It is hard to imagine that Cher will turn 80 next week, but as she enters her ninth decade, the pop legend remains one of the most enduring names in music today. Brand and culture expert Nick Ede tells OK!: "She is one of those rare stars who exists completely outside of age. She has never allowed herself to be defined by a number, trend, or an era. She is a movie star, a pop superstar, a rock chick, and a fashion icon – and she is totally ageless."
The Believe singer, who celebrates her milestone birthday on 20 May, has been entertaining the world since the 1960s, with a string of chart hits and an Oscar-winning film under her belt. Speaking about her remarkable longevity, she has said: "My life seems to be longer than any other human being ever. I feel like I should be in the Guinness World Records book for this. And I am still going!"
Early Life and Rise to Fame
Born Cheryl Sarkisian in California in 1946, she first shot to fame as one half of pop duo Sonny & Cher, alongside then-husband Sonny Bono. Their breakthrough hit, I Got You Babe, topped the charts in 1965, and they later became TV favourites on The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour. After launching a solo career, smash hits included If I Could Turn Back Time in 1989 and Believe, which still stands as one of the bestselling singles of all time.
The 1998 track Believe was credited with normalising the use of autotune in pop. Cher mused on the song's 25th anniversary in 2023: "My favourite thing was that you didn't know it was my voice at the beginning."
Reinvention and Fashion
Throughout her time in showbiz, Cher has repeatedly reinvented herself, becoming known for her flamboyant outfits. Nick Ede explains: "From her Bob Mackie naked dresses to all the sequins and feathers, Cher has made fashion theatrical, glamorous and fabulously bold. She has continued dressing exactly how she wants at every stage of her life." Despite stellar pop collaborations with Sir Elton John, Lady Gaga, and Dua Lipa, Cher has frequently mocked her own music, once joking: "I think I am a much better actress than singer."
Film Career
Her foray into movies began in the 1980s, with roles in Silkwood, Mask, The Witches of Eastwick, and Moonstruck – which won her the Best Actress Oscar. On her night of glory in 1988, she famously quipped: "I don't think that this means that I am somebody, but I guess I am on my way." Later roles came in Mermaids, Burlesque, and the 2018 blockbuster Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, where she played Ruby, mother of Meryl Streep's character Donna. She reflected: "The idea that I was her mother was hysterical."
Personal Life
After so long in the spotlight, her personal life has often been complicated. She and Sonny welcomed son Chaz Bono, now 57 and an actor, but divorced in 1975 after 13 years together. She claimed in her 2024 book Cher: The Memoir, Part One that he cheated on her. Just four days after the divorce was finalised, she married musician Gregg Allman. They had a son, Elijah, now 49, but split soon after, primarily due to his substance abuse issues. In later years, Cher was linked to actors Val Kilmer and Tom Cruise, who she once called a "shy boy" and said ranked among her "top five" lovers.
Nowadays, she is in a relationship with music executive Alexander 'AE' Edwards, who is 40 years her junior. Wedding rumours have been circling, and speaking on US show CBS Mornings last year, Cher hit back at critics of their age gap. "Whatever," she said. "They are not living my life. Nobody knows what goes on between us, but we just have a blast." She also insisted Alexander has no problem with it, saying: "He just says, 'You know, you get older, but your spirit is younger.'" Explaining their connection, she added: "We laugh all the time, you know? I just love him. I think he is beautiful." She also gets on with Alexander's son from a previous relationship with model Amber Rose, saying: "He is so funny. He is so smart. He is a delight."
While she was recently said to have been left "speechless" after discovering she is grandmother to a 15-year-old girl allegedly fathered by her son Elijah, Cher's life has also been marked by loss. Sonny died aged 62 in 1998 in a skiing accident, and in a moving eulogy at his funeral she called him an "unforgettable character" and "the most special man I have ever known." In 2017, she was grief-stricken again when her ex Gregg died aged 69 after complications with liver cancer. She wrote on social media: "Words are impossible. The sadness is immeasurable."
Recent Projects and Secrets to Looking Good
In a happier moment, Cher celebrated 60 years in music with the compilation album Forever in September 2024 – although she told the audience at London's Lyceum Theatre: "This is probably my last album that I am gonna do." As for her secret to still looking good, Cher credits an intense fitness regime including zumba and yoga – while she has never shied away from having tweakments. "Yes, I have had a facelift, but who hasn't?" she has admitted. Slamming the idea that cosmetic surgery is something to be ashamed of, she has also said: "It makes me happy," and that "it is nobody's business but my own." Nick Ede adds: "Cher has never pretended to wake up looking flawless without help. In an industry where so many stars dodge the conversation, she has been open about the work she has had done. Her honesty is empowering, and in a world obsessed with telling women how to age, Cher's answer has always been, 'I will do it my way.'"
