Life on the Road with Cher: Balancing Stardom and Motherhood
For Cher, the world of show business has always been a family affair. When she decided to reinvent herself as a nightclub performer after the end of Sonny & Cher, she brought her two young children along for the journey. In a candid 1979 interview, she admitted, “They don’t realize that growing up on the road isn’t normal. But I think it would be worse if I left them home alone and just visited occasionally.”
Between performances, Cher made it a point to give her kids her undivided attention. She found unique ways to bond with them, like roller skating, bicycling, and even bathing together. “We have a gigantic tub just for that purpose,” she revealed. Despite being one of the most famous women in the world, Cher prioritized her role as a mother. Becoming a mom for the first time in 1969 “changed my whole life,” she confessed. Cher is the mother of Chaz Bono, her transgender son with Sonny Bono, and Elijah Blue Allman, born in 1976, whose father was musician Gregg Allman. While her marriages faced challenges, motherhood was something she embraced wholeheartedly. “I really like being a mother,” she said. “I’ve got children that are absolutely the best thing in the world.”
Cher and her son Chaz in 2010.
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Facing Challenges and Sacrifices for Her Kids
Cher’s love for her children was evident to fans when Chaz, who was born Chastity, appeared on episodes of The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour. Speaking about her son, Cher said, “Chaz gives me more pleasure than anything else.” Even after her bitter divorce from Sonny in 1975, she made an effort to stay civil for Chaz’s sake. “Sonny was a great parent for a young child,” she acknowledged. However, a few years later, Cher faced an even tougher decision when she left her second husband, Gregg Allman, to protect their son from his drug dependency. “You know, I loved him,” she said about the guitarist who passed away in May 2017. “But I really didn’t want Elijah around him alone.” Cher’s top priority was keeping her kids safe, even if it meant making difficult choices.
Despite her best efforts, keeping her children out of harm's way wasn’t always possible. “Elijah was more of a rebel than I was,” Chaz noted. This rebellious streak led to a drug habit, multiple stints in rehab, and years of estrangement from his mother. Cher, however, remained supportive even when they weren’t speaking. “You can’t beat people into doing what you want them to do,” she reasoned. Elijah himself admitted, “I’ve always been the black sheep of my family. We’ve had a lot of ups and downs.”
Cher and her son Elijah in 2002.
Embracing Change and Building a New Relationship with Chaz
Cher also faced challenges when Chaz transitioned from a woman into a man in 2009. “It has been difficult for my mother, but I respect that. It’s a process of grieving for a child you’ve lost and adjusting to the new one taking their place,” Chaz explained. “We are developing a new relationship.” Cher, known for her resilience, embraced the change and worked to strengthen their bond.
Meanwhile, Elijah, an artist and musician, has grown closer to his mother since his 2013 marriage. “I did the best I could do, and yet it was definitely lacking,” Cher reflected. She is grateful to have both her children in her life again.
