Cher had left home as a teen and moved to Hollywood with hopes of becoming a movie star. She was working singing backup for producer Phil Spector when she met Sonny Bono. Bono and Cher were married in 1964 and by 1965 they had topped the pop charts as Sonny & Cher (changing from their original name, Caesar & Cleo) with "I Got You Babe." Cher was also finding success on the charts with some of her solo hits: "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)" and "You Better Sit Down Kids." Cher also appeared in 2 films: Good Times (with Sonny in 1967) and Chasity (in 1969).
The rise to the top for Sonny & Cher was just as quick as their fall from success after their music career slowed (many speculating that the fall was due to their opposition and vocalizing against drug use). The tone of Sonny & Cher shifted toward more mainstream entertainment and led to success on television with their own variety series in the early 70s: The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour.
1971
Cher found solo chart success with her first #1 and gold, "Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves" and released the LP, Gypsys, Tramps And Thieves.
1972
Cher released Foxy Lady.
1973
Cher had her 2nd solo #1 and gold single with Half-Breed" from the LP, Half-Breed, also gold..
1974
Cher topped the charts once again with the single "Dark Lady" which was certified gold and released her first hits collection, Greatest Hits.
Bittersweet, White Light and Dark Lady, were released during the year.
1975
Released and bombed with Stars.
Her own variety show, Cher, lasted a year.
Signed on with Warner Brothers Records.
Married Gregg Allman 4 days after her divorce from Sonny
1976
Released I'd Rather Believe In You.
1977
Sonny and Cher reunited on television with The Sonny & Cher Show.
Cher released her Allman & Woman: Two The Hard Way and Cherished.
1979
Divorced Allman, and hit the Top 10 with "Take Me Home" from the LP, Take Me Home, both gold.
1980
Cher released Prisoner.
1982
Cher continued in the 1980s as a member of the rock band, Black Rose, which didn't last long but resulted in I Paralyze released in 1982. The band, the LP, and to some extent Cher's new rock image had been panned by rock critics.
Appeared on Broadway and in the film Come Back To The 5 And Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean
1983
Won a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award nomination for Silkwood
1985
Cher found success critically and commercially with Mask.
1987
Cher could be seen in the successful films, The Witches Of Eastwick and Suspect.
Release the hit singles "I Found Someone" and "We All Sleep Alone"
1988
Starred in Moonstruck and won an Academy Award as Best Actress.
Cher was certified gold.
1989
Her duet duet with Peter Cetera, "After All," was certified gold.
Released Heart Of Stone LP, and hits "If I Could Turn Back Time" and "Just Like Jesse James."
The LP became Cher's first multi-million seller with sales topping 3 million in the U.S.
1990
Starred in Mermaids and released "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss)."
1991
Released Love Hurts and hit the Top 40 with "Love And Understanding" & "Save Up All Your Tears."
Love Hurts was certified gold.
1992
Cher was certified platinum.
1995
Topped the UK chart with Chrissie Hynde, Neneh Cherry and Eric Clapton w/ "Love Can Build A Bridge."
1996
Directed and starred in HBO's If These Walls Could Talk.
Released It's A Man's World and had a moderate dance hit with "Walking In Memphis."
Hit the Top 40 with "One By One."
She talked publicly for the first time about her daughter as a lesbian. At a National Coming Out Day rally, Cher stated: "I was very un-Cher-like in my acceptance of my daughter's choice."
1998
Sonny Bono dies.
The GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) Media Awards honored more individuals in Los Angeles including Cher with the Vanguard Award. Cher said of the honor: "I feel like the gay poster girl. Chastity, are sufficiently proud of me now? ...I'm really proud of you guys, and from the bottom of my heart, thank you." The award is traditionally presented to those artists that have promoted equal rights for gays. Cher said of the honor: "The reason this award from GLAAD means so much to me is because I'm being honored by the gay community, a group of people who have stood by me and my career through thick and thin."
Cher began an unexpected comeback with the release of Believe and a book, The First Time. The track "Believe" became an instant hit in England topping the UK Singles chart for 7 weeks, and was making waves in the U.S. by the end of the year.
Cher hit the Top 40 with "Believe" and also topped the Billboard Maxi-Singles Sales chart for 21 weeks and the Billboard Dance Music Club Play chart for 5 weeks.
“Believe” (single) hits US #1 for 5 weeks, certified Platinum.
“Believe” (album) hits US #1 for 4 weeks, certified 4 platinum.
"Strong Enough" hits #1 on Billboard Club Play chart
"All Or Nothing" hits #1 on Billboard Club Play chart
Sang the National Anthem at the Super Bowl.
Released If I Could Turn Back Time - Cher's Greatest Hits w/ "Don't Come Cryin' To Me."
On on Divas Live '99 singing “Turn Back Time" “Believe,” & “Proud Mary with Tina Turner.
Two MTV VMA noms, Dance Video and Best Editing
Starred in Tea With Mussolini.
Cher ended the year with the #1 Billboard Hot 100 Single for 1999 with "Believe."
Cher topped the Billboard Year-End Chart-Toppers as the Top Hot Dance Club - Play Artist, Top Hot Dance Maxi-Singles Sales Artist, and with the Top Hot 100 Single, Top Hot 100 Single Sales, Top Hot Dance Club-Play Single, and Top Hot Dance Maxi-Single Sales (Believe).
2000
Nominated for an American Music Award for Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist.
If I Could Turn Back Time - Cher's Greatest Hits was certified gold.
Won a Grammy for Best Dance Recording and was nominated for Record of the Year & Pop Album
Awarded Favorite Female Artist, Pop at the Blockbuster Awards.
Honored at the World Music Awards with the Lifelong Contribution Award.
Her 1999 HBO concert was nominated for 3 Emmy Awards.
Released “not.com.mercial” on her website, wrote 6 of the tracks.
Guest starred on the TV show Will & Grace.
Cher took time off from recording her new LP to lend her support towards presidential candidate Al Gore - or more accurately her distain for his opponent: "Has everyone lost their fucking minds? Doesn't anybody remember the illustrious Reagan-Bush years when people had no money and no jobs?"
2001
The Cher Mattel doll hit stores after being previewed on Will & Grace last November.
2002
Begins The Farewell Tour
Released Living Proof – certified gold
Living Proof was certified gold.
"(This Is) A Song For The Lonely" hit #1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Music Club Play
"(This Is) A Song For The Lonely" hit #1 on the Billboard Maxi-Singles Sales chart for 12 weeks.
"A Different Kind Of Love Song." hit #1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Music Club Play
Guest starred on Will & Grace again, performing A Different kind of Love Song.
Performed on VH1 Divas 2002: Divas Las Vegas.
Cher topped the Billboard Year-End Charts as the Top Hot Dance Club Play Artist.
2003
Continues The farewell Tour
"When The Money's Gone" hit #1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Music Club Play
Released the double platinum collection, The Very Best Of Cher.
Released Live: The Farewell Tour.
Topped the Billboard Top Internet Albums chart for 3 weeks with The Very Best Of Cher.
Cher's TV special, Cher - The Farewell Tour, was nominated for 6 Emmy Awards.
Recorded "Bewitched Bothered And Bewildered" with Rod Stewart
Nominated for 2 AMA’s for Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist and the Michael Jackson International Artist of the Year Award.
2004
Still continues The farewell Tour
Nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording ("Love One Another").
Announces she will pose nude for her 60th birthday.
Rallies with Rosie O’Donnell at Crobar in SoBe to support Kerry.
