Cher's Success and Achievements in Timeline
A success timeline featuring the most significant achievements of Cher.
Cher, often called the "Goddess of Pop," is a highly successful American singer, actress, and television personality. Celebrated for her distinctive contralto voice, diverse career spanning music, film, and television, and striking visual style, Cher has built a public persona embodying strong, independent women. Her capacity for reinvention has enabled numerous career resurgences, establishing her as a lasting cultural icon.
1965: Rise to Fame with Sonny & Cher and Solo Success
In 1965, Cher gained fame as part of the folk-rock duo Sonny & Cher. That same year, she achieved solo success with top-ten singles like "All I Really Want to Do" and "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)".
1965: Solo Success with 'All I Really Want to Do'
In 1965, Cher's cover of Bob Dylan's "All I Really Want to Do" peaked at number 15 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number nine on the UK Singles Chart, launching her solo career.
1966: Release of 'The Sonny Side of Chér' and 'Chér'
In 1966, Cher released 'The Sonny Side of Chér', featuring "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)", which became a million-seller, and her self titled album, 'Chér', which includes "Alfie".
1967: Release of 'With Love, Chér'
In 1967, Cher released 'With Love, Chér', which included the top-ten single "You Better Sit Down Kids".
August 1, 1971: Premiere of 'The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour'
On August 1, 1971, 'The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour' premiered as a summer replacement series on CBS, attracting over 30 million weekly viewers.
1971: "Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves" Called One of the Greatest Songs
Cher's 1971 single "Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves" was called "one of the 20th century's greatest songs" by Billboard.
1971: Release of "Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves" and Album Chér
In 1971, Cher released "Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves", her second US number-one single, produced by Snuff Garrett. The song topped both US Billboard Hot 100 and Canadian Singles Chart, being called "one of the 20th century's greatest songs" by Billboard. The album "Chér" (reissued as "Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves") was also released and certified gold.
1972: "Best Dressed Women" Lists
In 1972, after being featured on the annual "Best Dressed Women" lists, Bob Mackie stated, "There hasn't been a girl like Cher since Dietrich and Garbo."
1973: Release of Bittersweet White Light and "Half-Breed"
In 1973, Cher released "Bittersweet White Light", an unsuccessful album of standards. She also recorded "Half-Breed", which became her third US number-one single and the title track of her next album, both certified gold.
1974: Release of "Dark Lady" and Greatest Hits Album
In 1974, Cher released "Dark Lady", which topped the Billboard Hot 100. Later that year, she released a "Greatest Hits" album, solidifying her status as a top hitmaker.
1974: Golden Globe Win and Sonny's Solo Show
In 1974, Cher won a Golden Globe for "The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour". Also in 1974, Sonny premiered his solo show, "The Sonny Comedy Revue", which was canceled after 13 weeks.
February 16, 1975: Debut of Cher's Solo CBS Show
On February 16, 1975, Cher debuted her solo CBS show, "Cher", featuring music, comedy, and extensive wardrobe. The show received positive reviews but ended within a year.
1979: Legal Mononym Adoption and Disco Comeback
In 1979, Cher legally adopted her mononym. She signed with Casablanca Records and launched a disco comeback with the single "Take Me Home" and the album of the same name, both of which became instant successes and were certified gold.
1983: Silkwood Premiere and Awards
In 1983, Cher appeared in "Silkwood" and received critical acclaim, leading to nominations for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and winning the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture.
1983: Academy Award Nomination for 'Silkwood'
In 1983, Cher received her first Academy Award nomination for her role in 'Silkwood'.
1983: Declined Solo Hollywood Walk of Fame Honor
In 1983, Cher was selected for a solo star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame but declined to schedule the appearance.
1983: CableACE Award for Cher... A Celebration at Caesars
In 1983, Cher won the CableACE Award for Best Actress in a Variety Program for "Cher... A Celebration at Caesars".
1985: Cannes Film Festival Award for 'Mask'
In 1985, Cher won the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress for her performance in 'Mask'.
1985: Release of Mask and Cannes Film Festival Award
In 1985, Cher's film, Mask, was released, achieving both critical and commercial success. For her performance as a drug-addicted biker in Mask, Cher won the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress.
1987: Academy Award Win for 'Moonstruck' and 'The Witches of Eastwick'
In 1987, Cher won the Academy Award for Best Actress for 'Moonstruck' and also starred in 'The Witches of Eastwick'.
1988: Academy Award and Gold Album in the Same Year
In 1988, Cher became the first performer to receive an Academy Award for acting and a RIAA-certified gold album in the same year.
1988: Academy Award win and fragrance release
In 1988, Cher won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in Moonstruck. Also in 1988, she released her fragrance, Uninhibited, which earned about $15 million in its first year sales.
1992: Madame Tussauds Statue
In 1992, Madame Tussauds wax museum honored Cher as one of the five "most beautiful women of history" by creating a life-size statue.
May 1998: Received GLAAD Vanguard Award
In May 1998, Cher received the GLAAD Vanguard Award for promoting equal rights for lesbians and gay men.
1998: Commercial Peak with 'Believe'
At age 52, in 1998, Cher reached a commercial peak with the dance-pop album 'Believe', which introduced the "Cher effect" (an extreme use of Auto-Tune).
1998: "Believe" is Biggest-Selling Single in the UK
Cher's 1998 song "Believe" became the biggest-selling single of all time by a female artist in the UK.
1998: Vanguard Award at GLAAD Media Awards
In 1998, Cher received the Vanguard Award at the GLAAD Media Awards.
May 1999: CFDA Award
In May 1999, The Council of Fashion Designers of America recognized Cher with an award for her influence on fashion.
1999: "Believe" success and Billboard Music Award
In 1999, "Believe" was the best-selling single in the US. Cher won the Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording and the Billboard Music Award for Hot 100 Single of the Year for "Believe".
1999: Named top dance artist of 1999 and Tea with Mussolini
In 1999, Billboard named Cher the top dance artist of the year. Also in 1999, she starred in the critically acclaimed war film Tea with Mussolini.
1999: Legend Award at World Music Awards and CFDA Fashion Award
In 1999, Cher received the Legend Award at the World Music Awards and a special award for influence on fashion at the CFDA Fashion Awards.
1999: 'Believe' Tops Charts
In 1999, the title track from the album 'Believe' became the number-one song in the US and the UK's best-selling single by a female artist.
2000: Lucy Award for Innovation in Television
In 2000, Cher received the Lucy Award for Innovation in Television at the Women in Film Awards.
2001: Ranked as Favorite Leading Actress
In a 2001 poll, Biography magazine ranked Cher as their third favorite leading actress of all time.
2002: Living Proof: The Farewell Tour Begins
In 2002, Cher began her 'Living Proof: The Farewell Tour', which became the highest-grossing concert tour by a female artist at the time.
2002: Artist Achievement Award at Billboard Music Awards
In 2002, Cher received the Artist Achievement Award at the Billboard Music Awards.
2002: Artist Achievement Award
In 2002, Cher was named Billboard's top dance artist and received the Artist Achievement Award at the Billboard Music Awards. Her wealth was estimated at $600 million that year.
2002: VH1's Sexiest Artists List
In 2002, Cher was ranked 26th on VH1's list of the "100 Sexiest Artists".
September 2003: Signs with Warner Bros. Records and Named Highest-Paid Female Musician
In September 2003, Cher signed a global deal with Warner Bros. Records. That year, Forbes named her the highest-paid female musician, earning $33.1 million.
October 2003: Success of the Farewell Tour
By October 2003, "The Farewell Tour" had become the most successful tour by a female artist, grossing $145 million from 200 shows. The NBC special "Cher: The Farewell Tour" drew 17 million viewers.
2003: Ranked on VH1's "200 Greatest Pop Culture Icons"
In 2003, Cher was ranked at number 41 on VH1's list of "The 200 Greatest Pop Culture Icons".
2003: "I Got You Babe" Featured on Rolling Stone's List
Sonny & Cher's "I Got You Babe" was featured on Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" list in 2003.
April 2005: Conclusion of Farewell Tour
In April 2005, Cher's Farewell Tour concluded after 325 shows, drawing over 3.5 million attendees and grossing $250 million, ranking among the top-ten highest-grossing tours of the 2000s.
2005: Conclusion of Farewell Tour
In 2005, Cher's 'Living Proof: The Farewell Tour' concluded, having grossed $250 million.
2010: Handprints and Footprints at Grauman's Chinese Theatre
In 2010, Cher placed her handprints and footprints in cement in front of Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.
2010: Lifetime Achievement Award at Glamour Awards
In 2010, Cher received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Glamour Awards.
January 2011: "You Haven't Seen the Last of Me" Tops Charts
In January 2011, Cher's song "You Haven't Seen the Last of Me" from the "Burlesque" soundtrack, topped the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart, making her the only artist with Billboard number-one singles in six consecutive decades.
2013: Legend Award at Attitude Awards
In 2013, Cher received the Legend Award at the Attitude Awards.
2014: Ranked Among Highest-Grossing Touring Acts
In 2014, Billboard listed Cher as the 23rd highest-grossing touring act since 1990.
2015: Award of Inspiration at amfAR Gala
In 2015, Cher received the Award of Inspiration at the amfAR Gala.
2015: amfAR Award of Inspiration
In 2015, Cher received the amfAR Award of Inspiration for "her willingness and ability to use her fame for the greater good".
2017: Icon Award at Billboard Music Awards
In 2017, Cher received the Icon Award at the Billboard Music Awards.
December 2, 2018: Kennedy Center Honors
On December 2, 2018, Cher received the Kennedy Center Honors in recognition of her contributions to culture.
2018: Kennedy Center Honor
In 2018, Cher received the Kennedy Center Honor.
2019: Ambassador for the Arts Award at Chita Rivera Awards
In 2019, Cher received the Ambassador for the Arts Award at the Chita Rivera Awards for Dance and Choreography.
2020: Spirit of Katharine Hepburn Award
In 2020, Cher received the Spirit of Katharine Hepburn Award.
2021: "Believe" Appears on Rolling Stone's List
In 2021, "Believe" appeared on the revised list of Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Songs of All Time".
December 2023: Chart Topping Single DJ Play a Christmas Song
In December 2023, Cher's lead single "DJ Play a Christmas Song", from the album Christmas (2023), topped the Billboard Adult Contemporary and Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales charts, marking the seventh consecutive decade.
October 19, 2024: Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
On October 19, 2024, Cher was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, becoming the first musician-actor to win an Academy Award for acting and join the Hall of Fame. She performed "If I Could Turn Back Time" and "Believe" at the ceremony.
2024: Induction into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
In 2024, Cher was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
