Cher, the iconic singer and actress, has made a startling revelation in the first volume of her memoir. Reflecting on her tumultuous relationship with her former husband and music partner Sonny Bono, the 78-year-old artist disclosed that Bono financially deceived her during their marriage.
“He Took All My Money”
In an interview with The New York Times, Cher candidly shared her experience of discovering that Bono had taken control of her finances without her knowledge. “He took all my money,” Cher revealed, adding that she had trusted Bono implicitly during their time together.
The star admitted she had been naive about financial matters at the time. “I just thought, ‘We’re husband and wife. Half the things are his, half the things are mine.’ It didn’t occur to me that there was another way,” she explained.
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Even decades later, Cher still grapples with the betrayal, saying, “To this day, I wish to God I could just ask, ‘Son, at what point, during what day, did you go, ‘Yeah, you know what? I’m going to take her money.’”
A Complex Relationship
Cher met Bono when she was just 16, and he was 27. Their partnership began as a professional collaboration but quickly evolved into a romantic relationship, leading to their marriage in 1964. While they were a powerhouse duo in the entertainment world, their personal life was far from harmonious. The couple divorced in 1975, and Bono passed away in 1998 following a tragic skiing accident.
In her memoir, Cher also discusses how Bono restricted her social interactions, even preventing her from spending time with other band members.
Cher’s Resilience and Legacy
Despite the challenges, Cher’s resilience has been a defining trait throughout her career. At 78, she continues to defy expectations, even working with her 96-year-old voice coach. “You’re not really supposed to be able to sing at this age,” Cher noted, acknowledging the rarity of her vocal longevity. “I’ve been singing my whole life. It will make me sad the day I can’t.”
Writing the memoir, titled Cher, was a deeply emotional and exhausting process for the artist. The first volume provides an intimate glimpse into her life, while the second volume is anticipated in 2025.
