Chaz Bono and Cher; Elijah Blue and Cher.Photo:Jason Merritt/Getty; SGranitz/WireImage
Jason Merritt/Getty; SGranitz/WireImage
Cheris a proud and dedicated mom toher two sons, Chaz Bono, 54, and Elijah Blue Allman, 47. Since welcoming Chaz with her ex-husband, the lateSonny Bono, the multi-hyphenate star has spoken openly and candidly about being a single mother.Despite her demanding career in the spotlight, Cher always knew she wanted to have kids. “My life would have been nothing without them,” she once said of Chaz and his brother Elijah Blue — whom she shares with the lateGregg Allman— on an episode ofDr. Phil.Take a look back at photos from some of Cher’s special moments with her sons over the years.
Cheris a proud and dedicated mom toher two sons, Chaz Bono, 54, and Elijah Blue Allman, 47. Since welcoming Chaz with her ex-husband, the lateSonny Bono, the multi-hyphenate star has spoken openly and candidly about being a single mother.
Despite her demanding career in the spotlight, Cher always knew she wanted to have kids. “My life would have been nothing without them,” she once said of Chaz and his brother Elijah Blue — whom she shares with the lateGregg Allman— on an episode ofDr. Phil.
Take a look back at photos from some of Cher’s special moments with her sons over the years.
01of 10A Mother’s LoveElijah Blue Allman, Chaz Bono and Cher.Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via GettyDuring her 2004 appearance onDr. Phil, Cher told Robin McGraw that she always wanted to have kids. The Grammy winner praised both of her sons for their “great morals.“Cher continued, “They tell the truth, they root for the underdog, they have respect for people. The things that my mom made me think were the most important things, my children have them.”
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A Mother’s Love
Elijah Blue Allman, Chaz Bono and Cher.Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty
Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty
During her 2004 appearance onDr. Phil, Cher told Robin McGraw that she always wanted to have kids. The Grammy winner praised both of her sons for their “great morals.”
Cher continued, “They tell the truth, they root for the underdog, they have respect for people. The things that my mom made me think were the most important things, my children have them.”
02of 10A Mom at WorkCher, Chaz Bono and Elijah Blue Allman.Harry Langdon/GettyIn a 1999 interview withEntertainment Weekly, Cher discussed the realities of balancing her career with parenthood.“A working mom at best is not very good. I mean I love my kids, but I could’ve been a lot better mom. I think I was kind of strict and dragged them with me and had great times and bad times,” she said.The Oscar-winning actress also described herself as a “cookie-decorating” type of mom. “I don’t bake them, I decorate them,” she clarified.
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A Mom at Work
Cher, Chaz Bono and Elijah Blue Allman.Harry Langdon/Getty
Harry Langdon/Getty
In a 1999 interview withEntertainment Weekly, Cher discussed the realities of balancing her career with parenthood.
“A working mom at best is not very good. I mean I love my kids, but I could’ve been a lot better mom. I think I was kind of strict and dragged them with me and had great times and bad times,” she said.
The Oscar-winning actress also described herself as a “cookie-decorating” type of mom. “I don’t bake them, I decorate them,” she clarified.
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Stepping into Parenthood
Cher and Chaz Bono.Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Kevin Mazur/WireImage
After the “Believe” singer welcomed her first child with Sonny Bono in March 1969 (the couple divorced in 1975), she said it was like having a “new best friend. It was just the most fun. It was like every day is Christmas.”
04of 10Biggest FanChaz started taking acting classes as a teenager and, with Cher’s encouragement, he followed his passion on a scholarship to LaGuardia High School, a performing arts school in New York City.In 2013, Chaz, who was assigned female at birth buttransitioned in March 2009after his 40th birthday,spoke to PEOPLE about why he paused his acting career after graduation: He wanted to play male parts and didn’t believe he would be able to do so at the time in Hollywood.“My senior year of high school I got cast as a male character and for the first time I really excelled. But I told myself, ‘This will never happen as a professional so I need to find another career,'” recalled Chaz.Chaz returned to acting with roles inThe Bold and the Beautifuland in two seasons ofAmerican Horror Story. “I’ve decided that hopefully it is never too late to do what you want to do,” he told PEOPLE.
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Biggest Fan
Chaz started taking acting classes as a teenager and, with Cher’s encouragement, he followed his passion on a scholarship to LaGuardia High School, a performing arts school in New York City.
In 2013, Chaz, who was assigned female at birth buttransitioned in March 2009after his 40th birthday,spoke to PEOPLE about why he paused his acting career after graduation: He wanted to play male parts and didn’t believe he would be able to do so at the time in Hollywood.
“My senior year of high school I got cast as a male character and for the first time I really excelled. But I told myself, ‘This will never happen as a professional so I need to find another career,'” recalled Chaz.
Chaz returned to acting with roles inThe Bold and the Beautifuland in two seasons ofAmerican Horror Story. “I’ve decided that hopefully it is never too late to do what you want to do,” he told PEOPLE.
05of 10Close BondsCher and Sonny Bono with Chaz Bono.Frank Edwards/Fotos International/GettySonny Bono died at age 62 in 1998, but he still serves as creative inspiration for his son. In 2015, Chaz detailed how his relationship with Sonny helped himget into characteras a deceased mathematician in a stage production ofProof.“We all pull from different places, and I pulled a few things from my dad’s personality that I think work well,” Chaz told PEOPLE at the time. “I’m not a parent and I’ve never had kids, but I remember our close relationship from the other side, and I tried to flip it a little bit to find the specialness of it from a father’s perspective.”
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Close Bonds
Cher and Sonny Bono with Chaz Bono.Frank Edwards/Fotos International/Getty
Frank Edwards/Fotos International/Getty
Sonny Bono died at age 62 in 1998, but he still serves as creative inspiration for his son. In 2015, Chaz detailed how his relationship with Sonny helped himget into characteras a deceased mathematician in a stage production ofProof.
“We all pull from different places, and I pulled a few things from my dad’s personality that I think work well,” Chaz told PEOPLE at the time. “I’m not a parent and I’ve never had kids, but I remember our close relationship from the other side, and I tried to flip it a little bit to find the specialness of it from a father’s perspective.”
06of 10’Love and Support’Frank Trapper/Corbis via GettyCher’s support for her son isn’t limited to his career pursuits. In 2011, Chaz opened up about his transition in the 2011 documentaryBecoming Chazand had his mom’s love to lean on.A source told PEOPLE that after screening the documentary at her house, theBurlesquestar told a friend, “I admire my son Chaz’s courage for sharing his personal journey. Most important to me is that he is very happy. That’s what I care about the most. He has my love and support."
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‘Love and Support’
Frank Trapper/Corbis via Getty
Cher’s support for her son isn’t limited to his career pursuits. In 2011, Chaz opened up about his transition in the 2011 documentaryBecoming Chazand had his mom’s love to lean on.
A source told PEOPLE that after screening the documentary at her house, theBurlesquestar told a friend, “I admire my son Chaz’s courage for sharing his personal journey. Most important to me is that he is very happy. That’s what I care about the most. He has my love and support."
07of 10More to LoveCher and Elijah Blue Allman.Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection/GettyCher and Gregg Allman, who struggled with drug abuse, split just a few years after they welcomed their son Elijah Blue in July 1976. During his childhood, Cher said Elijah rarely saw his father, though they later made amends before Gregg’s death in 2017.During his childhood, Cher took note of Elijah’s intelligence: “His mind is very expansive,” she once told Robin McGraw onDr. Phil. “He just dances to his own tune and doesn’t really care.”
07of 10
More to Love
Cher and Elijah Blue Allman.Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection/Getty
Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection/Getty
Cher and Gregg Allman, who struggled with drug abuse, split just a few years after they welcomed their son Elijah Blue in July 1976. During his childhood, Cher said Elijah rarely saw his father, though they later made amends before Gregg’s death in 2017.
During his childhood, Cher took note of Elijah’s intelligence: “His mind is very expansive,” she once told Robin McGraw onDr. Phil. “He just dances to his own tune and doesn’t really care.”
08of 10Extended FamilyJosh Donen, Elijah Blue Allman, Cher and Chaz Bono.Barry King/WireImageCher has said that hervarious boyfriendsstepped in as father figures to her sons. The boys spent time with their mom’s exesVal Kilmer, Joshua Donen (pictured) andGene Simmonsduring childhood.
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Extended Family
Josh Donen, Elijah Blue Allman, Cher and Chaz Bono.Barry King/WireImage
Barry King/WireImage
Cher has said that hervarious boyfriendsstepped in as father figures to her sons. The boys spent time with their mom’s exesVal Kilmer, Joshua Donen (pictured) andGene Simmonsduring childhood.
09of 10Rocky YearsCher and Elijah Blue Allman.Vinnie Zuffante/Michael Ochs Archives/GettyCher and her younger son have also endured turmoil in their relationship, though Elijah has previously shared his hope that they’ll restore their bond: “It’ll be mended because it has to be, it will just take time," Elijah toldThe Daily Mailin 2014.Their tense relationship has been further strained in recent years, after Cher was accused of hiring mento forcibly removeher son from a New York City hotel in an apparent intervention. The singer shut down the abduction rumors but opened up to PEOPLE about hereffort to help her son, who struggles with addiction.
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Rocky Years
Cher and Elijah Blue Allman.Vinnie Zuffante/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty
Vinnie Zuffante/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty
Cher and her younger son have also endured turmoil in their relationship, though Elijah has previously shared his hope that they’ll restore their bond: “It’ll be mended because it has to be, it will just take time," Elijah toldThe Daily Mailin 2014.
Their tense relationship has been further strained in recent years, after Cher was accused of hiring mento forcibly removeher son from a New York City hotel in an apparent intervention. The singer shut down the abduction rumors but opened up to PEOPLE about hereffort to help her son, who struggles with addiction.
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A Mother’s Job
L. Cohen/WireImage
“I’m not suffering from any problem that millions of people in the United States aren’t,” Cher told PEOPLE in October 2023. “I’m a mother. This is my job — one way or another, totry to help my children. You do anything for your children. Whenever you can help them, you just do it because that’s what being a mother is. But it’s joy, even with heartache — mostly, when you think of your children, you just smile and you love them, and you try to be there for them.”
source: people.com
