Cher Reflects on Controlling Marriage to Sonny Bono

Cher recently shared her experiences during her marriage to Sonny Bono, revealing the extent of his controlling behavior throughout their union, both personally and professionally.

In a recent episode of “Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard,” the 79-year-old singer looked back on her complicated relationship with Bono, who gained fame in the 1960s with their musical duo, Sonny & Cher. Cher met Bono in Los Angeles in 1962 when she was just 16, and he was a 27-year-old aspiring music producer. He quickly became her mentor and manager, and they formed the duo in 1964, eventually tying the knot privately in Tijuana later that year.

“We had a lot of fun, and he was special in some ways, but then it became really dangerous,” she recalled. Their breakthrough came with the hit “I Got You, Babe,” which topped the Billboard Hot 100. They officially married in 1969 and enjoyed continued success, even launching their own variety show, “The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour,” in the early 1970s.

However, Cher explained that their relationship began to deteriorate as Bono increasingly exerted control over her life, especially during the height of his fame. “You’re very successful, you have a lot of money, but you’re not allowed to leave the house,” Shepard said, to which Cher replied, “Yes.” This lack of freedom punctuated her daily life. She described how it happened gradually, saying, “It took a while. I couldn’t do anything.”

Reflecting on her growing independence, Cher shared a story about taking up tennis and visiting a friend’s house. After Sonny found out about her visit to a tennis party, he became enraged and burned her clothes in the garden. “He burned my clothes,” she stated simply.

Cher noted the confusion that arose from Bono’s duality—how he treated her as a partner on their show versus at home. “We were laughing and having the best time on stage, but at home it got kind of monotonous,” she explained. Despite later discovering Bono’s infidelity, she didn’t immediately choose to leave, feeling that their show provided her with some sense of joy and freedom.

Eventually, however, dissatisfaction with their marriage grew amid the noticeable power imbalance, leading to their decision to divorce in February 1974, shortly before the cancellation of their show.

Shepard mentioned that it wasn’t until music executive David Geffen reviewed her contract that Cher realized how little control she had over their finances during the divorce. She discovered that most of their money was being mismanaged due to Bono’s business choices, leading to significant losses. She ultimately received a portion of the publishing royalties from their collaborations rather than cash payments, which, while limiting initially, became financially beneficial over the years.

Following their split, Cher pursued a thriving solo career while Bono transitioned into politics. Tragically, he passed away in a skiing accident in 1998 at the age of 62. Cher, reflecting on her journey, mused about her struggles with relationships and finances, admitting, “I’ve never been successful with men and money.”