Cher and Sonny Bono were once the ultimate power couple in the entertainment world, but behind their glamorous facade lay a marriage filled with control, exhaustion, and heartbreak. In her memoir Cher: The Memoir, Part 1, released on November 19, Cher opened up about the dark side of her relationship with Sonny Bono—the man who was not only her husband but also her creative partner in the legendary duo Sonny & Cher.

A Love Story That Started with Music

Cher was just 16 when she met Sonny Bono, who was 27 and already had a failed marriage behind him. Their relationship started as a friendship, but over time, Cher fell in love with the charismatic musician. Their bond extended beyond romance—they became musical partners, creating unforgettable hits like I Got You Babe, Bang Bang, and The Beat Goes On.

Their chemistry translated into success, and by the early 1970s, they had their own hit TV show, The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour. The world saw them as the perfect couple, but off-screen, things were far from ideal.

Video: Why Sonny Was Never Loyal To Cher | Rumour Juice

A Marriage That Felt More Like a Contract

Cher and Sonny tied the knot officially in 1969, though they had a private, unofficial ceremony back in 1964. However, Cher later admitted that their marriage was never built on true partnership.

Sonny was highly controlling and pushed Cher to work tirelessly. There were no breaks, no time to enjoy family life, and barely any personal space. By the time she was 26, Cher recalled weighing only 97 pounds, drained from the constant performances.

One of the breaking points came when Sonny signed a long-term contract for them to perform at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas—without even consulting her. Cher felt trapped, realizing that her husband prioritized their career over her well-being.

The Breaking Point: A Cry for Freedom

Feeling suffocated, Cher admitted that she often stood barefoot on hotel balconies, staring down, contemplating escape. “In those crazy moments, I couldn’t see another way out,” she wrote. She revealed that she did this five or six times during their Vegas shows, overwhelmed by loneliness and exhaustion.

But something always pulled her back—her child, her mother, her sister, and the fans who looked up to her.

One night, standing on the balcony once more, a different thought struck her: I don’t have to jump—I can just leave him. That night, she confronted Sonny with a shocking statement: “I want to sleep with Bill.” She was referring to a guitarist who admired her at the time.

She had no real intention of being unfaithful, but she knew these words would provoke Sonny. He stormed out, and the next morning, she discovered he had slept with Bill’s girlfriend as revenge.

Escape and the End of an Era

Cher saw this moment as a turning point. She left for San Francisco with Bill, only to be followed by private investigators hired by Sonny. After a brief romantic encounter, she realized she never wanted to return to her husband.

Despite their separation, the couple kept their split a secret for years, continuing to appear together on their TV show until 1975. When the divorce finally became public, it was clear that their love story had unraveled long before.

Betrayal, Control, and Financial Exploitation

Video: Cher on the Money Sonny Bono Took From Her

Cher’s struggles with Sonny were not just emotional—they were also financial. After their divorce, she discovered that she had been legally working for Sonny & Cher Enterprises under a contract that paid her an insultingly low salary.

Despite the company being named after her, she didn’t own a single share. Sonny held 95% of the company, while his lawyer controlled the remaining 5%. “I trusted him completely. I never thought I needed to protect myself,” she wrote.

One night, Cher caught Sonny cheating on her with his assistant. Instead of apologizing, he blamed her, saying she wasn’t fulfilling her marital duties. His possessiveness extended beyond jealousy—he once burned her tennis outfit in their backyard out of rage.

Years later, when she confronted him about the unfair contracts, Sonny admitted that he had structured things this way because he feared she would leave him.

Life After Sonny: Moving On from the Past

Despite the pain he caused her, Cher never let her resentment consume her. After their divorce, she moved on, dating music mogul David Geffen before marrying musician Gregg Allman in 1975. That marriage, however, only lasted five years due to Allman’s struggles with substance abuse.

Sonny, on the other hand, remarried twice before tragically passing away in a skiing accident in 1998.

Even after everything, Cher and Sonny remained connected through their son, Chaz Bono. Before his passing, Sonny even apologized to Cher for the way he treated her, acknowledging the hurt he had caused.

Cher Today: A Survivor and a Legend

Now 78, Cher continues to be an unstoppable force in the entertainment industry. She has reinvented herself time and again, proving that no challenge—whether personal or professional—can keep her down.

Currently, she is dating music producer Alexander Edwards, who is 40 years younger than her. While their relationship has sparked media attention, Cher has made it clear that she lives life on her own terms.

The stormy marriage with Sonny Bono shaped her, but it never defined her. Cher emerged from it stronger, wiser, and more determined than ever—a true icon in every sense of the word.