At 78, Cher has made a heartbreaking confession that has left fans stunned. After decades of fame, success, and being a beloved cultural icon, the legendary singer and actress has revealed a personal truth that no one saw coming: despite being celebrated for her distinctive, powerful voice, she does not like how she sounds.
This revelation comes as a shock to many, considering Cher’s unique vocal style has been a defining part of her career for more than six decades. However, what makes this confession even more poignant is that it reflects deeper insecurities that Cher has battled privately throughout her remarkable journey.
Cher has always been known for her bold personality, her fearless approach to fashion, and her ability to take risks both in her music and her public persona. Yet, behind the scenes, she has long grappled with self-doubt, particularly when it comes to her own voice. In the interview, she shared, “I just never liked my voice that much. If I had my choice, I probably would have another one, but I didn’t get my choice. I got my mother’s voice.”1
Cher’s voice, with its deep resonance and emotional depth, has been celebrated around the world, but for her, it has always felt like something outside of her control, something she never fully accepted. It’s a heartbreaking truth, but also one that humanizes the superstar in ways that her fans may not have realized before.
For those who have followed Cher’s career, it may be difficult to imagine someone so accomplished and loved by millions could harbor such self-doubt. She is the icon behind chart-topping hits like “Believe,” “If I Could Turn Back Time,” and “Strong Enough.” These songs, among many others, have solidified Cher as an unstoppable force in the entertainment industry, not just for her music, but for her larger-than-life persona and ability to connect with her audience on a personal level.
However, despite her incredible success, Cher has admitted that she avoids listening to her own songs because hearing her voice brings discomfort. It triggers feelings of dissatisfaction and self-criticism that she has struggled with for years.
Despite her inner struggles with self-image, Cher’s voice is undeniably one of the most recognizable and iconic in music history. For many, it represents empowerment, resilience, and emotional honesty. The fact that Cher has achieved the incredible feat of having a number one single on the Billboard charts in each of the past six decades is a testament to her enduring talent and appeal.
It’s clear that, even if Cher doesn’t always appreciate her voice, the world does. Her powerful vocal performances have touched countless listeners, and her music has become the soundtrack to the lives of multiple generations.
In addition to her struggles with self-acceptance, Cher’s journey has also been shaped by deeply personal experiences, particularly those relating to her children. As a staunch advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, Cher has long been a vocal supporter of rights and acceptance. Yet, her journey with her son Chaz Bono, who transitioned from female to male, brought forth unexpected emotional challenges.
Cher has been open about how difficult it was to accept the transition, not because she didn’t support Chaz’s decision, but because she was forced to confront the emotional complexity of letting go of the daughter she once knew and adjusting to seeing her child as a son.
When Chaz came out as transgender in the late 2000s, it was a significant and public moment. Cher, who had always supported LGBTQ+ rights, was nonetheless faced with feelings of loss and confusion as she navigated the emotional terrain of the transition. “It’s hard to lose one child to get a new one, especially so late,” Cher admitted, reflecting on how difficult it was to reconcile the mother-daughter bond she had with Chaz, now transitioning to her son.
When Chaz came out as transgender in the late 2000s, it was a significant and public moment. Cher, who had always supported LGBTQ+ rights, was nonetheless faced with feelings of loss and confusion as she navigated the emotional terrain of the transition. “It’s hard to lose one child to get a new one, especially so late,” Cher admitted, reflecting on how difficult it was to reconcile the mother-daughter bond she had with Chaz, now transitioning to her son.
Despite these challenges, Cher has fully embraced her son’s identity and has become one of his strongest allies. Chaz has spoken about how his mother’s support has been a source of strength for him, and their relationship has grown stronger over time.
In contrast, Cher’s relationship with her younger son, Elijah Blue Allman, has been much more complicated. Elijah, the son of Cher and her second husband, rock musician Greg Allman, has had a tumultuous relationship with his mother. Over the years, there have been periods of estrangement, fueled by his struggles with addiction and a strained relationship with his mother.
Cher has spoken about how difficult it was to deal with Elijah’s issues and the deep emotional pain of seeing him go through such struggles. There were even rumors about Cher attempting to get legal conservatorship over Elijah due to her concerns about his well-being, though she later denied the rumors and spoke about the complexity of being a mother who wants to help her child while respecting their autonomy.
Despite these challenges, Cher has never stopped loving her children. In a recent interview, she reflected on the pain and joy that come with motherhood, stating, “You just do it because that’s what being a mother is.” Though her relationship with Elijah remains a work in progress, Cher has expressed a commitment to being there for her children, even when their paths have been difficult and fraught with conflict.
Cher’s early life and rise to fame provide important context for understanding the resilience and determination that have driven her success. Born Cherilyn Sarkesian in 1946, Cher grew up in a working-class household, raised by her mother after her parents divorced. Despite the instability of her childhood, Cher was determined to make it in Hollywood.
She dropped out of high school at the age of 16 and moved to Los Angeles, where she worked odd jobs and eventually found her breakthrough as a backup singer for Sonny Bono in the early 1960s. Their collaboration led to the release of the iconic hit “I Got You Babe,” launching them into the spotlight as a musical duo.
However, despite the fame and success, Cher faced personal struggles, particularly in her marriage to Sonny. Their divorce in 1975 marked the end of a significant chapter in her life, but it also propelled her into a solo career that would cement her as one of the most enduring stars of her generation.
Throughout her career, Cher has reinvented herself time and time again, continuously pushing boundaries and challenging the norms of what it means to be a female artist. As an actress, she proved her versatility, earning critical acclaim for roles in films such as Silkwood (1983), Mask (1985), and Moonstruck (1987), for which she won an Academy Award. Cher’s ability to cross over from music to acting, and to do so with such success, solidified her place as a true entertainment icon.
Her willingness to speak out on social issues, her unique fashion sense, and her unapologetic attitude have made her a trailblazer for women in entertainment, and her career has inspired countless artists who followed in her footsteps.
Despite her immense success, Cher’s personal life has never been without its challenges. Her relationships have been well-documented, and she has faced criticism for her high-profile romances. Yet, through it all, she has remained true to herself, navigating the complexities of fame, motherhood, and personal growth.
As Cher herself has said, “I am who I am.” And, even at 78, she continues to inspire, showing that even icons are not immune to the same insecurities and struggles that many of us face. Through her transparency, Cher has once again proven that she is not just a legend of music and film, but a deeply human figure who has remained relatable and authentic throughout her extraordinary life.
