Cher: The Memoir: Part One

Georgia was born Jackie Jean Crouch in 1926 in Arkansas. The daughter of impoverished laborers, Georgia grew up on the move with her young parents, who struggled to make ends meet. When her father, Roy, discovered her singing talent, she soon became the family breadwinner, singing in saloons for change. Georgia eventually trained in acting and had small roles in shows like I Love Lucy and The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet while also raising her daughters, Cher and Gee.

In Cher’s memoir, she remembers her mother as a tough, loving, and complicated woman. Cher admits that her mother’s seven marriages and penchant for constant moving took a toll on Cher as a child. She describes her sometimes-tense relationship with her mother, who had strong opinions on Cher’s relationship and career. While Cher struggled with many of her mother’s attitudes and decisions, she also appreciates her tenacity and will to survive. While Georgia suffered through poverty, abandonment, and abuse, she never gave up hope of giving her children a happy home. Cher credits her mother with teaching her how to be resilient to hardship. She writes, “[M]y mother’s life taught me to be independent, resilient, and adaptable” (85). In another gesture of affection, Cher has dedicated her memoir to her mother, as well as her other close family members. Holt passed away at the age of 96 in 2022.

Sonny was an American singer and politician. Born in 1935, Sonny grew up in an Italian American family in Detroit. He began writing music as a teen and was hired by music producer Phil Spector. After teaming up with a young Cher, Sonny finally found commercial success, and the two became the successful singing duo “Sonny and Cher.” Sonny co-hosted the much-loved variety show The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour with Cher in the early 1970s, becoming a part of millions of Americans’ daily lives. After the breakdown of his marriage to Cher, Sonny continued to write music and star in television shows. In the late 1980s, he refocused on a career in politics, serving as the mayor of Palm Springs and then as a congressman for California. Sonny died in 1998 in a skiing accident.

In her memoir, Cher depicts Sonny as a man of contradictions. She acknowledges his creative personality, musical talent, and intense work ethic. Indeed, she reveals that she was most attracted to his unique sense of style and playful personality, calling him a “natural clown” (289).

She recalls Sonny’s sense of fun and humor, and their deep, genuine enjoyment at collaborating in skits and duets. However, Cher also reveals that Sonny hurt her personally and professionally. She depicts him as an unfaithful and controlling husband who pressured her into overworking herself and limited her social life and activities. Cher also accuses Sonny of financial abuse for exploiting her contributions to their tours and TV show, something he never apologized for or remedied. Cher concludes, “The truth is, I knew Sonny better than anyone, but sometimes I didn’t know him at all” (304).

David is an American music producer. In the early 1970s, he co-founded Asylum Records, where he helped launch the careers of greats such as Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, and Tom Waits. In 1980, he established his own record label, Geffen Records, which went on to produce music by Elton John, John Lennon, Nirvana, and more.

In her memoir, Cher explains how she and David dated in the early 1970s after meeting at a Christmas party, remembering him as “so smart and so funny” (305). Cher portrays David as a kind and sensitive man who helped support her emotionally and financially during her difficult and complicated divorce from Sonny Bono. In addition to helping her rent a home, David looked at her contract with Sonny and helped her understand how she was being financially exploited by Sonny’s company, “Cher Enterprises.” While they did not end up marrying as they had planned, Cher and David parted ways amicably, and Cher remains grateful for his help and support. She explains, “Thank God I had David, because without him I would’ve had nothing” (311).