Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of addiction, emotional abuse, and death.

Cher was born Cherilyn Sarkisian on May 20, 1946, in El Centro, California, to Georgia Holt and Johnnie Sarkisian. After her father abandoned the family, Cher was raised by her mother and several stepfathers in California, Texas, and New York. Cher showed a love for music at an early age, having inherited her mother’s singing talent and fascination for new stars like Elvis and Ray Charles. Cher quit high school for good after years of academic frustration and dedicated herself to acting classes.

Still a teenager, Cher met Sonny Bono, a music producer and amateur singer. They soon began a romantic and then professional relationship, becoming the singing duo Sonny and Cher.

Cher soon became a household name across the US, launching a decades-long career in television, pop music, and film. Cher is also loved by her fans for her distinct fashion sense and her activism in support of the LGBTQ+ community, AIDS patients, and veterans. Cher has been honored with an Emmy, a Golden Globe, an Academy Award, and a Grammy.