![How Cher has shifted pop culture](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_660bc9f3b408a.jpg)
![How Cher has shifted pop culture](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5cdd89757f128.jpg)
![How Cher has shifted pop culture](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5cdd8974841c3.jpg)
![How Cher has shifted pop culture](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5cdd8974e804b.jpg)
![How Cher has shifted pop culture](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5cdd8974f2486.jpg)
![How Cher has shifted pop culture](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5cdd89754f266.jpg)
![How Cher has shifted pop culture](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5cdd897cb5d6f.jpg)
![How Cher has shifted pop culture](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5ebe5e828b4e1.jpg)
![How Cher has shifted pop culture](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5cdd8980e1303.jpg)
![How Cher has shifted pop culture](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5ebe5ede6ab9d.jpg)
![How Cher has shifted pop culture](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5cdd8989ab5e6.jpg)
![How Cher has shifted pop culture](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5cdd898d6559e.jpg)
![How Cher has shifted pop culture](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5cdd89909479c.jpg)
![How Cher has shifted pop culture](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5cdd899532670.jpg)
![How Cher has shifted pop culture](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5cdd899808eae.jpg)
![How Cher has shifted pop culture](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5cdd89b505b14.jpg)
![How Cher has shifted pop culture](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5cdd8999e6546.jpg)
![How Cher has shifted pop culture](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5cdd899c27a67.jpg)
![How Cher has shifted pop culture](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5cdd89af76334.jpg)
![How Cher has shifted pop culture](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_646759d7a6ef9.jpg)
![How Cher has shifted pop culture](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5cdd8a2b35d9b.jpg)
![How Cher has shifted pop culture](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_60a2546ac3377.jpg)
![How Cher has shifted pop culture](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_60a254679fefc.jpg)
![How Cher has shifted pop culture](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5cdd8a294e777.jpg)
![How Cher has shifted pop culture](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5cdd8a2ae776a.jpg)
![How Cher has shifted pop culture](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5cdd8a28ac8d0.jpg)
![How Cher has shifted pop culture](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5cdd8a2f105ac.jpg)
![How Cher has shifted pop culture](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5cdd8a3563e0a.jpg)
![How Cher has shifted pop culture](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5cdd8a4160475.jpg)
![How Cher has shifted pop culture](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5cdd8f66e7e78.jpg)
![How Cher has shifted pop culture](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5cdd8a4befad7.jpg)
![How Cher has shifted pop culture](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5cdd8a5b31557.jpg)
See Also
See Again
© Getty Images
0 / 32 Fotos
Early days - Cher didn't have an easy childhood, raised mostly by a single mother in different states across America. Inspired by 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' (1961), Cher started to become obsessed with fame.
© Public Domain
1 / 32 Fotos
Moving to L.A.
- At the age of 16, Cher dropped out of school and moved to LA with a friend. She danced in clubs along Sunset Strip, and took acting classes too.
© Public Domain
2 / 32 Fotos
Cher meets Sonny - In 1962, Cher met Sonny Bono, who was working for influential producer Phil Spector.
© Getty Images
3 / 32 Fotos
'Be My Baby' - Bono introduced Cher to the producer, who got Cher and Sonny to sing on hit songs like 'Be My Baby' by The Ronettes. She wasn't even 18 and Cher had already worked on a classic.
© Getty Images
4 / 32 Fotos
Falling in love - Cher's first single was 'Ringo, I Love You,' dedicated to Ringo Starr. However, she was actually falling in love with Sonny.
© Getty Images
5 / 32 Fotos
Look at them - The duo married in 1964, and released their debut album 'Look at Us' just one year later.
© Getty Images
6 / 32 Fotos
'I Got You Babe'
- The record featured their first hit, 'I Got You Babe,' which went number one in America and the United Kingdom. Reminder: Cher was just 19 years old.
© Getty Images
7 / 32 Fotos
Smash hit - The song made stars out of Sonny and Cher, and became their signature tune.
© Getty Images
8 / 32 Fotos
Motherhood
- The couple welcomed their only child in 1969. Chaz is transgender and began his transition in 2008, releasing a documentary on his journey called 'Becoming Chaz' in 2011.
© Getty Images
9 / 32 Fotos
Onto the small screen - After a string of successful singles and albums, Sonny and Cher got into the world of TV. 'The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour' aired from 1971 to 1974.
© Public Domain
10 / 32 Fotos
Divorce - It seemed to be plain sailing for Sonny and Cher, but the couple got a shock divorce in 1975, surprising fans and the worldwide press.
© NL Beeld
11 / 32 Fotos
Cher as solo star - Sonny and Cher were big, but it was her time to establish herself as a solo star.
© Getty Images
12 / 32 Fotos
The 'Cher' show - In 1975, the same year as her divorce, Cher was given her own hour-long show, titled 'Cher.' Here she is performing with David Bowie on the show.
© Public Domain
13 / 32 Fotos
Breaking out - The show ran for just one year, but Cher was already breaking out as an on-screen solo star.
© Public Domain
14 / 32 Fotos
'Cher.... Special' - She achieved another milestone in 1978, with the release of 'Cher… Special.' The special, in which she played every character from 'West Side Story,' even won an Emmy.
© Public Domain
15 / 32 Fotos
Move to the big screen - In the '80s, Cher got a proper start to her movie career. She starred in such films as 'Silkwood' (1983), 'Mask' (1985), and 'Suspect' (1987).
© NL Beeld
16 / 32 Fotos
Iconic look at the Oscars - Cher wasn't just content with an Emmy, and wore this iconic outfit to the 1986 Academy Awards.
© Getty Images
17 / 32 Fotos
'Moonstruck' - Cher's on-screen presence took on new heights in 1987, starring as Loretta Castorini in 'Moonstruck.'
© NL Beeld
18 / 32 Fotos
Best Actress, and best outfit too
- This was a milestone performance for Cher, and she went on to win the Best Actress Oscar. The star wore another striking outfit to pick up the award.
© Getty Images
19 / 32 Fotos
'Mermaids' - Cher introduced herself to yet another audience by starring in 'Mermaids,' a comedy-drama that also starred Winona Ryder.
© NL Beeld
20 / 32 Fotos
The Heart of Stone tour
- Cher had gone almost a decade without touring until 1989, when she kicked off on the Heart of Stone tour.
© Getty Images
21 / 32 Fotos
Major success
- The tour was a huge success, with televised specials, CDs, DVDs, and concert dates around the world. It was soon followed up by the Love Hurts tour in 1991.
© Getty Images
22 / 32 Fotos
Concert queen - This signified the start of Cher's reign as a concert queen, with hugely successful tours through the '90s and the 21st century.
© Getty Images
23 / 32 Fotos
'Believe' - Cher is partly responsible for a shift in global modern music. It started in 1998, when she released 'Believe,' featuring auto-tuned vocals.
© Getty Images
24 / 32 Fotos
Breaking records - The song went number one around the world, and made Cher the oldest female soloist atop the Billboard Hot 100 chart ever (she was 53).
© Getty Images
25 / 32 Fotos
Auto-tune - However, it's the song's sound that makes it so influential. The robotic auto-tuned vocals polarized many critics, but introduced mainstream audiences to the audio technique.
© Getty Images
26 / 32 Fotos
Influential Cher - Nowadays, many artists use auto-tune. Beyoncé, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, and Post Malone are just some examples.
© Getty Images
27 / 32 Fotos
Feud with Madonna - Cher's feud with Madonna has also contributed to her industry infamy. The two stars have gone back-and-forth for years.
© Getty Images
28 / 32 Fotos
"Not beautiful, but she's rude" - In 1991, Cher made headlines when talking about Madonna. "She's unbelievably creative, because she's not unbelievably talented, she's not beautiful, but she's rude." Ouch!
© Reuters
29 / 32 Fotos
@Cher - In recent years, Cher has captured the love of a new generation thanks to her incredible Twitter account. She has many funny tweets, like 2012's "Whats going on with mycareer."
© NL Beeld
30 / 32 Fotos
Here we go again...
- Cher has stayed relevant in film in recent years with a starring role in 'Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again' (2018). She played Ruby Sheridan, the stylish grandmother of Sophie. See also: Unexpected stars who won Oscars
© NL Beeld
31 / 32 Fotos
© Getty Images
0 / 32 Fotos
Early days - Cher didn't have an easy childhood, raised mostly by a single mother in different states across America. Inspired by 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' (1961), Cher started to become obsessed with fame.
© Public Domain
1 / 32 Fotos
Moving to L.A.
- At the age of 16, Cher dropped out of school and moved to LA with a friend. She danced in clubs along Sunset Strip, and took acting classes too.
© Public Domain
2 / 32 Fotos
Cher meets Sonny - In 1962, Cher met Sonny Bono, who was working for influential producer Phil Spector.
© Getty Images
3 / 32 Fotos
'Be My Baby' - Bono introduced Cher to the producer, who got Cher and Sonny to sing on hit songs like 'Be My Baby' by The Ronettes. She wasn't even 18 and Cher had already worked on a classic.
© Getty Images
4 / 32 Fotos
Falling in love - Cher's first single was 'Ringo, I Love You,' dedicated to Ringo Starr. However, she was actually falling in love with Sonny.
© Getty Images
5 / 32 Fotos
Look at them - The duo married in 1964, and released their debut album 'Look at Us' just one year later.
© Getty Images
6 / 32 Fotos
'I Got You Babe'
- The record featured their first hit, 'I Got You Babe,' which went number one in America and the United Kingdom. Reminder: Cher was just 19 years old.
© Getty Images
7 / 32 Fotos
Smash hit - The song made stars out of Sonny and Cher, and became their signature tune.
© Getty Images
8 / 32 Fotos
Motherhood
- The couple welcomed their only child in 1969. Chaz is transgender and began his transition in 2008, releasing a documentary on his journey called 'Becoming Chaz' in 2011.
© Getty Images
9 / 32 Fotos
Onto the small screen - After a string of successful singles and albums, Sonny and Cher got into the world of TV. 'The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour' aired from 1971 to 1974.
© Public Domain
10 / 32 Fotos
Divorce - It seemed to be plain sailing for Sonny and Cher, but the couple got a shock divorce in 1975, surprising fans and the worldwide press.
© NL Beeld
11 / 32 Fotos
Cher as solo star - Sonny and Cher were big, but it was her time to establish herself as a solo star.
© Getty Images
12 / 32 Fotos
The 'Cher' show - In 1975, the same year as her divorce, Cher was given her own hour-long show, titled 'Cher.' Here she is performing with David Bowie on the show.
© Public Domain
13 / 32 Fotos
Breaking out - The show ran for just one year, but Cher was already breaking out as an on-screen solo star.
© Public Domain
14 / 32 Fotos
'Cher.... Special' - She achieved another milestone in 1978, with the release of 'Cher… Special.' The special, in which she played every character from 'West Side Story,' even won an Emmy.
© Public Domain
15 / 32 Fotos
Move to the big screen - In the '80s, Cher got a proper start to her movie career. She starred in such films as 'Silkwood' (1983), 'Mask' (1985), and 'Suspect' (1987).
© NL Beeld
16 / 32 Fotos
Iconic look at the Oscars - Cher wasn't just content with an Emmy, and wore this iconic outfit to the 1986 Academy Awards.
© Getty Images
17 / 32 Fotos
'Moonstruck' - Cher's on-screen presence took on new heights in 1987, starring as Loretta Castorini in 'Moonstruck.'
© NL Beeld
18 / 32 Fotos
Best Actress, and best outfit too
- This was a milestone performance for Cher, and she went on to win the Best Actress Oscar. The star wore another striking outfit to pick up the award.
© Getty Images
19 / 32 Fotos
'Mermaids' - Cher introduced herself to yet another audience by starring in 'Mermaids,' a comedy-drama that also starred Winona Ryder.
© NL Beeld
20 / 32 Fotos
The Heart of Stone tour
- Cher had gone almost a decade without touring until 1989, when she kicked off on the Heart of Stone tour.
© Getty Images
21 / 32 Fotos
Major success
- The tour was a huge success, with televised specials, CDs, DVDs, and concert dates around the world. It was soon followed up by the Love Hurts tour in 1991.
© Getty Images
22 / 32 Fotos
Concert queen - This signified the start of Cher's reign as a concert queen, with hugely successful tours through the '90s and the 21st century.
© Getty Images
23 / 32 Fotos
'Believe' - Cher is partly responsible for a shift in global modern music. It started in 1998, when she released 'Believe,' featuring auto-tuned vocals.
© Getty Images
24 / 32 Fotos
Breaking records - The song went number one around the world, and made Cher the oldest female soloist atop the Billboard Hot 100 chart ever (she was 53).
© Getty Images
25 / 32 Fotos
Auto-tune - However, it's the song's sound that makes it so influential. The robotic auto-tuned vocals polarized many critics, but introduced mainstream audiences to the audio technique.
© Getty Images
26 / 32 Fotos
Influential Cher - Nowadays, many artists use auto-tune. Beyoncé, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, and Post Malone are just some examples.
© Getty Images
27 / 32 Fotos
Feud with Madonna - Cher's feud with Madonna has also contributed to her industry infamy. The two stars have gone back-and-forth for years.
© Getty Images
28 / 32 Fotos
"Not beautiful, but she's rude" - In 1991, Cher made headlines when talking about Madonna. "She's unbelievably creative, because she's not unbelievably talented, she's not beautiful, but she's rude." Ouch!
© Reuters
29 / 32 Fotos
@Cher - In recent years, Cher has captured the love of a new generation thanks to her incredible Twitter account. She has many funny tweets, like 2012's "Whats going on with mycareer."
© NL Beeld
30 / 32 Fotos
Here we go again...
- Cher has stayed relevant in film in recent years with a starring role in 'Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again' (2018). She played Ruby Sheridan, the stylish grandmother of Sophie. See also: Unexpected stars who won Oscars
© NL Beeld
31 / 32 Fotos
How Cher has shifted pop culture
The timeless star was chosen to receive this year's Icon Award
© Getty Images
On April 1, the people at iHeartRadio made official what has been obvious for many decades. Cher was chosen as the recipient of this year's Icon Award, which she accepted wearing 40-year-old pants. “There are people who say, ‘Doesn’t that b***h have more than one pair of pants?’” She joked as she accepted the award from her old friend, Meryl Streep. “I’ve had these pants for 40 years. I thought we should come here and accept this award together.” She went on to say that she has "been down and out so many times you could not believe it,” but never gave up her dream. “Have a dream and don’t give it up no matter what happens," she advised. "If you have a dream and stick with it, you will have a wonderful life and it will probably come true.”
The Goddess of Pop is now in her seventies, but she's aging gracefully as can be. Cher got her start with Sonny Bono, becoming world-famous as a folk rock singer. She took over TV, and film was next, winning the Best Actress Oscar in 1988. From there, Cher has only impressed more and more.
Click on to see the beautiful star throughout the years, and read about her most incredible achievements.
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
![Hollywood stars with their stunt doubles and stand-ins](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66a21ab9668d0.jpg)
![You won't believe these celebrity yearbook photos](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_649982afcf942.jpg)
![Celebrity breakup hairstyles we'll never forget](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_669e5d0d7be1f.jpg)
![Famous Americans who married foreigners](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_669e80ab9abdf.jpg)
![These celebrities have had paranormal experiences!](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_5954c6f04201b.jpg)
![Brigitte Bardot: the complicated story of a beauty icon](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_660eb2d811b35.jpg)
![US presidents who didn't serve a second term](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_669e36738ac60.jpg)
![Spectacular gravesites of famous people](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_669a5e8a942cd.jpg)
![Intoxication station: celebrities under the influence on live TV](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_61164d7f1370e.jpg)
![How did the British royal couples meet?](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_669a627fb58c8.jpg)
![Celebs who worked for other celebs before they were famous](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_614b0ddb540ae.jpg)
![Straw hat inspo for the sunny days ahead](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66991f3303087.jpg)
![The endless list of tragic Playmate deaths](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_6699169606322.jpg)
![Who's the sexiest man NOT alive?](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_618baea45460a.jpg)
![Surprising celebs who don't have a star on the Walk of Fame](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_6078465513445.jpg)
![Latino stars who don't speak Spanish](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_6141e0e18fb3f.jpg)
![The wackiest celebrity wedding dresses](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_668e96e29d928.jpg)
![The biggest child star success stories](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_609a77104427b.jpg)
![Celebs who worked at or attended summer camps](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_610279d8f387c.jpg)
![All the stars who have come out (so far) as LGBTQ+ in 2024](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_669522e3ae0e4.jpg)
![Dangerous attraction: celebrities who owned snakes](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66912f5825648.jpg)
![The unexpected history of the mullet](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_5fe2197402ee1.jpg)
![Meet the muses of these world famous artists](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_64ae7ec92fe93.jpg)
![How celebrities spoil their kids](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_668ff00f7b5c1.jpg)
![Celebrities you didn't know were absolute nerds](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_668fe93346f46.jpg)
![These celebrities all play the piano](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_668fe36b08986.jpg)
![The best mops in rock and roll](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_5f8014dd23bdc.jpg)
![These celebrities are often mistaken for each other](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_64abfa5284ffd.jpg)
![The most fashionable period dramas of all time](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_668bf2fcd8520.jpg)
![Green carpet looks: Celebs who champion sustainable fashion](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_6446799be46a7.jpg)
![These celebrities got kicked out of school](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_668bc189a6398.jpg)
![Stars who were once homeless](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_668bbf5f2cc32.jpg)
![Timeless celebrity bomber jacket looks](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_615ae8e98be99.jpg)
![Celebrity couples and their first date stories](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_609e6033d6f89.jpg)
![The hottest Formula 1 drivers in history](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_6490a0734061e.jpg)
![Stars out of water: Celebs who can't swim](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_668805adbd994.jpg)
MOST READ
- Last Hour
- Last Day
- Last Week