread rumors on the internet that Cher will do Las Vegas in 2008 at the Caesars Palace. News recently has been released that Bette Midler will be headlining, replacing Celine Dion starting in February 2008 after Dion leaves in December 2007 with a two year contract and 100 shows a year. While Elton John is planned to do 50 shows a year, that leaves room for a third act which is planned to be announced later. Caesars Palace repeatedly declined to say who the third act is and whether the rumor of Cher doing Las Vegas at Caesars Palace is true or not though many fans claim that this possibility is very highly likely. Recently, a fan has set up a petition for Caesars Palace to sign Cher as their third act and to announce the third act soon and also has set up a myspace about it.

Personal life

Marriages and relationships

In the early 1960s Cher had a relationship with the actor Warren Beatty. Sonny & Cher first met in 1962. Though they had claimed to be married as early as 1963, and exchanged rings in Tijuana, Mexico, it is believed that they weren’t legally married until an impromptu ceremony in Las Vegas in 1969. Cher married her second husband, rock star Gregg Allman, in 1975. They later separated and were divorced in 1977.

Following their break-up, Cher was involved in a number of very public relationships with high profile men including record executive David Geffen and Gene Simmons, bass guitarist from the rock band Kiss.

In the early 1980s, Cher dated guitarist Les Dudek, whom she had worked with on the Black Rose project. In the mid-1980s, she was rumored to have dated a number of younger film stars, including Eric Stoltz and Val Kilmer. In 2006, her son, Elijah Blue Allman, indicated on The Howard Stern show that Cher in fact had a romantic relationship with actor Tom Cruise in the mid-1980s. She had a well-publicized romance in 1986 with a much younger Rob Camiletti. When they met, he was 22 and she was 40. The media dubbed him “Bagel Boy,” as it was learned that he was once a baker in a bagel shop. It was widely speculated in the tabloid press that that the couple were planning to marry, but this never occurred. In the mid-1980s she had a relationship with Josh Donen.

Cher was involved with Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora for two years in the early 1990s, and has also been linked to musicians Eric Clapton and Mark Hudson. Rumors also circulated that she was dating her lead guitar player on her lengthy Farewell Tour. "National Equirer". This was brought on by their intimate relationship onstage with Cher doing "I Found Someone" on her Farewell Tour. It was also said that they still feel the same way after the tour ended.

Over the span of her lengthy career, Cher also has been rumored to be romantically linked to numerous men including the actors Ray Liotta, Matt Dillon, John Heard, Tv host John Loeffler and Tony Anstis and the ice hockey player Ron Duguay. But most of these affairs are unconfirmed so far.

Personal wealth

It is believed that Cher has become one of the wealthiest entertainers in the industry. According to a 2002 Rolling Stone magazine article, her personal net worth was estimated to be over US$600 million. She is noted for her expansive collection of real estate and maintains a primary home in Malibu, California, valued at US$25 million. It was reported in April 2006 that Cher had purchased a condominium in the Sierra Towers in West Hollywood, California, for US$4.5 million. In May 2006, she sold her Florida mansion for US$8.8 million. In addition, she owns homes in Aspen, Colorado, and London. She has claimed to own an impressive antique and art collection reportedly worth US$192.5 million, and her recent contract for a residency at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas will earn her US$60 million.

In July 2006, it was announced that Cher, in conjunction with Sotheby's and Julien's Auctions were planning to auction about 800 of her personal possessions from her Italian Renaissance-themed Malibu estate, including numerous antiques, art collectibles, paintings, career memorabilia, furniture (including her bed) as well as numerous pieces of jewelry, clothing, stage costumes, gowns, a 2003 H2 Hummer and her 2005 Bentley. The event, which took place October 3-5 in Beverly Hills, California, raised US$3.5 million. Cher had said a large percentage of the proceeds will benefit the Cher Charitable Foundation.

Cher has long been considered an icon in popular gay culture. She has been imitated by drag queens across the world for decades. Her transition to dance music and social activism in recent years has further contributed to her iconic popularity within the gay community.

The NBC sitcom Will & Grace acknowledged her status by making her the idol of gay character Jack McFarland. Cher guest-starred as herself twice on the sitcom, in 2000 and 2002. In 2000, Cher made a cameo on the show, in which Jack believed her to be a drag queen, and said he could "do" a better Cher himself. In 2002, she played God in Jack's imagined version of Heaven.

Cher's status may have been boosted by her support of her openly lesbian daughter Chastity Bono. Although not supporting Chastity immediately after she came out, Cher has since become one of the gay community's most vocal advocate and supporter.

In 1998, Cher was honored with a GLAAD Media Award (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) and in November 1999, The Advocate named Cher one of the '25 Coolest Women'. In October 2005, the Bravo program Great Things About Being... declared Cher the number one greatest thing about being gay.

Her perseverance and longevity is the inspiration for the famous quote by gay impressionist Jimmy James: "After a nuclear holocaust, all that will be left are cockroaches and Cher".

Political interests

Unlike her late ex-husband Sonny Bono, Cher has always been a staunch Democrat. She has attended and performed at Democratic Party conventions and events. Today, she considers herself a Democrat by default, but more of an Independent because of what she perceives to be the recent moderate to conservative leanings of the current Democratic Party.

In 1996, Cher appeared on C-SPAN as part of a national AIDS awareness event. She also disclosed her personal friendship with CNN host Lou Dobbs.

On October 27, 2003, Cher anonymously called a C-SPAN phone-in program. She recounted a visit she had made to maimed soldiers at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center and criticized the lack of media coverage and government attention given to injured servicemen. She also remarked that she watches C-SPAN every day. Though she simply identified herself as an unnamed entertainer with the USO, she was recognized by the C-SPAN host, who subsequently questioned her about her 1992 support for independent presidential candidate Ross Perot.

On Memorial Day weekend in 2006 she called in again, endorsing Operation Helmet, an organization started by a doctor which provides helmet upgrade kits free of charge to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as to those ordered to deploy in the near future. She identified herself as a caller from Malibu, California, and proceeded to complain about the current presidential administration. She read aloud a letter from a soldier on the ground in Iraq, praising Operation Helmet's efforts, and decrying the lack of protection afforded by the military's provisions for troops.

On May 18, 2006, Cher was a guest on The Ed Schultz Show to discuss her work in support of U.S. troops fighting abroad, as well as returning veterans. Schultz noted her involvement with both Operation Helmet and the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, which is constructing an advanced training skills facility at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. The center will serve military personnel who have been catastrophically disabled in operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and those severely injured in other operations, as well as in the normal performance of their duties, combat and non-combat related.

During the interview with Schultz, Cher again said she is an independent. Her comments about the current political scene in the U.S. led him to interject, "You're fed up with everybody", to which she replied, "I really am. I couldn't be a Republican 'cause I think I believe in too many services for poor people, but I'm fed up with the Democrats. I just think...you're gonna find all their spines where you find the elephant's graveyard."

Towards the end of the interview, Schultz asked Cher what she thinks about today's protest songs. She responded, "You know, I think it's the duty of artists to say what they want, in favor or in opposition. Unfortunately, I think that, with [the Bush administration], you haven't been able to really voice any opposition because of 9/11, if you say anything opposed to the administration, somehow they've been able to wrap themselves in the flag, so that if you have any opposing viewpoint, you're unpatriotic." She was about to offer her thoughts on this, but stopped, saying, "I don't know what you can say on your program, so I won't talk the way I normally talk." Implying her comments would be salty, she did add, though, "I don't like it...it rubs me the wrong way. And if I could say all those seven words [that George Carlin's famous routine suggests cannot be said on TV], that's what I'd be saying."

Cher is still involved with Operation Helmet, and appeared with Dr. Bob Meaders (founder of Operation Helmet) on C-Span again on June 14, 2006. She then appeared with him on Capitol Hill on June 15, 2006. It has been reported that Cher has so far donated over US$130,000 to Operation Helmet.

Humanitarian work

Cher has been involved with many humanitarian groups and charity efforts over the years. After appearing in the movie Mask, she served as National Chairperson and Honorary Spokesperson of the Children’s Craniofacial Association. Over the years while touring, she frequently donated concert tickets to families and non-profit groups for children and youth with facial deformities. Such donations were alluded to in an episode of the TV series X-Files entitled The Post Modern Prometheus.

In 1993, Cher participated in a humanitarian effort to Armenia, (where her father was born) bringing much needed food and medical supplies and touring the war-torn region. In 1998, she co-hosted the annual Amfar AIDS Benefit at the Cannes Film Festival with Elizabeth Taylor.

In August 2005, it was reported that Cher had voluntarily sent payments to help a 16-year-old Northport, Alabama, boy with muscular dystrophy who required home healthcare. He was all but bedridden after his 69-year-old adoptive mother, who'd suffered two strokes, was left disabled and the boy's home health care was cut off when he lost his Medicaid coverage.

She is also the namesake of the Cher Charitable Foundation, which donates funds to various charities and causes close to her heart.

Cher is a major contributor to Operation-Helmet.org, a charity that provides helmet upgrade kits to troops at no cost to them. This continues her active support of soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines since the Vietnam War.

Cher’s lasting legacy in popular culture has long been disputed. She has stated of herself that “singers don’t consider me a singer and actors don't consider me an actor”, despite her undeniable achievements in both arenas. She is highly respected for her considerable career longevity and ability to bounce back when critics have long written her off. She has also been quoted as saying, “Some years I'm the hottest thing, and the next year, people are so over me”. She has described herself as a "hit and miss artist" and "more of a stylist than a musician."

Cher has a very large and devoted fanbase that has transcended generations. Their devotion is evidenced through the biennial Cher Convention which began in Chicago in 2000 as a tribute by fans when her song "Believe" reached number one. With all proceeds going to the Children's Craniofacial Association. The event is now held every other year, and has included Las Vegas in 2002 and 2004, and Los Angeles in 2006.

An upcoming fan event, The Cher Expo, with a presentation of Cher memorabilia and a variety show in her honor is planned for Hilton Head Island, South Carolina in 2007 and Atlanta in 2009. A charity drive for Operation Rebound, a division of the Challenged Athletes Foundation, is also planned; monies raised will be used to help amputees from Iraq and Afghanistan return to an active and athletic life.

An absurdist Monty Python ragtime song that pays homage to Henry Kissinger compares the former Secretary of State's cleavage more favourably to Cher's.

Tattoos

Cher became famous for her many tattoos, long before they were fashionable among women in Hollywood. Among them were a large butterfly and floral design on her buttocks, later imitated by androgynous Dead or Alive singer Pete Burns; a flowing necklace on her left upper arm with three charms hanging on it: an Egyptian ankh, a cross and a heart, a kanji on her right shoulder (Chinese 'li' ；力, meaning 'power'); a small cluster of Art Deco crystals on her inner right arm; a black orchid design just above the crease of her right thigh; and a chrysanthemum on her left ankle.

Media reports in recent years have indicated that Cher has since committed to having all of her tattoos removed, and the process has apparently been underway. Some pictures from her most recent concert tour have shown blank skin where some of the smaller tattoos once were. Elderly pop culture historian, Thomas Caputo actually specializes in Cher tatoos.

Influence

In her early career, Cher was a fashion trendsetter, popularizing long straight hair, bellbottoms and an exposed midriff. Through her television shows she inspired women and pushed the censors with her baring outfits and creative ensembles, frequently designed by Bob Mackie. She has also inspired a generation of younger singer/actresses who have noted her as being influential on their.

In July 1999, Cher ranked number 43 on VH1’s 100 Greatest Women of Rock & Roll poll and in September 2002, she ranked number 26 on VH1’s 100 Sexiest Artists. She has appeared on the cover of People magazine 13 times. In a recent poll, A&E's Biography Magazine ranked her as people's third favorite actress of all time behind two of her Hollywood idols, Katharine Hepburn and Audrey Hepburn.

Discography

Television work

• Where the Girls Are (1968)
• The Sonny & Cher Nitty Gritty Hour (1970)
• The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour (1971–1974)
• Cher (1975–1976)
• The Sonny and Cher Show (1976-1977)
• Cher... Special (1978)
• Cher... and Other Fantasies (1979)
• Cher... at the Mirage (1990)
• If These Walls Could Talk (1996) (also director)
• Sonny & Me: Cher Remembers (1998)
• VH1 Divas Live 2 (1999)
• Cher: Live in Concert from Las Vegas (1999)
• VH1 Divas Las Vegas (2002)