Want to Learn More About Cher’s Family Tree? We Got You Babe

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Is it hard to imagine life goes on after a relationship? That’s what people are asking as singer Cher celebrates her 80th birthday on May 20th.

Cher admits she doesn’t enjoy getting older, telling Gayle King in a November interview on CBS Mornings that she’s ten years older than the journalist. Even when King pointed out that age often brings wisdom, Cher jokingly disagreed, saying she felt no wiser. However, Cher’s incredible career – including an Emmy, Oscar, and Grammy – proves she’s anything but foolish. She’s only a Tony Award away from becoming an EGOT winner, and her secret to lasting success seems to be simply staying true to herself.

Cher explained that she’s always stayed true to herself, regardless of public opinion. She also shared that she’s happy with her current relationship with Alexander “AE” Edwards, 40, and still feels very much in love. Cher said the age difference between them hasn’t been a problem, adding that Alexander often tells her she maintains a youthful spirit.

So as she enters this new decade, don’t expect the fashion icon—or her wardrobe—to change.

In a September 2023 interview on Good Morning Britain, Cher admitted she’s still coming to terms with getting older. She said she finds it hard to believe she’ll one day be 80, but hopes to still be living life the way she always has—wearing jeans, sporting long hair, and doing the things she loves.

Three years ago on her birthday, she playfully tweeted, “Okay, does anyone know when I’ll start feeling old?”

So DJ play that birthday song and celebrate Cher’s big day by learning more about her family.

As someone who’s observed relationships for years, I’ve always been fascinated by Cher’s perspective. She’s talked openly about past romances with incredibly well-known men – Warren Beatty, Tom Cruise, and Val Kilmer, to name a few – and she definitely values connection. But honestly, the idea of being married multiple times just wasn’t her thing. She’s always prioritized something different than a traditional, long line of husbands.

Cher’s complicated family history includes her mother, Georgia Holt, being married seven times – and even twice to the same man, John Sarkisian, who was Cher’s father.

In her 2024 memoir, Cher wrote that finding a husband was simply what women of her mother’s generation were expected to do. She believes her mother always felt secure in the idea that marriage provided safety.

Cher remembered that despite having many stepfathers and potential husbands come and go during her childhood, she hardly recalled any consistent male presence at home. She explained that this upbringing taught her to be strong, self-reliant, and flexible, but also led her to believe that marriage often didn’t live up to expectations.

Despite her age, Georgia was able to have a fulfilling relationship. For the last 46 years of her life, until her death in 2022 at age 96, she was with Craig Spencer, who was 22 years younger than her.

Cher wrote in her memoir that she and Craig didn’t initially see eye-to-eye, but she was glad her mother found happiness in their relationship.

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

Cher was very young – only 18 – when she married Salvatore “Sonny” Bono, who was 29, on October 27, 1964. They divorced after six years, but their musical partnership, known as Sonny & Cher, continued to thrive.

“The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour” was hugely popular, drawing over 30 million viewers each week. The show, and their music—they sold more than 40 million records—made them a sensation. Sonny, who was only 5’5″, was often the target of good-natured jokes on the show, which always got big laughs. They continued to perform together even after they divorced in 1975, likely due to their enduring popularity.

Looking back, it’s hard to say if I’d make the same choices again when it comes to my marriage with Sonny. In my memoir, I share how things changed over time – he battled a painkiller addiction, and unfortunately, that led to him becoming controlling, unfaithful, and, at times, even abusive. It’s a difficult thing to admit, but being honest about the full picture is important.

Cher described the relationship as intensely difficult, saying, “It was really, really rough,” in a November 2024 interview with USA Today. She wasn’t sure if it was a love-hate dynamic, but acknowledged how challenging it was.

Cher explained that she felt confused, hurt, and angry, but the inability to understand his actions was the most painful part. Ultimately, during their final year together, she realized she couldn’t continue the relationship any longer because it was deeply affecting her well-being.

Sonny Bono was divorced from Donna Rankin before marrying Cher, and later married two more times. He was mayor of Palm Springs, California, from 1988 to 1992, and in 1995, he was elected to represent California’s 44th district in Congress. He tragically died in a skiing accident in 1998 at the age of 62. Following his death, his fourth wife, Mary Bono, won the election to continue representing his congressional district.

Chaz Bono, the child of Sonny and Cher, was born on March 4, 1969, and first appeared on television with his parents on their show.

I’ve been following Chaz Bono’s journey for years, and it’s so inspiring. He was actually in a band called Ceremony back in ’93 and released an album, but he really shifted his focus to LGBTQ+ rights work. He came out to his family when he was 18, which took incredible courage, and then shared his transition publicly in 2009. It’s amazing to see how he’s used his platform to advocate for others.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve always admired Chaz Bono’s courage and visibility. He really broke barriers by sharing his transition so openly in the 2011 documentary Becoming Chaz. And then, he took it a step further by competing on Dancing With the Stars, where he placed seventh. What I think is so important is that he was judged on his dancing, not just on being a transgender man – he was the first to really have that opportunity on network television, and that’s a huge step forward for representation.

Chaz is a writer and actor with credits in popular shows like American Horror Story: Roanoke and Cult, The Bold and the Beautiful, and Curb Your Enthusiasm. He’s also appeared in a number of independent horror movies.

Cher, beloved by fans of all backgrounds and a longtime supporter of the LGBTQ+ community, has shared that it was challenging when her child, Chaz, began transitioning.

In a 2020 interview with CNN’s Christiana Amanpour, she recalled the pain of receiving an old voicemail from her son, Chaz. She explained that while it felt like a loss, she didn’t feel she’d truly lost him, just that their relationship had changed.

Chaz had a close and supportive relationship with his mother, telling Oprah Winfrey in 2016 that things were “really good” between them. He also has a significant relationship with Shara Blue Mathes, whom he’s known since he was a teenager, and married in March 2026.

Cher married musician Gregg Allman on June 30, 1975, just three days after her divorce from Sonny Bono became official.

Cher and Gregg Allman first connected at an Allman Brothers concert in Los Angeles. As Cher wrote in her autobiography, Gregg noticed her in the audience and sent a note with his number, asking her to meet him again the next night.

In a 2024 interview with USA Today, Cher revealed she was deeply in love with Gregory. She described him as a wonderful and amazing man, but also acknowledged his struggle with heroin addiction.

According to Cher’s autobiography, she initially filed for divorce just nine days after getting married. However, they decided to stay together when he entered a rehabilitation program.

Cher explained that her ex-partner felt he couldn’t live up to her expectations. However, she clarified that all she wanted from him was for him to be sober.

Cher and Sonny divorced permanently in 1978. Despite still loving him, Cher felt she had to protect their children from his unpredictable actions, explaining she loved him “for the right reasons and the wrong.”

Gregg married Cher, who was his third wife, and went on to marry four other women. He passed away in 2017 at the age of 69 due to liver cancer.

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

Although Elijah was born in Los Angeles, Cher wrote in her memoir about unexpectedly going into labor early while vacationing in Hawaii with Chaz and friends. This happened while her then-husband, Gregg, was receiving treatment at a rehab facility.

Doctors managed to stop her labor, and five weeks later, she was able to fly home with Gregg, who had finished his treatment, and her OBGYN, who traveled to Hawaii to ensure she got back to California safely. When her due date passed, doctors eventually induced labor.

Gregg came up with the name Elijah, and Cher chose the rest. She explained that while her son was in the hospital in Hawaii, all she could see from the window was blue sky, and that inspired her choices.

Elijah followed in his parents’ musical footsteps, starting by playing guitar while touring with his mother’s band. At age 13, he even appeared in her music video for “If I Turn Back Time.”

Besides performing with bands like Thirty Seconds to Mars and Korn, he’s also put out four albums as a member of the industrial rock band Deadsy.

Elijah married British singer Marieangela King in 2013, but he’s been going through some personal difficulties recently.

Marieangela, who started divorce proceedings in 2021, claimed in a 2023 court document that Cher orchestrated the abduction of their son, Elijah, from a hotel room in 2022, during a period when they were attempting to repair their marriage.

Cher didn’t address the rumors directly, but she later told People magazine that she was facing challenges many parents experience. She explained that, like any mother, her priority was supporting her children and she’d do whatever it takes to help them – that’s simply what mothers do.

In 2024, a court rejected her effort to legally control Elijah’s finances. The following year, in 2025, the 48-year-old was admitted to the hospital after police in San Bernardino County responded to a report of unusual behavior at a home in Landers, California. Authorities also stated they found drugs at the residence.

Marieangela released a statement to People magazine acknowledging Elijah’s past difficulties, but emphasizing his ongoing dedication to staying sober and his love for his family and friends. She noted that, like many people, he still faces personal battles, but approaches them with resilience, not despair.

In February 2026, Elijah was arrested and charged with simple assault, trespassing, making threats, and disturbing the peace, according to police reports obtained by People.

No matter the state of their relationship, Cher told the outlet, “I will always root for him.”

I’ve been following Cher’s relationship with Alexander ‘A.E.’ Edwards since it started in 2022, and it’s really something! He’s a music executive, and the age difference – he’s 40 years younger than her – definitely gets people talking, but they seem genuinely happy together.

Okay, so Cher said this on Kelly Clarkson’s show, and honestly, it’s everything! She admitted it sounds crazy, but she and [the man in question] genuinely click! She was like, ‘He’s amazing!’ and then the BEST part – she doesn’t hand out compliments easily, so if she says someone’s great, they earn it! I just… I live for her honesty, you know? It’s perfect.

And maybe older men simply can’t handle all the woman that is Cher.

She explained to Kelly Clarkson that she’d dated men around her age, but they weren’t interested. She thinks younger men might be more accepting of a strong, fun, and sometimes silly personality, and she’s definitely not going to change who she is for anyone.

And they’re still going strong.

Cher explained to Extra in October 2023 that she and her partner simply connect on a deep level. They share a similar sense of humor and genuinely enjoy each other’s company. She noted he’s a bit more introverted and reserved than she is.

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 admitted he knew classic stars like Clark Gable, but added with a laugh that most of the people she referenced were before his time – he hadn’t even been born yet!

Edwards is very private about his personal life, but in May 2024, when asked about his relationship by TMZ at the airport, he confirmed things are going well, saying, “Listen, we’re happy. We’re a happy family.”

The producer also has a son named Slash Edwards, born in October 2019, with his former partner, Amber Rose.

I was so excited to hear Cher talking about her holidays on Jimmy Kimmel Live! She said they had a big gathering with around 25 people, including lots of adorable kids. And she mentioned this sweet boy, Slash – he’s a close friend and her boyfriend’s son – and how incredibly cute he is. It was just a really lovely little detail that showed a softer side of her.

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2026-05-20 10:18