Cher’s early life, marked by struggles and hardship, ultimately shaped her into the iconic figure she became. Born Cherilyn Sarkisian in 1946 in El Centro, California, Cher’s beginnings were far from easy.

Her mother, Georgia Holt, was of Irish, English, German, and Cherokee descent, and her father, John Sarkisian, was of Armenian American heritage. Georgia and John had a tumultuous relationship, marrying quickly after a brief romance, and then separating when Cher was just 10 months old. Georgia, an aspiring singer and actress, went through multiple marriages, seven in total, in search of stability, but this only added to the instability in Cher’s life.

Financially, Cher’s early years were tough. Georgia struggled to make ends meet, and at one point, Cher was placed in a Catholic charity home, where there were discussions about giving her up for adoption.

Despite these challenges, Georgia refused to give up her daughter and continued to visit her daily. Cher’s childhood was marked by frequent moves, as Georgia’s marriages brought new homes and stepfathers. The chaos of her early years played a significant role in shaping Cher’s resilience and perseverance, which would later prove vital to her career.

Education was another challenging area for Cher. She disliked school and struggled with academics, often receiving poor grades. In her autobiography, she revealed that she was diagnosed with dyslexia and dyscalculia later in life, explaining some of her struggles in school.

Despite her academic difficulties, Cher was focused on her dream of becoming a singer and actress, and she often fantasized about stardom rather than focusing on her studies. Eventually, at the age of 16, she made the bold decision to leave school in the 11th grade and pursue her dreams in Los Angeles.

Cher’s path to fame began when she moved to Los Angeles, where she took acting classes and worked as a dancer on the Hollywood Sunset Strip. It was here that she met Sonny Bono in 1962 when she was just 16 years old, and he was 27. Sonny was already a prominent figure in the music industry, working as a songwriter and record promoter for Phil Spector.

Sonny saw potential in Cher and soon became her mentor. Their partnership blossomed both professionally and personally, leading to their collaboration on the iconic hit song “I Got You Babe.”

The partnership with Sonny propelled Cher into the spotlight, and the two formed the famous musical duo Sonny & Cher. Their success was followed by Cher’s solo career, which made her a multifaceted icon in music, television, and film. Cher’s early life, filled with personal struggles, shaped her into a resilient and determined individual, setting the foundation for her legendary career in the entertainment industry.