“It was harder than divorcing two men.” This is how Cher commented on her induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame after receiving the coveted honor.
Not long after that day, the star reached another important milestone: the publication of Cher: The Memoir – Part One, the first of two autobiographical volumes, published by HarperCollins and set to be released on November 19. In it, the artist recounts her formative years and the beginning of her career, as she previewed in a lengthy interview, weaving them together with memories of an unstable childhood spent with a restless mother who married seven times.
In 1962, 16-year-old Cherilyn Sarkisian met 27-year-old Sonny Bono in a coffee shop, and from that moment, her life would take an unexpected turn. The musician describes the moment as a “deep connection I had never felt before.”
The couple manages to turn that bond into a shared dream that also materializes into a professional partnership. I Got You Babe will top the charts, and television shows like The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour become some of the most-watched programs. Yet behind the apparent harmony and the flashy stage costumes, their romantic relationship slowly begins to crumble.
Cher reveals how their marriage fell into crisis, eventually leading her to decide to leave. She admits to having done so impulsively, an act of rebellion she describes as almost unconscious.
Despite the separation, the couple decided to continue their professional collaboration for another two years. In the meantime, however, the diva uncovered a shocking truth: Sonny had complete control over their financial management.
Despite this painful chapter in her life, the star never stopped, going on to win an Oscar in 1988 for her role in Moonstruck.
With her induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the release of her memoir, the versatile artist celebrates a career that has spanned decades and profoundly influenced pop culture. Fans eager to learn more about her recent years and cinematic successes will have to wait for the next installment.
