In her recently released memoir, "Cher: The Memoir, Part One," pop icon Cher shared a surprising revelation about her identity. Although she officially changed her name in 1979, the singer discovered only recently that her birth name was not Cherilyn, as she had believed, but Cheryl.
The 78-year-old Grammy winner expressed her shock upon learning this truth, which she uncovered while preparing to simplify her name legally. In a candid moment, Cher recounted her conversation with her mother, Georgia Holt, who explained that she had been a teenager in pain when she named her daughter.
Georgia shared that the name confusion arose when a nurse suggested the name Cheryl, inspired by actress Lana Turner’s daughter. Ultimately, Cher's name was registered as Cheryl, despite the initial intention for it to be Cherilyn.
During an appearance on The Tonight Show in 1979, Cher reflected on the complications of her name, stating, "It's better for me than having people wonder if they should call me Mrs. Allman or Mrs. Bono or Mrs. Bono Allman or Miss Cher or whatever."
Additionally, the memoir touches on her tumultuous marriages, including allegations of abuse against her first husband, Sonny Bono, and the struggles with addiction faced by her second husband, Gregg Allman, during her pregnancy. Cher is the mother of two sons, Chaz Bono and Elijah Blue Allman.
Fans can currently delve into the first part of her memoir, with the second installment expected to be released in 2025.