Cher, born Cheryl Sarkisian, is the American singer and actress whose career runs from "I Got You Babe" to "Believe" to an Academy Award for Moonstruck. She was born on May 20, 1946, in El Centro, California, and legally adopted the single name Cher in 1979. She has sold more than 100 million records.

Early Career and Sonny & Cher

Her first single, "Ringo, I Love You," came out in 1964 under the name Bonnie Jo Mason. A year later she broke through with Sonny Bono as the folk rock duo Sonny & Cher, whose "I Got You Babe" went to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The pair moved into television with The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour, which earned her a Golden Globe in 1974.

She ran a parallel solo career, topping the Hot 100 in the 1970s with "Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves," "Half-Breed" and "Dark Lady." From 1979 to 1982 she played a residency at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, two shows a night, seven nights a week.

Film Career: Silkwood, Mask and Moonstruck

Cher turned to film in the 1980s. Silkwood (1983) brought a Golden Globe for supporting actress and an Oscar nomination, Mask (1985) won her best actress at the Cannes Film Festival, and Moonstruck (1987) won her the Academy Award and a Golden Globe for best actress. Other credits include The Witches of Eastwick, Mermaids, Tea with Mussolini, Burlesque and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.

"Believe," "If I Could Turn Back Time" and the Farewell Tour

"If I Could Turn Back Time" returned her to the U.S. top ten in 1989. Nine years later, "Believe" spent four weeks at No. 1 on the Hot 100 and seven weeks atop the U.K. chart, making her, at 52, the oldest woman to top the Hot 100. The album sold 11 million copies worldwide, and the song won the Grammy for best dance recording. Her Living Proof: The Farewell Tour (2002 to 2005) grossed $250 million, at the time the highest total for a tour by a female artist.

Christmas, the Rock Hall and Cher: The Memoir

Later albums kept charting: Closer to the Truth (2013) and the ABBA covers album Dancing Queen (2018) both debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200. Her 2023 album Christmas produced "DJ Play a Christmas Song," which topped a Billboard sales chart and made her the only woman with a Billboard No. 1 in seven consecutive decades. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2024 and published Cher: The Memoir, Part One with Dey Street Books that November.

Cher FAQ

What is Cher's real name?

She was born Cheryl Sarkisian and legally changed her name to Cher in 1979.

How old is Cher?

Cher was born on May 20, 1946.

Where is Cher from?

She was born in El Centro, California.

What are Cher's most popular songs?

Her biggest hits include "Believe," "If I Could Turn Back Time," "I Got You Babe" with Sonny Bono, "Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves," "Half-Breed" and "Dark Lady."

Did Cher win an Oscar?

Yes. She won the Academy Award for best actress for Moonstruck (1987).

What is Cher's latest album?

Her most recent studio album is Christmas, released in 2023.

Is Cher in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?

Yes. She was inducted in 2024.

Did Cher write a memoir?

Yes. Cher: The Memoir, Part One was published in November 2024.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons