Lucille Ball’s Advice Helped Cher Leave Sonny Bono

Cher has spent decades in the public eye, but until recently, fans didn’t know the inner workings of her day-to-day life, including just how dark and lonely her private life once was. Her memoir, Cher: The Memoir, was released on Nov. 19 and shed light on everything the music icon went through. For the first time, she delves deeply into the end of her marriage to Sonny Bono. She even reveals how Lucille Ball’s thoughts on her union emboldened her to leave.

Lucille Ball encouraged Cher to leave Sonny Bono

Cher and Sonny Bono might have appeared happily married until their separation in 1974, but their home had not been a happy one for several years. Cher toyed with the idea of ending the relationship several times but always backed down. She was so serious about divorce that she sought out the opinion of the only person she believed had been in her exact situation. She went to Lucille Ball.

In her hit memoir, Cher revealed that advice from Lucille Ball pushed her towards divorcing Sonny Bono. She said she reached out to the entertainment icon when her marriage was failing to get a better understanding of how Ball navigated the end of her marriage to someone she worked with.

In her book, Cher recalled feeling conflicted about ending her marriage, worrying about the stigma and the career implications. Ball helped set Cher’s mind at ease. Cher recalled the famous comedian telling her, “F**k him, you’re the one with the talent.”

When did Sonny and Cher get divorced?

Sonny Bono and Cher rose to fame together, but their relationship was not built to last. The pair married in an “unofficial ceremony” in 1964 before legally tying the knot in 1969. Bono filed for legal separation in 1974, and Cher filed divorce paperwork days later. Their marriage was officially dissolved the following year.

Bono moved on, marrying twice more before his tragic death in a skiing accident. In 1981, he married TV personality Susie Coelho. Bono had dated Coelho for several years before they tied the knot. Still, the marriage was short-lived. Their divorce was finalized in 1984. Two years later, he wed Mary Bono. Together they had two children. The couple remained married until Bono died in 1998.

Cher moved on, too. She had several high-profile romances, including a brief marriage to Gregg Allmann. They married in 1975, just days after her divorce from Bono was finalized. They separated for good after welcoming one child together in 1979. She never married again but had several long-term and short-term relationships. She dated Gene Simmons, Tom Cruise, and Richie Sambora over the years.

Cher is currently dating 38-year-old rapper Alexander Edwards. Despite their 40-year age gap, Edwards and Cher have been dating for around two years.