Cher, born Cheryl Sarkisian on May 20, 1946, is an American entertainer known as the “Goddess of Pop” who achieved unprecedented success across music, film, and television. Rising to fame in 1965 as part of Sonny & Cher, she became the only solo artist with number-one singles on US Billboard charts across seven decades. Her 1998 hit “Believe” pioneered Auto-Tune technology, while her acting earned an Academy Award for “Moonstruck” in 1987, establishing her multifaceted legacy that continues to influence contemporary culture.
An icon of American entertainment spanning more than six decades, Cher stands as one of the most enduring and versatile performers in popular culture, having achieved unprecedented success across music, film, and television. Born Cheryl Sarkisian on May 20, 1946, in El Centro, California, she emerged from a challenging childhood marked by her parents’ divorce during infancy and struggles with undiagnosed dyslexia, which led her to leave high school at age 16 to pursue performing arts.
From childhood adversity to entertainment royalty, Cher’s six-decade journey exemplifies resilience and artistic versatility across multiple creative mediums.
Cher’s ascent to stardom began in 1965 as part of the duo Sonny & Cher, who became major contributors to 1960s counterculture before she established herself as a formidable solo artist. Her distinctive voice and ability to reinvent herself across multiple genres, spanning folk, pop, rock, disco, and dance-pop, generated numerous hits throughout the 1970s, including “Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves,” “Half-Breed,” and “Dark Lady.”
The performer’s remarkable longevity culminated in 1998 with “Believe,” which pioneered the “Cher effect” using Auto-Tune technology and became the best-selling single by a female artist in the UK. This achievement contributed to her distinction as the only solo artist with number-one singles on US Billboard charts across seven consecutive decades, from the 1960s through the 2020s.
Beyond music, Cher successfully shifted to acting in the 1970s, earning critical acclaim and commercial success in films including Silkwood, Mask, The Witches of Eastwick, Mermaids, and Burlesque. Her portrayal of strong-willed, outspoken female characters reached its pinnacle with Moonstruck in 1987, for which she received the Academy Award for Best Actress. She published her memoir Cher: The Memoir, Part One in 2024, with plans for a second part in 2025.
Her extensive accolades include induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, along with a Grammy Award, Primetime Emmy Award, three Golden Globes, Billboard Icon Award, and Kennedy Center Honors. She shares with Barbra Streisand the rare distinction of being a Best Actress Oscar winner who also achieved a number-one Billboard hit song. Known for her deep contralto vocals, Cher’s powerful voice became one of her defining characteristics throughout her entertainment career.
Dubbed the “Goddess of Pop,” Cher has maintained cultural relevance through bold visual presentation and advocacy for gender fluidity and LGBTQ+ rights. Her recent albums, Closer to the Truth in 2013 and Dancing Queen in 2018, both debuted at number three on the US Billboard 200, demonstrating her continued commercial appeal well into her seventies.
Through successful concert residencies, social media engagement, and ongoing film appearances, Cher exemplifies sustained career longevity unmatched by most entertainment industry peers.
