Cher's Success and Achievements in Timeline

A success timeline featuring the most significant achievements of Cher.

Cher, an American singer, actress, and television personality, is celebrated as the "Goddess of Pop." Known for her distinctive androgynous contralto voice, multifaceted career, and striking visual presence, she has cultivated a screen persona mirroring her public image by portraying strong-willed, outspoken women. Her remarkable adaptability has facilitated numerous comebacks throughout her career, which has spanned over six decades, solidifying her enduring impact on pop culture.

Sections (7)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

1971: Release and Success of "Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves"

In 1971, Cher released the single "Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves", produced by Snuff Garrett, which became her second US number-one single. This song was featured on the album Chér, which was later reissued as Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves, and certified gold.

January 1974: Golden Globe Win for Cher

In January 1974, Cher won the Golden Globe Award for Best TV Actress for The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour.

1974: Release and Success of "Dark Lady" and Greatest Hits Album

In 1974, Cher released "Dark Lady," which topped the Billboard Hot 100, tying her with other female solo artists. Also in 1974, she released a Greatest Hits album. From 1971 to 1973, Sonny & Cher had a recording career revival with four albums.

1979: Legal Adoption of Mononym, Signing with Casablanca Records, and Disco Comeback

In 1979, Cher legally adopted her mononym and signed with Casablanca Records to launch a comeback with disco music. She released the single "Take Me Home" and the album of the same name, both of which were certified gold and became instant successes.

1983: Academy Award Nomination for 'Silkwood'

In 1983, Cher earned an Academy Award nomination for her role in 'Silkwood'.

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1983: Role in Silkwood and Award Nominations

In 1983, Cher played Dolly Pelliker in the biopic "Silkwood" and received an Academy Award nomination and a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress.

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1983: Cher... A Celebration at Caesars airs and wins a CableACE Award

In 1983, the TV special "Cher... A Celebration at Caesars" aired, earning Cher the CableACE Award for Best Actress in a Variety Program.

1985: Critical and Commercial Success with Mask

In 1985, Cher achieved critical and commercial success as a leading actress with the biopic "Mask", which reached number two at the box office. During production, Cher clashed with director Peter Bogdanovich.

1985: Cannes Film Festival Best Actress Award for 'Mask'

In 1985, Cher received the Cannes Film Festival's Best Actress Award for her performance in 'Mask'.

1987: Signing with Geffen Records and Release of "Cher" Album

In 1987, Cher signed with Geffen Records and released her album "Cher", which became a commercial success despite initial resistance. The album featured "I Found Someone", her first US top-ten single in eight years.

1987: Academy Award Win for 'Moonstruck' and Starring Role in 'The Witches of Eastwick'

In 1987, Cher won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in 'Moonstruck' and also starred in 'The Witches of Eastwick'.

1987: Best Actors List Recognition

In 2020, Cher was featured in The New York Times Magazine's "Best Actors" list for her performance in Moonstruck (1987).

1988: Academy Award and Fragrance Release

In 1988, Cher won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in "Moonstruck". She also released the fragrance "Uninhibited", which earned about $15 million in its first year sales.

1989: People's Choice Award and Heart of Stone Release

In 1989, Cher won the Favorite All-Around Female Star Award at the People's Choice Awards. Her 19th studio album, "Heart of Stone" was also released in 1989, reaching number one in Australia and the top ten in several other countries, and yielded hit singles.

1991: Sales week

Cher's album Dancing Queen marked Cher's largest sales week since 1991.

1991: Release of Love Hurts and Workout Book and Video

In 1991, Cher released her final Geffen studio album, "Love Hurts", which topped the UK charts and produced the hit single "Love and Understanding". She also capitalized on public interest in her youthful looks with the workout book "Forever Fit" and the exercise video "CherFitness: A New Attitude".

1992: Wax Statue by Madame Tussauds

In 1992, Cher was honored by Madame Tussauds wax museum as one of the five 'most beautiful women of history' with a life-size wax statue.

1995: UK Chart Topper with Charity Single and Release of It's a Man's World

In 1995, Cher topped the UK singles chart with the charity single "Love Can Build a Bridge". She also released "It's a Man's World", an album of songs originally performed by men, which was praised by critics.

1998: Most Significant Release Since Believe

Dancing Queen, released in 2018, was praised as her "most significant release since 1998's Believe".

1998: Release of Believe

In 1998, Cher released her 22nd studio album, "Believe", marking a shift to dance-pop. It sold 11 million copies worldwide and was certified quadruple platinum in the US.

1998: Sonny and Cher Receive Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame and Cher Publishes The First Time

In 1998, Sonny and Cher received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Cher also published "The First Time", a collection of autobiographical essays.

1998: HBO Special

In 1998, the Do You Believe? Tour's TV special, Cher: Live in Concert – From the MGM Grand in Las Vegas (1999), became HBO's top-rated original program.

1998: "Believe" success and sales

In 1998, the title track from Cher's album "Believe" reached number one in 23 countries and sold over 10 million copies globally. The song became the best-selling single of 1998 in the UK.

May 1999: Influence on Fashion Award from CFDA

In May 1999, Cher received the Influence on Fashion Award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), recognizing her as a 'fashion visionary' and source of inspiration for influential designers.

1999: VH1 Divas Live '99 and Do You Believe? Tour

In 1999, Cher co-headlined the TV special VH1 Divas Live '99, which became the highest-rated program in VH1's history at the time. Also in 1999, her Do You Believe? Tour sold out in every American city, drawing a global audience of over 1.5 million. The tour's TV special, Cher: Live in Concert – From the MGM Grand in Las Vegas (1999), became HBO's top-rated original program of 1998–1999. Billboard also named Cher the top dance artist of 1999, and her former label released a compilation album called If I Could Turn Back Time: Cher's Greatest Hits (1999). Finally, Cher oversaw The Greatest Hits (1999) for international markets, reaching number one on the European Top 100 Albums chart.

1999: Grammy win and "Tea with Mussolini" role

In 1999, Cher won the Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording for "Believe" and the Billboard Music Award for Hot 100 Single of the Year. Also in 1999, Cher starred in the war film "Tea with Mussolini".

1999: "Believe" success continues in the US

In 1999, Cher's song "Believe" continued its success by becoming the best-selling single of the year in the US. Also in 1999, the song led the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks, making Cher, at 52, the oldest woman to top the chart.

2000: Do You Believe? Tour ends

Cher's Do You Believe? Tour, which began in 1999, continued into 2000, selling out in every American city it visited and drawing a global audience of over 1.5 million.

2002: Billboard Award and wealth estimation

In 2002, Cher was named Billboard's top dance artist and received the Artist Achievement Award at the Billboard Music Awards. In 2002, her wealth was estimated at $600 million.

September 2003: Record Deal and Highest-Paid Musician

In September 2003, Cher signed a global deal with Warner Bros. Records after leaving Warner UK in 2002. Forbes named her the highest-paid female musician of 2003, earning $33.1 million.

October 2003: Farewell Tour Success

By October 2003, Cher's Living Proof: The Farewell Tour had become the most successful tour by a female artist, grossing $145 million from 200 shows with 2.2 million attendees. The NBC special Cher: The Farewell Tour became the highest-rated network concert special of 2003, earning Cher a Primetime Emmy Award.

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: Completion of 'Living Proof: The Farewell Tour'

In 2005, Cher completed her 'Living Proof: The Farewell Tour', which was the highest-grossing concert tour by a female artist at the time, earning $250 million.

January 2011: Billboard Dance Club Songs Chart Topper

In January 2011, Cher's ballad "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 (1960s–2010s).

2013: Tying Closer to the Truth

Cher's album Dancing Queen in 2018, tied her album Closer to the Truth from 2013 on the Billboard charts.

September 2018: Dancing Queen Album Release

In September 2018, Cher's album of ABBA covers, "Dancing Queen", was released, debuting at number three on the Billboard 200, tying with 2013's "Closer to the Truth" as her highest-charting solo album in the US. It also achieved the year's biggest sales week for a pop album by a female artist and marked Cher's largest sales week since 1991.

December 2, 2018: Kennedy Center Honors

On December 2, 2018, Cher received the Kennedy Center Honors for her "extraordinary contributions to culture".

December 2023: Release and Chart Success of "Christmas" Album and "DJ Play a Christmas Song"

In December 2023, Cher's holiday album, Christmas (2023), reached number one on the Billboard Top Holiday Albums chart, with the lead single, "DJ Play a Christmas Song", topping the Billboard Adult Contemporary and Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales charts. This accomplishment extended Cher's record as the only solo artist with Billboard number-one singles in seven consecutive decades.

October 19, 2024: Cher's Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

On October 19, 2024, Cher was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, accepting the honor out of respect for her fellow inductees. During the ceremony, she performed "If I Could Turn Back Time" and "Believe", the latter as a duet with Dua Lipa.

November 2024: Publication of "Cher: The Memoir, Part One"

In November 2024, Cher released "Cher: The Memoir, Part One", the first installment of her autobiography. The book covered her childhood, early career, and marriages. It quickly reached number one on The New York Times Best Seller list and remained there for three weeks.