Cher summary

Cher’s favorite home, among the many she had growing up, was a cozy redwood bungalow on Beeman Avenue in the San Fernando Valley. With its apricot and peach trees in the yard, it was a refuge for Cher, her sister, and their mother after the divorce. It was here that she first discovered her passion for performing, taking part in school plays. Nevertheless, school was a struggle, as an undiagnosed dyslexia made reading and math difficult.

The Beeman bungalow didn’t last, as Georgia’s career stalled. Unable to pay the rent, Cher and her sister had to move in with their grandparents. It was a dire time. Cher was deeply embarrassed to go to school wearing shoes held together with cardboard and rubber bands. Cher’s mom continued to seek stability through marriage, first to wealthy real estate magnate Joe Collins, and later to her biological father, Johnnie. However, both attempts ended in divorce.

Not long after Cher moved in with Sonny, his career took a leap forward. A new job brought him closer to the epicenter of the music world – Phillip Spector’s Gold Star Recording Studios. Tagging along, Cher, wide-eyed and eager, glimpsed the magic of the Wrecking Crew, the studio’s legendary house band that included Tommy Tedesco, Carole Kaye and Leon Russel.

Their relationship took an unexpected turn during a quiet evening. A kiss, simple yet electric, blurred the lines of their camaraderie. It wasn’t a fairy-tale romance, but it was love, and the start of an amazing journey.

After releasing their first album, record executives made sure they were married – for real this time – in a quiet ceremony in Mexico. Months later, in 1965, Cher landed a coveted opportunity – a Vogue photoshoot with the legendary Richard Avedon. The shoot was transformative. Cher saw herself as beautiful for the first time, despite Sonny’s disapproval of her daring outfits.

Indeed, Sonny’s possessiveness was really starting to show. Cher wasn’t allowed to wear perfume, listen to music, or even go out alone except for shopping trips. At the same time, he was determined to keep their momentum going with a gruelling work schedule.

By the early 1970s, with The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour a massive hit, the duo were at the peak of their fame. They were living a life of luxury, a stark contrast to their earlier struggles. But then Cher began to notice a shift in Sonny. The playful partner she once knew was becoming a business-minded mogul, consumed with maintaining their success. He even started smoking cigars! As his focus turned to contracts and deals, Cher still wasn’t allowed to spend time with friends or even take tennis lessons. The personal connection they once shared was fading.

So, while the dynamic on stage remained strong, their offstage relationship was about to come apart for good. It all started with Bill, a young guitarist in their band, who caught Cher’s attention. His kindness and genuine interest in her feelings were a stark contrast to Sonny’s growing indifference. One evening, Cher made a bold decision – she told Sonny she wanted to spend time with Bill, alone. The only other option in her mind at the time was to throw herself off the hotel room balcony.

Fate seemed to unfold after Cher invited her friend Paulette to move in with her. The two women embraced their independence, going shopping and hitting the dance floors like carefree teenagers. Paulette's fascination with the Allman Brothers led them to an unforgettable performance by the band at the small Troubadour nightclub in LA. 

In particular, Cher was taken by the magnetic stage presence of Gregg Allman. The feeling must have been mutual because a stagehand passed along a note with Gregg’s phone number. Despite a disastrous first date, their connection deepened after a second attempt at a carefree night of dancing, revealing a sweet and authentic side to him.