Cher Reflects on Defining Moment with Late Husband Sonny Bono

Singer opens up about how meeting and divorcing Sonny shaped her life and career

Jan. 30, 2026 at 6:39pm

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Cher, 79, is being honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2026 Grammys. In a 2004 interview with PEOPLE, the singer looked back on her decades-long career and discussed how meeting and later divorcing her husband Sonny Bono was a pivotal moment that defined her life and path to success as a solo artist.

Why it matters

Cher's journey from one half of the iconic Sonny and Cher duo to a hugely successful solo artist is a testament to her resilience and artistic vision. Her reflections on the impact of her relationship with Sonny provide insight into how personal and professional partnerships can both inspire and challenge an artist's growth.

The details

Cher told PEOPLE in 2004 that meeting Sonny Bono in the 1960s "shaped my whole life in some sort of way." The two found great success as a musical act, but their personal relationship was more complicated. Cher said she "didn't want to go out on my own" after they divorced in 1975, but the split "forced me to go out on my own" and pursue her solo career. She described their working relationship as "fabulous" but their home life as "harsh" due to poor communication. Even after their divorce, Cher and Sonny continued to work together, which she called a "really weird" time. Their special connection endured, with Cher recalling that on the day of their divorce, Sonny "grabbed me and kissed me and stuck his tongue down my throat."

  • Cher and Sonny Bono met in the 1960s.
  • Cher and Sonny Bono divorced in 1975.
  • Cher's comeback album "Believe" was dedicated to Sonny after his death in 1998.

The players

Cher

A legendary singer who rose to fame as one half of the musical duo Sonny and Cher before enjoying enormous success as a solo artist.

Sonny Bono

Cher's former husband and musical partner, with whom she found great success as part of the Sonny and Cher act before their divorce in 1975.

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What they’re saying

“What's the most significant moment in my life over the past 30 years? Well, meeting Sonny Bono is the thing that shaped my whole life in some sort of way, but since it happened 40 years ago, I'd have to say the next most important moment was splitting from him.”

— Cher

“The truth is, I didn't want to go out on my own. I was comfortable being half of Sonny and Cher. I wanted to keep working with him and go on as a team.”

— Cher

“We had two components to our relationship: personal and business. When we worked together, it was fabulous. Except for the money part of it, we were equal partners. We had a great time. Both of us were really funny. We enjoyed each other. But our home life was harsh.”

— Cher

What’s next

Cher will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2026 Grammys ceremony this weekend, celebrating her iconic career.

The takeaway

Cher's reflections on her relationship with Sonny Bono highlight how personal and professional partnerships can both inspire and challenge an artist's growth. Her ability to overcome the challenges of their divorce and continue to honor Sonny's memory demonstrates the resilience and artistry that have defined her remarkable career.