Cher gay icon

It was a rare moment of unity, compassion, and strength.

Cher’s Many Lives

From Burlesque (2010) to Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018), Cher’s film career has been a celebration of confidence and camp. “When I’m watching a movie, I want it to be great,” she said. The only woman that openly gay billionaire David Geffen ever fell in love with was Cher.

She is a part of its cultural DNA. Her defiance of norms, her theatrical flair, her resilience in the face of ridicule, and her lifelong alliance with queer people have elevated her beyond celebrity to something almost mythic.

Additionally, Cher’s personal life exemplifies her allyship as her eldest child, Chaz Bono, came out as lesbian at 17 and later transitioned, with Cher fully supporting his journey.

In an interview, Cher shared a heartwarming childhood memory when, at the age of nine, she met two gay men in her living room.

By sixteen, she had met Sonny Bono, and within two years they were a pop phenomenon. The track topped charts worldwide, sold over eleven million copies, and cemented Cher as both legend and innovator.

 

Her embrace of her child Chaz Bono’s gender transition in the 2000s turned her into something even more powerful: a mother who evolved publicly.

With a career spanning over five decades, this American singer, songwriter, and actress has left an indelible mark on the industry.

Cher’s ascent to stardom began in 1965 when she teamed up with Sonny Bono to form the folk rock duo Sonny & Cher.

Instead, she soared.

The song quickly became a chart-topper, defining an era and resonating strongly with the global LGBTQ+ community. “I thought, ‘These guys are much more fun than the regular men that come over to visit,’” she said. Their 1965 hit “I Got You Babe” became a generational anthem, but its meaning ran deeper than its melody.

In the words of Thomas Rogers, her narrative resonates with “the pain experienced by many” in the LGBTQ+ community during their journey of self-acceptance.

Cher’s impact on the LGBTQ+ community extends beyond her music. She was claiming a truth that countless people already felt.

 

The Last Icon Standing

 

At seventy-eight, Cher remains an artist without expiration.

Throughout the years, she has been linked to some of Hollywood and rock music’s most recognizable and desirable men, each one reflecting a different chapter of her evolution.

 

Among them was Richie Sambora, the Bon Jovi guitarist whose magnetic stage presence and soulful personality complemented Cher’s intensity. Their bond was rooted in mutual rebellion and respect, two outsiders at the height of their powers who found in each other both strength and safety.

Cher never needed validation from the men she dated — instead, they became part of her rich and unapologetic mythology.

 

A Life Lived Loudly and Without Apology

 

Cher’s journey, both personal and professional, has always been about refusing limits. Their brief relationship caught the media’s attention and added to Cher’s reputation for always keeping people guessing.

 

Her relationship with Val Kilmer was one of deep connection and creativity.

Her unapologetic glamour became a form of defiance, a glittering reminder that self-expression could be an act of rebellion.

A Career Built on Rebellion

 

When Cher and Sonny separated, few expected her to survive in the entertainment world without him. Their breakout hit, “I Got You Babe,” not only topped the charts but also catapulted them to the international spotlight.

From her distinctive contralto to her versatility across various artistic realms, Cher has captivated audiences worldwide.

Cher made a significant impact on the music scene when she released the groundbreaking dance-pop anthem “Believe” on October 19, 1998.

“And I didn’t know that they were gay, but I just thought ‘These guys are great,’ and it all started from then.”

Sitting with actor Andy Garcia, who she duets with on the iconic ABBA song “Fernando” in the film, Cher also commented on the fact that she genuinely loves Mamma Mia!

Here We Go Again, which even she claims is high praise.