How Sonny and Cher Meet and Their Relationship Timeline

Cher is one of the most iconic pop stars of all time. While Cher has accomplished a lot as a solo artist, her early career was tied directly to her then-husband, Sonny Bono, and their complicated relationship. Cher delves deeply into the inner workings of that marriage and business partnership in her new memoir, Cher: The Memoir. With a renewed interest in how their relationship played out, we’ve collected a brief timeline of their life together, including how they met.

How did Sonny and Cher meet?

Sonny and Cher met at a party when she was just 16. He was 27. Cher was new to Los Angeles at the time. She repeatedly insisted that Bono was attracted to her friend and initially didn’t pay her much attention. She approached him just days later, asking for a place to stay, and he offered her a twin bed in his apartment because he wasn’t attracted to her and thought she could cook and clean. The year was 1962.

Sonny and Cher’s tumultuous relationship started strangely and was based entirely on a lie. During an appearance on CBS Sunday Morning, Cher initially recalled lying to Bono about her age. She told him that she was 18 when, in reality, she was just 16 years old.

Bono’s romantic interest developed over time, despite Cher insisting he wasn’t into her initially. They began dating when she was still underage, much to her mother’s chagrin. Cher revealed that her mother, concerned with the age gap, threatened to have Bono arrested. He continued to date her despite the threats. Their career together blossomed from there.

When did Sonny and Cher get married, and how long did it last?

Despite an unorthodox beginning to their relationship, Sonny and Cher did get married. They married in a spiritual ceremony in 1964 but would not legally wed until 1969. They welcomed their only child together that same year. While Cher once admitted to having hero worship for Sonny Bono, his womanizing and need to control everything around him led to a lot of discord.

Despite wanting out of the marriage just a few years after tying the knot, Cher stuck it out until 1974, when their relationship officially ended, at least legally. According to Biography, Bono filed for a legal separation in February 1974. Cher filed for a divorce almost immediately after. Their divorce was finalized in June 1975. They were married for six years but were romantically linked for over a decade before calling it quits.

Were they on good terms when Sonny Bono died?

Sonny Bono died in 1998 after a skiing accident. He left behind a second career, a wife, and several children, including Chaz Bono, the child he shared with Cher; Christy Bono, his daughter from his first marriage; and two children from his fourth marriage. While Sonny Bono was in a different relationship at the time of his death, Cher still played an intricate part in saying goodbye to the famed musician. She delivered a moving eulogy that captured what first attracted her to Bono.

So, were they on good terms when he died? While it took the former couple a long time to find common ground, they were friends when Bono died tragically. In 2023, Cher told People that while they had difficulty navigating their divorce, they buried the hatchet before his death, with Bono appearing at Cher’s house randomly to apologize for all the ways that he hurt her. She said that Bono acknowledging the hurt went a long way in helping her forgive and move on.