A Guide to Cher’s Family: Sons Elijah Allman & Chaz Bono, More

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Cher believes in life after love, and she’s packed a lot of both into her 79 years.

However, love, whether romantic or familial, is frequently intertwined with sorrow, a fact that the renowned entertainer has also faced in her life.

Elijah Blue Allman, the musician son of Cher who she had with her second husband Gregg Allman, has faced difficulties, some of which have been more visible than others. Approximately 18 months ago, Cher attempted unsuccessfully to establish a conservatorship to manage his affairs, and on June 14, he was admitted to the hospital following a call about an individual acting strangely at a residence in Landers, California.

Law enforcement officers found illicit substances within the residence, leading to Allman being taken to the hospital, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department. The investigation into this matter continues.

In simpler terms, Cher has not made any public statements about this matter, however, Elijah’s former spouse mentioned that the 48-year-old has been courageously waging a prolonged struggle.

Marieangela King Allman, who was married to Elijah and filed for divorce in 2021, told People that although Elijah has faced personal difficulties in the past, one consistent aspect has been his unyielding dedication to sobriety and devotion to those he cares about. “Much like many others, he persistently tackles his internal battles,” she added, “but it’s crucial to acknowledge that he does so from a position of strength, not surrender.

Elijah openly discussed his struggles with substance abuse when he told Entertainment Tonight in 2014: “Like many of us, I began experimenting with drugs at around age 11. It was something that everyone seemed to do back then.

Initially, Elijah used marijuana and ecstasy, he admitted, but later resorted to stronger substances, yearning to flee from his past experiences. However, it’s worth noting that, as of then, Elijah claimed he had been abstaining from drugs since 2008.

In 1979, after just under four years of being married, Cher ended her union with Gregg due to his substance abuse issues.

She shared with USA Today in November, “He was simply marvelous, and I adored him deeply. Yet, he struggled with heroin addiction. It’s just that sometimes, one cannot have all perfection.

And while Cher isn’t a teetotaler, she said she “didn’t see the fun” in hard drugs.

She once inquired her doctor if it’s possible to die from a hangover, as she found pharmaceuticals uninteresting. At times, Gregory, who was quite intelligent, struggled to connect ideas due to drug use. He was a stunning individual. We often spent time in bed together, with him playing his guitar.

Gregg, who passed away due to liver cancer in 2017, was the second spouse of Cher, but he was her third husband among six that he had. Besides Chaz Bono, Cher’s son from her first marriage with Sonny Bono, Elijah has four other siblings on his father’s side.

Although Cher’s family tree might appear somewhat bare due to the numbers, she has established her unique roots independently. Here’s some information on Cher’s spouses, children, and additional details:

Though Cher’s family tree seems rather minimal with the figures involved, she’s forged her distinctive path. Let me share some facts about Cher’s marriages, offspring, and other intriguing aspects:

Or even more casually:
Cher may not have a big family in terms of numbers, but she’s made her mark independently. Here’s the scoop on her partners, kids, and beyond:

These options maintain the original meaning while using slightly different wordings to make it sound natural and easy to read.

Although Cher has reminisced warmly about her romantic involvements with well-known personalities like Warren Beatty, Tom Cruise, and Val Kilmer, the concept of getting married multiple times never resonated with her deeply.

One reason is that her mother, Georgia Holt, got married as many as seven times, with her first husband, Cher’s father John Sarkisian, being one of those husbands who she married twice.

In her memoir, published in 2024 titled “Cher: The Memoir, Part One“, the Oscar and Grammy winner expresses that it was often difficult to understand, but for women of that era, getting married was a common choice. She suggests that my mother may have never fully let go of the belief that there was security in being married.

In reminiscing about my past, I can’t help but notice the fleeting presence of men in our household, despite the numerous stepfathers and suitors who graced our lives. My resilience, independence, and adaptability were shaped by Georgia’s life lessons, yet she also instilled in me a sobering realization: marriage is seldom as idealistic as it appears.

A harmonious partnership could indeed occur, and it would be ideal if it involved a younger man. For the past four decades, Georgia, who tragically passed away in 2022 at the age of 96, had been in a relationship with her partner Craig Spencer, who is 22 years her junior.

In her memoir, Cher mentioned that she and Craig initially had difficulties getting along, but it was genuinely heartwarming to observe her mother in a content and loving partnership.

As time went by, Cher wrote, “we became good friends and still are.”

In October of 1964, when Cher was only 18, she tied the knot with Salvatore “Sonny” Bono who was 29 at the time. Unfortunately, they parted ways six years later, but their professional duo known as Sonny & Cher remained strong.

At one time, over 30 million viewers were tuning in weekly to catch the comedic duo of “I Got You Babe” singers on The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour, with Sonny’s height jokes being a particular highlight. The couple went on to sell more than 40 million records, which explains why they continued performing together despite their divorce in 1975.

In her memoir, she expresses uncertainty about remarrying Sonny given the chance to rewind time. As their relationship progressed, Sonny is portrayed as becoming more domineering, unfaithful, and occasionally abusive. Additionally, he battled with addiction to painkillers.

In an interview with USA Today in November 2024, Cher described the relationship as having a mix of strong feelings that were difficult, or simply put, it was quite challenging for her. She emphasized that it was incredibly tough.

Cher explained, “I didn’t grasp what he was saying, and it left me both upset and enraged. However, the pain was predominantly from not comprehending. Why would you act in such a way? In the final year, I just felt, I can’t keep going like this anymore because it’s causing me too much distress.

Sonny, who had previously been married to Donna Rankin, subsequently got married twice more after tying the knot with Cher. He served as mayor of Palm Springs, California from 1988 to 1992, and later was elected to Congress in 1995, representing California’s 44th district. Tragically, he passed away at the age of 62 in a skiing accident in 1998. Notably, his fourth wife, Mary Bono, won his U.S. House seat following a special election after his demise.

Chaz Bono, the child of Sonny and Cher, entered the world on March 4, 1969. He made his debut in public life through his parents’ popular television program.

Back in the ’90s, I was part of a band called Ceremony, and we dropped an album together in 1993. However, my passion for music took a backseat as I found myself deeply immersed in LGBTQ+ activism. You see, at the tender age of 18, I had the courage to come out to my parents as gay. Later on, in 2009, I publicly declared that I was transitioning, which further fueled my commitment to this cause.

In 2011, I had the privilege of sharing my transformative journey through the documentary titled “Becoming Chaz,” and I danced my heart out on “Dancing With the Stars.” Though I didn’t take home the trophy, I proudly claimed seventh place, making history as the first transgender man to garner significant attention on a network TV show for reasons beyond just being trans.

Chaz is not only an author but also an actor, appearing in shows such as “American Horror Story: Roanoke”, “AHS: Cult”, “The Bold and the Beautiful”, “Curb Your Enthusiasm”, and various independent horror films.

Legendary figure Cher, who is admired by both gay and straight fans and a staunch supporter of the LGBTQ+ community, acknowledged that it wasn’t simple when Chaz started his transition process.

She shared with CNN’s Christiana Amanpour in 2020 that it was challenging when she called and heard the old message from Chaz, as it was saved on her phone. However, she explained that even though you may have one child, they don’t truly disappear – instead, they transform into a different form.

However, she stood by his side, and he shared during an interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2016 that their connection was quite strong, as he described it as “really good.

On June 30, 1975, three days following the conclusion of her divorce with Bono, Cher tied the knot with musician Gregg Allman.

They first crossed paths when Cher went to the Allman Brothers’ show at LA’s Troubadour club. As she mentioned in her memoir, he spotted her amidst the audience and scribbled his phone number on a note, asking her to return the next evening.

Cher expressed deep affection for Gregory in an interview with USA Today in 2024, stating, ‘I adored him immensely, and he was just remarkable. Yet, there was this tragic aspect as he struggled with heroin addiction.’

Nine days following their nuptials, as per Cher’s autobiography, she initiated a divorce; however, the reconciliation occurred once he entered rehabilitation.

Cher expressed that he couldn’t live up to the expectations she had for him, which she wrote. What she truly desired was for him to remain sober.

In 1978, they officially ended their marriage due to his unpredictable actions. Despite her deep affection for him, Cher made the difficult decision that it wasn’t safe for the children to be around such instability.

In simpler terms, Gregg Allman had Cher as his third spouse, and following their marriage, he went on to tie the knot another four times before passing away in 2017 at the age of 69 due to complications arising from liver cancer.

During their brief union, Cher and Gregg welcomed son Elijah Skye Blue Allman on July 10, 1976.

Elijah hails from Los Angeles, but Cher experienced an early delivery several weeks before full term while she was vacationing in Hawaii, residing there with Chaz and companions, with Gregg yet again seeking treatment in a rehab facility at that time.

Five weeks after doctors managed to halt her contractions, she traveled home accompanied by Gregg, no longer in treatment, and her obstetrician, who had flown to Hawaii specifically to escort her back to California. Her due date passed without incident, at which point she was induced to give birth.

Gregg selected the name Elijah with the addition, “and I chose the rest,” as Cher penned, “as I was battling to save him in that Hawaiian hospital, the only thing I could perceive through the window was a vast expanse of blue sky.

Elijah began his musical journey by joining his mom’s band as a guitarist during tours, and at the age of 13, he featured in her music video titled “If I Turn Back Time” from 1989.

Apart from collaborating with bands like Thirty Seconds to Mars, Korn, he’s also produced four albums as part of his own industrial rock group, Deadsy.

In 2013, Elijah tied the knot with Marieangela King, a well-known vocalist from Britain. However, he’s been facing some challenges in his personal life recently.

In a court document submitted in 2023, Marieangela claimed that during their marital issues in late 2022, Cher orchestrated the abduction of Elijah from their hotel room in November, as they were trying to work things out in their marriage.

Cher chose not to elaborate on the matter, but in an interview with People magazine last October, she stated, “I’m not dealing with any issues that millions of American parents aren’t. I’m a mother, and this is my job – to try to help my children whenever I can, because that’s what being a mother is.

In January 2024, her application for conservatorship over Elijah’s finances was turned down. On June 14, 2025, she was admitted to a hospital following an incident where San Bernardino Sheriff’s deputies were called to a house in Landers, California due to a man behaving strangely. The authorities reported finding illicit substances at the residence.

In a statement to People, Marieangela shared, “Though Elijah has encountered personal hardships in the past, what remains steadfast is his dedication to abstinence and devotion to those dear to him. Similar to many others, he battles internal conflicts, but it’s crucial to acknowledge that he does so from a position of resilience, not despair.

And no matter the state of their relationship, she added, “I will always root for him.”

Since around 2023, the iconic singer Cher has been romantically involved with Alexander Edwards, a music executive who is about four decades younger than her.

Cher explained to Extra in October that they really understand each other. “We share the same type of humor,” she said. “We always have fun together. He’s a tad more modest than me, and he tends to be a bit more reserved.

Though admittedly their points of reference can’t help but diverge.

“Sometimes I’m talking to him,” Cher explained, “and he has no idea who I’m talking about.”

She smiled as she mentioned, “He’s familiar with classic figures such as Clark Gable, but most of the time, when I bring up my references, he responds, ‘I haven’t even been born yet.'”

“Clark Gable is someone he knows, she added with a smile, ‘but when it comes to many of my points of reference, he’ll tell me, “I wasn’t around back then.”‘

Edwards prefers to keep personal aspects of his relationship confidential, yet when confronted by TMZ at the airport in May 2024, he replied, “We’re content. We’re a content family.

Edwards also shares son Slash Edwards, born in October 2019, with ex-girlfriend Amber Rose.  

On Jimmy Kimmel Live in January, Cher mentioned that she hosted around 25 guests during the holidays. Among them were adorable children, as well as her dear friend Slash, who happens to be the son of her boyfriend and is incredibly charming.

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2025-06-17 03:17