The Queen Mother Speaks – Cher’s Most Personal Stories Come To Light
According to The New York Times, Cher’s new memoir reveals her raw, honest journey from a challenging childhood to becoming one of music’s most enduring stars.
At 78, Cher shows her vulnerable side. During a 90-minute interview, she asks twice if people will like her book. This comes from someone who has won an Oscar for Moonstruck, an Emmy for Cher: The Farewell Tour, and a Grammy for Believe.
Her two-part memoir took four months to write. The first volume starts with her birth in 1946 and ends in the early 1980s. It covers her talks with Francis Ford Coppola about moving from singing to acting.
Born Cheryl Sarkisian, Cher’s early life was full of instability. Her mother, Georgia Holt, worked as a singer and actor. Her father, Johnnie Sarkisian, struggled with heroin addiction. As an infant, her father left her at a Catholic children’s home in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
The book details her relationship with Sonny Bono, whom she met at 16 when he was 27. Their partnership led to hits like I Got You Babe and The Sonny And Cher Show. But success came with problems. Bono controlled their finances through Cher Enterprises, leaving her with little power over her earnings.
Today, Cher continues performing. She dates Alexander Edwards, who is 38. She still works with her 96-year-old voice coach. The second volume of her memoir comes out next year.
Her sister Georganne Bartylak remembers when Cher moved in with Bono. On Bartylak’s stuffed pumpkin, Cher wrote, “One day you will be proud of me.” Bartylak says she already was.
