Cher: The Memoir, Part 1

THERE IS ONLY ONE CHER …

… and for seven decades she has been showing us why. Cher holds the attention of the world with her voice, her acting, her style, her wit and her unstoppable spirit. Now, for the first time, she tells her story in her own voice – as honest as it is hilarious, as powerful as it is perceptive.

Cher’s childhood was anything but normal. As her mother Georgia – blessed with movie-star looks and a knockout voice – moved them around the country over and again in the hope of finding fame, her school life wasn’t straightforward. But she always knew she was going to be somebody when she grew up.

Cher’s powerful instinct to keep moving eventually landed her in the arms of Sonny Bono. The duo became famous beyond their wildest dreams, from humble beginnings singing backup in Phil Spector’s studio through to pop stardom as Sonny and Cher, and then on to the television show that made them household names. But as time passed, fame changed the dynamic of their relationship and Cher evolved from a wide-eyed teenager into a woman. She started fighting for herself, breaking away from Sonny’s control – and realising that things were not as they seemed.

Taking risks, making headlines, falling in love, Cher struggled and stumbled while trying to become her own woman. Cher: The Memoir, Part One brings us to the brink of her next chapter, as she begins to chart her own path, finally claiming her rightful place in the world and becoming CHER.

Review

‘Full blooded and gutsy… a hearty, fullblooded read: a gutsy tale of highoctane showbiz survival from one of popular culture’s true 20th- (and 21st-) century stars’ THE OBSERVER

‘No-holds-barred memoir’ DAILY MAIL

‘Cherilyn Sarkisian’s life story is jaw-dropping…Could one celebrity’s life really stretch to more than one book? This, it turns out, was very much the wrong question. The correct one is, is there enough paper in the world to contain a life as jaw-dropping as Cher’s? Judging from The Memoir: Part One, the answer is no’ THE SUNDAY TIMES

‘I practically inhaled it…it’s a riot: a revelatory, self-deprecating tale’ THE TIMES

‘A detailed and characteristically profane recollection of its author’s eventful life…these 400 pages show the mettle behind the Mackie. Here’s to a sequel with sequins, expected in 2025’ THE NEW YORK TIMES

'A must-read' STYLIST

'Her wit and candour shine through as she shares stories of love, loss, and resilience. For fans and newcomers alike, the memoir is a vivid reminder of Cher’s enduring influence and the fearless spirit that make her a timeless queen of the industry' GLAMOUR

'Full of unforgettable memories and insights' COSMOPOLITAN

‘Cher, ever the chameleon, shows her true colors…Utterly candid’ THE WASHINGTON POST

‘[Cher is] intelligent, sensitive and engaging…A fun read, a candid and well-written book that will justifiably make her legion of fans excited for the release of the second volume’ THELOS ANGELES TIMES

‘Best music book of 2024’ THE TELEGRAPH

‘Part Two promises much, but my, how Part One delivers…Eschewing frippery, Cher unfurls a life full of Dickensian poverty, mansions with servants, heartbreak, good luck, bad luck, financial chicanery and unlikely events…It’s an extraordinary and extraordinarily cathartic memoir’ I NEWSPAPER

‘The first part of Cher: The Memoir is as playful as it is eye-opening…the first part of Cher’s memoir is still packed full of punch’ THE LONDON STANDARD

‘Book of the week’ THE SUNDAY TIMES