Cherilyn Sarkisian, known simply as Cher, was born on May 20, 1946, in El Centro, California. She rose to fame in 1965 as one half of the folk-rock duo Sonny & Cher, achieving major success with the hit “I Got You Babe.” She then launched a solo career marked by chart-toppers like “Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves,” “Half‑Breed,” and “Dark Lady” in the early 1970s.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Cher became a television star, headlining The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour and her own Cher series, each drawing over 30 million viewers weekly. After focusing on acting, she returned to music with rock albums Cher (1987), Heart of Stone (1989), and Love Hurts (1991), featuring hits such as “If I Could Turn Back Time” and “The Shoop Shoop Song.”
Cher’s most notable comeback came in 1998 with the dance-pop album Believe. The title track made her the oldest female artist (at 52) to top the Billboard Hot 100, popularizing the autotune vocal effect dubbed the “Cher effect.” In the 21st century, she continued to find success with Closer to the Truth (2013) and Dancing Queen (2018), both debuting in the top 3 of the Billboard 200.
With a prolific output of 27 studio albums, three live albums, and over 100 million solo record sales (plus 40 million with Sonny Bono), Cher remains a force in entertainment. She earned an Academy Award for Moonstruck, along with multiple Grammys, Emmys, and Golden Globes.
Renowned as the “Goddess of Pop,” Cher epitomizes reinvention, bold artistry, and enduring cultural relevance.
