In a candid revelation on the latest episode of the podcast Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard, iconic singer Cher detailed the controlling and tumultuous aspects of her marriage to the late Sonny Bono, including an incident where he allegedly burned her clothes in a jealous rage. The 79-year-old entertainer, reflecting on their partnership that propelled them to fame in the 1960s as the duo Sonny & Cher, described how what began as a mentorship evolved into a restrictive dynamic that overshadowed their professional triumphs. Cher's account, shared during the Monday episode, sheds new light on the personal struggles behind their public success, from chart-topping hits to a hit television variety show.
Cher and Bono first crossed paths in 1962 in Los Angeles, when she was just 16 years old and he was a 27-year-old aspiring music producer working with Phil Spector. Bono quickly became her mentor, manager, and creative partner, leading to the formation of Sonny & Cher in 1964. That same year, they participated in an unofficial wedding ceremony in Tijuana, Mexico, though they did not legally marry until 1969. Their breakthrough came in 1965 with the release of I Got You Babe, which topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart and launched them into stardom. The duo followed with numerous other hits, with Bono overseeing songwriting, production, and business affairs, while Cher emerged as the group's charismatic frontwoman.
Their fame extended beyond music into television in the early 1970s with The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour, a variety show that cemented their status as household names. According to Cher, however, the height of their success marked the beginning of Bono's increasingly controlling behavior. On the podcast, host Dax Shepard prompted her about this shift, saying, This is when now this kind of new side of Sonny comes out... Which is like incredibly controlling. Cher agreed, recounting how she was not allowed to leave the house except for shopping and was isolated from her friendships.
It took a little while, Cher admitted when asked how she realized the extent of the control. I couldn't do anything. She shared a particularly distressing anecdote about attempting to reclaim some independence by learning tennis and practicing at a friend's house. During one session, her friend Dennis informed Bono that Cher had attended a party there afterward, where other people, including men, were present. In response, Bono reportedly burned her clothes in the yard. And he burned my clothes, Cher said simply. In the yard.
Cher explained that her awareness of the power imbalance developed gradually, complicated by the contrast between their on-set camaraderie and home life. I was free on the show, and he was funny, and we got along, she remembered. It's such a strange dichotomy because we would be laughing, and we'd be having the best time and then when we were at home, it was kind of more cut and dried. This duality, she noted, prolonged their marriage, as the joy of working together on the show outweighed the tensions at home. The show kept us together a lot longer than we would have been anyway, because we had such a good time, Cher said. He was so fun, and he was so funny, and we worked so well together.
Amid these revelations, Cher also touched on discovering Bono's infidelity during the later years of their marriage. Shepard referenced an incident from Cher's 1998 memoir The First Time, where she encountered another woman putting on her boots in their home in the middle of the night while fetching a glass of water. Despite this, Cher said she had no immediate plans to leave, largely due to the show's success. I didn't know except the one, she told Shepard regarding Bono's other girlfriends.
The couple's professional partnership began to fray as Cher grew unhappy with the lack of autonomy. In February 1974, they announced their separation, and The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour was canceled just two months later. Their divorce was finalized in 1975, with a formal settlement agreement reached in 1978. During the proceedings, Cher learned the shocking extent of their financial arrangements, thanks to her friend and music executive David Geffen, who reviewed her contract.
Geffen looked at this contract and says to you, 'Do you realize 100% of this money goes to a company called Cher Inc. that is owned 95% by Sonny and 5% by his lawyer?'
Shepard recounted on the podcast, highlighting the disbelief from co-host Monica Padman: 0% for Cher? Cher described how she was often rushed into signing lengthy contracts right before performances. Yeah, what are you going to do — read 20 pages of legalese? Shepard interjected. When Cher confronted Bono, offering to stay if they became equal partners, he refused. So I went to Sonny and I said, 'I'll stay with you if we're partners. And he said no.'
Over their years together, Sonny & Cher had amassed significant wealth, but Cher walked away with none of it in immediate cash. Instead, she received 50% of the publishing royalties from their joint work, an arrangement that has since proven lucrative, reportedly generating tens of millions of dollars for her over decades. The divorce proceedings also revealed that much of their earnings had been spent, reinvested, or lost in ventures managed by Bono, leaving their finances in disarray.
Reflecting on the relationship's early days, Cher acknowledged its initial appeal. We had a lot of fun, and he was special in a way, and then it became very treacherous, she said. The pair shared one child, Chaz Bono, born during their time together. After the split, Cher launched a highly successful solo career, achieving further acclaim with hits like Believe and earning Grammy Awards. Bono, meanwhile, shifted away from music, entering politics and serving as a U.S. Congressman from California before his death.
Sonny Bono died in 1998 at age 62 in a skiing accident in South Lake Tahoe, California. Cher's appearance on Armchair Expert comes amid ongoing interest in her life story, including a recent legal victory over royalties with Bono's widow, Mary Bono, which she won after a years-long battle. In that case, Cher secured rights to more of her music earnings, underscoring the lingering financial ties from their partnership.
The podcast discussion also touched on Cher's broader reflections on relationships and finances. I have never had success with men and money, she admitted, noting how she built her own fortune post-divorce. While Cher's account provides a personal perspective on their marriage, Bono is no longer alive to offer his side, and historical reports from the era often focused on their comedic on-screen chemistry rather than private struggles.
Entertainment historians have long noted the power dynamics in Sonny & Cher's relationship, with some biographies portraying Bono as the driving force behind their success. Cher's memoir and previous interviews have hinted at these issues, but her podcast disclosures add vivid, specific details not widely covered before. The episode, hosted by Shepard, who is known for drawing out personal stories from guests, has already garnered attention in entertainment circles for its raw honesty.
As Cher continues to perform and engage with fans—recently celebrating her 77th birthday on social media by questioning when she'll feel old—her story serves as a reminder of the complexities behind fame. The royalties from her work with Bono continue to support her legacy, while her solo achievements stand as a testament to her resilience. For now, these revelations offer fans a deeper understanding of the woman behind the icon, blending triumph with the trials of a storied partnership.