The Cher Show is 35 smash hits, six decades of stardom, two rock-star husbands, a Grammy, an Oscar, an Emmy and enough Tony-winning Bob Mackie gowns to cause a sequin shortage. The Cher Show is so much Cher that it takes three actresses to recount one legendary career.

Spread out over six decades, the totality of Cher’s accomplishments may be hard to comprehend. Consider this decade-by-decade look at her career highlights and you’ll understand why she is a legend.

May 20, 1946

Born Cherilyn Sarkisian to an Armenian-American father and an Irish-English-German-Cherokee mother.

1960s

At 16, Cher heads to LA where she meets producer Phil Spector and becomes a backup singer for such groups as The Ronettes and The Righteous Brothers. She meets Sonny Bono and their friendship turns into a romance. They release “I Got You Babe” and rocket to the top of the charts. They continue to turn out hits while Cher becomes a solo artist with her first release, “Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down).”

1970s

In the face of diminishing sales, the duo develops an act that ultimately becomes “The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour” (CBS, 1971-1974). When the show ends, so too does their marriage. Building upon her celebrity, the multi-faceted performer sets out to redefine herself, resulting in the first No. 1 solo hit of her career with “Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves.”

1980s

Cher turns to acting, first starring on Broadway and then the big screen in Mask, Suspect, The Witches of Eastwick, Silkwood (Golden Globe, Supporting Actress), and Moonstruck (Academy Award, Best Actress). But she still remains atop the music charts with “I Found Someone,” “If I Could Turn Back Time” and “Just Like Jesse James.”

1990s

Cher stars in If These Walls Could Talk, Tea with Mussolini, and Mermaids, which also features her pop cover of “The Shoop Shoop Song (It’s in His Kiss).” Soon, her music fills the club scene and she releases Believe for which the title song wins a Grammy for Best Dance Recording.

2000s

Soon after releasing Living Proof, Cher announces her retirement from live performance and sets out on a 325-date farewell tour. One performance is televised, scoring her three 2003 Emmy Awards. After a brief hiatus, Cher returns to the stage in Las Vegas where she holds court for 192 shows from 2008-2011.

2010s

Cher releases her first album in 12 years with Closer to the Truth in 2013, returns to Vegas with Classic Cher, and stars in Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again!

According to Wikipedia, Cher is the only artist to have a #1 single on a Billboard chart in each of the past seven decades with a total of 34 Top 40 hits. She is a fashion icon, an award-winning actress and a music legend. She is Cher.

DETAILS
The Cher Show
May 3-5 • Buell Theatre
Tickets