Cher
Timestamps are as accurate as they can be but may be slightly off. We encourage you to listen to the full context.
Podcast Summary
In this episode of Armchair Expert, Dax Shepard and Monica Padman sit down with the legendary Cher to discuss her memoir "Cher: The Memoir, Part One." The conversation covers Cher's unconventional childhood, moving between foster homes and various stepfathers, her early entry into the music industry through Phil Spector's studio, and the complex dynamics of her relationship and business partnership with Sonny Bono. (03:00)
- Main themes include resilience through adversity, the evolution from victim to survivor, navigating controlling relationships while maintaining personal power, and the intersection of personal and professional identity in entertainment.
Speakers
Cher
Cher is a multi-platinum recording artist, Academy Award-winning actor, TV personality, author, and cultural icon spanning seven decades. She's sold over 100 million records worldwide, won an Academy Award for Moonstruck, and has continuously reinvented herself across multiple entertainment mediums. Her memoir "Cher: The Memoir, Part One" provides an unflinchingly honest look at her journey from a childhood marked by instability to becoming one of the most enduring entertainers of all time.
Dax Shepard
Host of Armchair Expert, actor, and author who brings his own experiences with addiction recovery and unconventional upbringing to create authentic conversations with guests.
Monica Padman
Co-host of Armchair Expert and Dax's long-time collaborator who provides thoughtful questions and observations throughout the interview.
Key Takeaways
Embrace Non-Victim Mentality
Cher demonstrates how to process trauma without adopting a victim identity. Despite experiencing childhood abandonment, controlling relationships, and financial exploitation, she tells her story with humor and ownership rather than self-pity. (15:15) When discussing her difficult childhood, she describes herself as a "bumper car" - when you hit a wall, you either stay there or bounce back and go in a different direction. This mindset allows her to acknowledge difficult experiences while maintaining agency over her narrative and future choices.
Trust Your Instincts Over Others' Opinions
Throughout her career, Cher consistently followed her intuition despite industry pressure and others' expectations. When casting directors didn't want Nicolas Cage for Moonstruck, she trusted her instinct that he was the only one who could play the role and threatened to quit the project. (50:54) This willingness to advocate for her creative vision, even when it meant risking professional relationships, demonstrates the importance of trusting your own judgment over consensus opinion.
Recognize Financial Manipulation Early
Cher's experience with Sonny Bono reveals how easily creative people can be exploited financially. She discovered that despite being the face and voice of their success, she owned 0% of "Cher Enterprises" while Sonny owned 95% and his lawyer owned 5%. (46:33) The lesson is to always understand your business arrangements clearly and seek independent legal counsel, especially when personal and professional relationships intertwine.
Set Boundaries Against Control
Cher's relationship with Sonny evolved from partnership to control, where she wasn't allowed to leave the house except for shopping and work. (38:39) Her breaking point came when she confided in a band member who asked why she lived that way. The key takeaway is recognizing when someone's "protection" becomes imprisonment and having the courage to seek outside perspective when you're too close to a situation to see it clearly.
Reinvent Yourself When Necessary
Cher has successfully reinvented herself multiple times - from folk singer to variety show host to serious actress to dance-pop icon. (52:30) She attributes this to luck but also to being open to opportunities and not being trapped by others' expectations of who she should be. The strategy is to remain flexible and willing to explore new aspects of your talents rather than being confined to one identity.
Statistics & Facts
- Cher has sold over 100 million records worldwide, making her one of the best-selling music artists of all time. This statistic was mentioned when discussing her massive commercial success across multiple decades. (53:36)
- The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour was watched by 30 million viewers per week, which represents an astronomical audience that no current television show comes close to achieving. (38:15)
- Cher's 2002-2005 farewell tour grossed $250 million, making it the highest-grossing tour by a female artist of all time until Taylor Swift's recent records. (53:36)
