Cher. Main Timeline
Overview
Cher, born Cherilyn Sarkisian on May 20, 1946, is an American singer, actress, and television personality known for her multifaceted career spanning over six decades. Dubbed the 'Goddess of Pop,' she has achieved unparalleled success in both music and film, earning numerous awards and accolades, including an Academy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, a Grammy Award, and multiple Golden Globe Awards. Here is a timeline of her significant events and milestones.
Main Milestones
May 20, 1946
Birth
Cher was born in El Centro, California, to John Sarkisian, a truck driver, and Georgia Holt, a former model and actress. Her parents divorced when she was 10 months old, and her mother later remarried.
1962
Meeting Sonny Bono
At 16, Cher met Sonny Bono, who was working for record producer Phil Spector. This encounter changed her life forever, leading to her musical career and eventual marriage to Sonny.
1965
Rise to Fame
Cher gained fame as part of the folk rock duo Sonny & Cher, achieving top-ten singles like 'All I Really Want to Do' and 'Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)'. She also started her solo career during this period.
1971-1973
Solo Success
Cher released several successful albums, including 'Chér' (later reissued as 'Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves'), 'Foxy Lady', and 'Bittersweet White Light'. Her singles 'Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves', 'The Way of Love', 'Half-Breed', and 'Dark Lady' topped the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, making her the female solo artist with the most number-one singles in US history at the time.
1979-1982
Second Musical Comeback
Cher legally adopted her mononym and launched a comeback with the disco album 'Take Me Home', which became an instant success. She then sought a return to rock with 'Prisoner' and formed the rock band Black Rose, which unfortunately disbanded in 1981.
1998-2002
Fourth Musical Comeback
Cher released her 22nd studio album, 'Believe', which marked a departure from her previous rock sound to 1970s disco-inspired dance-pop. The album sold 10 million copies worldwide, and the title track became the best-selling single of 1998 in the UK and of 1999 in the US, earning Cher the Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording.
2002-2005
The Farewell Tour
Cher embarked on the Living Proof: The Farewell Tour, which became the highest-grossing concert tour by a female artist at the time, earning $250 million (about $390 million in 2025).
2013-2018
Recent Successes
Cher released 'Closer to the Truth' (2013) and 'Dancing Queen' (2018), both debuting at number three on the Billboard 200 and becoming her highest-charting solo albums in the US. She also starred in 'Mamma Mia Here We Go Again' (2018).
2025
Legacy
Cher continues to be celebrated as a cultural icon, with over 100 million records sold worldwide, making her one of the best-selling music artists of all time. Her enduring career and influence have cemented her status as a legend in both music and film.
