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Cher

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Cher is an iconic American singer and actress.

Cher HS Yearbook
Cher HS Yearbook

She is often called the "Goddess of Pop." This nickname celebrates her influential role in popular culture. She is famous for her androgynous contralto voice. A contralto is a voice type that is deep and rich.

TeenIn11968a
TeenIn11968a

Cher is also known for her bold fashion and visual presentation. She has maintained a massive career for over sixty years. She achieves this through continual reinvention. This means she constantly changes her musical and visual style to stay fresh.

Cher's professional journey began in the 1960s.

TeenIn11968a
TeenIn11968a

She first rose to fame in 1965 as part of the folk rock duo Sonny & Cher. Their hit single "I Got You Babe" became a symbol of 1960s counterculture. While working with Sonny, she also launched a solo career. She recorded moody pop songs like "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)." This song used theatrical storytelling to set a new tone. Later, she achieved several number-one hits on the US Billboard Hot 100. These included "Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves," "Half-Breed," and "Dark Lady."

In the 1980s, Cher moved into different musical genres.

Cher live 1981
Cher live 1981

She released hair metal albums titled *Cher*, *Heart of Stone*, and *Love Hurts*. These albums produced international number-one hits. These hits included "If I Could Turn Back Time" and "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)." In 1998, she released the dance-pop album *Believe*. This album introduced the "Cher effect." This effect is a stylized use of Auto-Tune to distort vocals. The title track became the best-selling single by a female artist in the UK. It also reached number one in the US in 1999.

WKTU-FM's Miracle on 34th Street show - New York - seen on December 11, 1998 Cropped
WKTU-FM's Miracle on 34th Street show - New York - seen on December 11, 1998 Cropped

Cher is also a highly respected actress.

Cher-Wax-338354947 Cropped
Cher-Wax-338354947 Cropped

She earned two Academy Award nominations for her film work. Her first nomination was for the film *Silkwood* in 1983. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress for the film *Moonstruck* in 1987. She also won the Best Actress Award at the Cannes Film Festival for *Mask*. Other notable film roles include *The Witches of Eastwick*, *Mermaids*, and *Burlesque*. In 1996, she made her directorial debut with the film *If These Walls Could Talk*. Her talent on stage also led to a successful Broadway debut.

Cher's early life was marked by many changes.

Cher HS Yearbook
Cher HS Yearbook

She was born Cheryl Sarkisian on May 20, 1946, in El Centro, California. Her father, John Sarkisian, was an Armenian-American truck driver. Her mother, Georgia Holt, was a model and actress of Irish, English, German, and Cherokee descent. Her parents divorced when she was only ten months old. This led to a difficult period where she spent several months in an orphanage. Eventually, her mother married Gilbert LaPiere. He adopted Cher and her half-sister, Georganne. Cher grew up in various states, including New York and Texas. She often faced financial struggles during her childhood.

Cher's career statistics are truly remarkable.

Cher singing
Cher singing

She is one of the best-selling music artists in history. She has sold over 100 million records worldwide. Cher is the only solo artist to achieve number-one singles on the US Billboard charts in seven consecutive decades. This spans from the 1960s all the way to the 2020s. Her 2002–2005 *Living Proof: The Farewell Tour* was a massive success. At the time, it was the highest-grossing concert tour by a female artist. The tour earned approximately $250 million.

Cher at Farewell Tour
Cher at Farewell Tour

Beyond her entertainment career, Cher is a significant cultural figure.

She is known for her progressive politics. She uses her platform to advocate for important social causes. These include LGBTQ rights and HIV/AIDS awareness. Her life and many career milestones have inspired others. For example, her life story inspired the 2018 jukebox musical *The Cher Show*. She has received many prestigious honors. These include two Grammy Awards and a Primetime Emmy Award. She is also a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She is the only performer to win an Academy Award for acting and be inducted into that Hall of Fame.

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🖼️ Images & Media (31)
File:Cher HS Yearbook.jpg
Cher HS Yearbook.jpg
File:Cher - All I Really Want to Do ad - Cash Box 1965.jpg
Cher - All I Really Want to Do ad - Cash...
File:TeenIn11968a.jpg
TeenIn11968a.jpg
File:Sonny and Cher David McCallum Man From Uncle 1967 Cropped.JPG
Sonny and Cher David McCallum Man From...
File:Cher 1971.JPG
Cher 1971.JPG
File:A Cowboy's Work Is Never Done - Cash Box ad 1972.jpg
A Cowboy's Work Is Never Done - Cash Box...
File:David Bowie and Cher 1975.JPG
David Bowie and Cher 1975.JPG
File:Cher and Gregg Allman (cropped).jpg
Cher and Gregg Allman (cropped).jpg
File:Cher live 1981.jpg
Cher live 1981.jpg
File:RickyCher1985.jpg
RickyCher1985.jpg
File:Pediatric AIDS Foundation - Washington, D.C. - seen on Wednesday, June 21, 1989.jpg
Pediatric AIDS Foundation - Washington,...
File:Cher singing.jpg
Cher singing.jpg

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