There is only one Goddess of Pop — and she needs just one name: Cher.
The legendary singer (born Cherilyn Sarkisian) is more than six decades into her mega-successful career, which has spanned the worlds of music, TV, film and fashion. She is just a Tony Award away from becoming an EGOT winner, with an Emmy, a Grammy and an Oscar already under her belt.
Cher rose to stardom in 1965 as half of the duo Sonny & Cher with Sonny Bono, her future husband and Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour costar. Together, they recorded hit singles including “I Got You Babe” and “The Beat Goes On.” The couple welcomed a child named Chaz Bono in 1969, the same year they divorced. Sonny died at the age of 62 in a tragic skiing accident in January 1998. Cher later welcomed her second son, Elijah Blue Allman, in 1976 with then-husband Gregg Allman, from whom she ultimately split in 1979.
Though Cher made some solo material in the ‘60s, she did not find worldwide success on her own until the 1971 release of her album Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves. By the mid-‘70s, her discography boasted hits such as “Half-Breed” and “Dark Lady.” The following decade, she embraced more of a rock vibe in her music with songs including “I Found Someone” and “If I Could Turn Back Time.” Her success in the industry continued through the ‘90s, ‘00s and 2010s, thanks to “Believe,” “Strong Enough” and “Woman’s World.”
As an actress, Cher garnered critical acclaim for her roles in Silkwood (1983), Mask (1985) and Moonstruck(1987), the latter of which landed her a best actress Oscar. More recently, she starred alongside Christina Aguilera in Burlesque (2010) and had a cameo in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again(2018).
“I’m shocked, but she’s really good. The other day, we were hamming it up so badly, so old, like vaudevillian,” Aguilera gushed to Entertainment Tonight in 2010 of her legendary costar. “She was keeping up! She was hot. Her game is good!”
“Cher knows full well that there’s a lot of skepticism about this romance, but she couldn’t care less,” a source exclusively told Us Weekly. “She’s reveling in the attention and saying that she and AE have something very special going on that’s made her feel more alive and sexier than ever.”
Scroll down to see photos of the global icon through the years:
After dropping out of high school and moving to Los Angeles, the El Centro, California, native met and fell in love with Sonny. They traveled to England and found moderate success before releasing their debut album, Look at Us, in August 1965.
Cher released her debut solo album, All I Really Want to Do, which featured covers of three Bob Dylan songs: the title track, “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right.”
After going through some hurdles in their relationship, Cher and Sonny put their differences aside and married. (They previously had an unofficial wedding in October 1964.) They separated in February 1974 and finalized their divorce in June 1975.
The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour premiered on CBS and ran for four seasons, concluding in May 1974. The variety show featured the pair singing and doing comedy sketches, often with Chaz in tow.
Cher married Gregg Allman from The Allman Brothers Band four days after finalizing her divorce from Sonny. The newlyweds released a collaborative album, Two the Hard Way, in November 1977, but broke up soon after. They finalized their divorce in 1979. (Allman died in May 2017.)
The Sonny and Cher Show became the first-ever to star a divorced couple when it premiered. Their onscreen banter about their personal life in part led to the series’ cancellation in August 1977.
Cher starred as Meryl Streep’s lesbian friend in the drama Silkwood, which scored five Oscar nominations including best supporting actress for the singer. She ended up winning a Golden Globe for the role.
Cher infamously clashed with Mask director Peter Bogdanovich on set, so she attended the Oscars in a black tarantula-like dress in a reported attempt to prove a point.
Cher called David Letterman an “a--hole” while appearing as a guest on Late Night With David Letterman. He later said he felt like the headline-making moment made him look like a “total fool.”
Cher launched her Living Proof farewell tour, which she continued to extend until April 2005 due to its success. Her show in Miami aired on NBC during Thanksgiving weekend and won three Primetime Emmys.
Cher starred opposite Christina Aguilera in her first movie musical, Burlesque. She won a Golden Globe for “You Haven’t Seen the Last of Me,” a song on the soundtrack.
Cher made a brief (but memorable!) appearance at the end of Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again as she sang ABBA’s “Fernando” to her onscreen lover, played by Andy García.
Cher’s Mamma Mia! stint inspired her to record an entire album of ABBA covers, including “SOS” and “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight).” She promoted it with her Here We Go Again Tour, which was scheduled around her Classic Cher residency and ended in March 2020.
After previews in Chicago, The Cher Show, a jukebox musical based on her life and career, moved to Broadway with three actresses playing Cher in three stages of her life: Stephanie J. Block, Teal Wicks and Micaela Diamond. Block went on to win the 2019 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical.
Fellow style icon Zendaya inducted Cher into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. "I changed the sound of music forever," the "Believe" singer proudly declared during her speech.
Cher released part one of her eponymous memoir, chronicling her childhood and early success with Sonny. It went on to become a New York Times bestseller.
Thomas Rhett and Lauren Akins’ love story is one for the books. The couple met as kindergartners, but it took them about 15 years to realize that they were life partners — and they haven’t turned back since.
Rhett and Akins started dating in 2011 after reconnecting at a party for her sister. They were engaged within six months and married the following October.
After honeymooning in Hawaii, Rhett and Akins tried to start a family. However, the pair struggled to conceive, so they began looking into other ways to have children. Akins visited Uganda in 2016 and quickly developed a bond with a baby girl named Willa Gray, whom they later adopted.
Rhett and Akins have since welcomed daughters Ada James, Lennon Love and Lillie Carolina in August 2017, February 2020 and November 2021, respectively. The couple announced in February 2026 that they welcomed baby boy Brave Elijah.
Scroll down to see a timeline of Rhett and Akins’ relationship:
Rhett and Akins briefly dated in the 10th grade. He was head over heels in love, but she ultimately decided they would be better off as friends. “She was just like the all-American, friendliest, nicest. She was tall, blonde, beautiful, pretty much the total package for any dude from sixth grade all the way through high school,” Rhett recalled to The Tennessean in February 2016.
Rhett and Akins nearly got engaged to other people in college. But then, he attended her sister’s graduation party in 2011 and confessed that he still had feelings for her.
The hitmaker proposed to the former nurse in December 2011 by writing “Marry Me” on a wine bottle with a Sharpie marker over dinner at her favorite Nashville restaurant, Giovanni.
The lovebirds enjoyed a trip to Italy in September 2014. “Me and @lauren_akins peacing out of the country! Here we come Italy,” the entertainer captioned a selfie via Instagram.
The musician took to Instagram in October 2016 to commemorate their fourth wedding anniversary. “4 years @laur_akins seriously?! It's gone by so fast,” he wrote. “Love you so much!! Happy anniversary babe.”
The childhood sweethearts welcomed their third daughter, Lennon, in February 2020. “Watching our kids meet Lennon for the first time was probably the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen in my whole life!” Rhett wrote via Instagram. “Ada James and Willa Gray are going to be the best big sisters on the planet.”
Akins paid tribute to Rhett via Instagram on Father’s Day in June 2020, writing, “Thomas Rhett you are the best daddy to our 3 little girls. You keep us steady, constantly entertain us, love us better than anyone could, cook us amazing food, point us to Jesus, (try to) teach us everything about music, make us laugh every single day, and with you leading our family we get to live out the most incredible adventure. Happy Father’s Day honey, you are so loved.”
The “Remember You Young” crooner celebrated his eight-year wedding anniversary with Akins in October 2020, sharing a sweet photo of her with the couple’s three kids cuddling on their bed. “Happy 8 year anniversary @laur_akins I seriously feel like we got married 6 months ago. I have loved every second of our journey together,” he wrote via Instagram. “No matter how tough it has been at times you are a fighter and I thank you and the Lord every day that you wake up and choose love. You are my rock, my inspiration and the woman that simply just makes life better. I can’t wait to relax with you, take naps with you and crush Netflix with you today! I love you so much honey! Also, I love your shoe choice in the photo haha.”
The New York Times bestseller penned her own tribute to her husband, sharing a photo of the duo standing side by side in The Great Outdoors. “I’ll go anywhere with you babe,” she captioned the snap. “These last 8 years have been the adventure of my dreams. I love you more than any words on Instagram can say. Happy Anniversary.”
The “What’s Your Country Song” singer and his wife cohosted the CMA Country Christmas special in December 2020, giving fans a glimpse at their playful relationship. Their daughters also made an appearance during Lady A’s closing performance.
Rhett sang about getting back together with Akins after college in his song “Want It Again” from his fifth studio album, Country Again (Side A). “I knew someday you’d find your way back into my arms / So girl, I kept this heart of mine / Somewhere good and safe / I knew you’d want it again someday,” he crooned.
The couple took a “just us two” mountain vacation ahead of the singer’s 31st birthday.
“One of the very few times Lauren and I got to ski just us two.. it was a good day. Love you honey @laur_akins,” Rhett wrote via Instagram on March 28. A day later, he captioned a separate photo of the pair, “Mom and dad."
Akins and Rhett revealed in May 2021 that she is pregnant with their fourth child. “SURPRISE!!” she wrote via Instagram. “He just couldn’t wait any longer, so @thomasrhettakins told our newest little secret onstage at @billybobstexas in Ft. Worth (my mama’s hometown) just in time for Mother’s Day: Akins family expanding in November 2021 with our FOURTH baby girl.”
The “Marry Me” crooner, for his part, gushed: “Well… we are pregnant again! Tonight when I was on stage in Fort Worth about to play ‘to the guys that date my girls’ my wife talked to me in my (ear monitors) and said ‘you can tell them if you want’ so anyways, now you know. We are pumped to be having our 4th girl. Feel free to buy all the merch you want, knowing that all the proceeds are going straight to all these weddings I’ll be paying for one day! Love you so much @laur_akins we always wanted a big thanksgiving table.”
While the “What’s Your Country Song” crooner performer was away from home on tour, he shared a sweet tribute to his wife, who was unable to attend.
“When you start having kids you never remember to take pictures together,” the Georgia native captioned a snap of the couple together in October 2021. “I love you @laur_akins missing you this weekend!”
The couple became a family of six in November 2021 when Akins gave birth to their fourth daughter, Lillie. “Lillie Carolina Akins,” Rhett wrote via Instagram at the time. “Born November 15th. 7.5 pounds of pure joy @laur_akins you are my hero. Watching a child being born is legit a miracle. 4 under 6 here we go!”
In February, Rhett praised his "super woman" wife's skills as a mother. "My wife moms with such patience and with such grace without ever asking for anything in return, and I feel like our kids just watch Lauren be super woman and they want to help her and they want to love on her," he told E! News at the time. "My wife is one of the most loving human beings in the world and has one of the kindest hearts that I know. I'm already starting to see that development in my little girls as well and that's one of the things I could not be more proud of."
“I feel like every time I write for a new record, my new mission is finding a new way to say, ‘I love you,’ right?” Rhett told ET Canada in a February 2023 interview, referring to his song “Angels (Don’t Always Have Wings), which is inspired by his wife. “We just celebrated 10 years of marriage in October, and this lifestyle is just nuts. It truly is.”
He continued: “And for someone to just deal with it all for 10 years and be my rock, be that person that I’ve always just leaned on. Still to this day we’re more in love than we’ve ever been.”
The country crooner later joked, “The song is kind of an apology for dealing with my crap for the last 10 years. But it’s mostly a thank you.”
Rhett and Akins shared in August 2025 that they were expecting their fifth baby in an Instagram video of him singing a version of “Life Changes.” The caption read, “Here we go again! We’ve got some really excited big sisters in our house. God is so good.”
Rhett and Akins shared in February 2026 that they welcomed a baby boy named Brave Elijah.
"Thomas Rhett was my biggest champion in labor & delivery," Akins wrote via Instagram. "He helped deliver him, was the first one to see and *tearfully*, mixed with a bit of shock announce to us all in the room 'It’s a BOY.'"
Rhett and Akins were able to enjoy a kids-free night out in Las Vegas, where they attended the 2026 ACM Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
The couple were all smiles on the red carpet before they enjoyed the show, hosted by Shania Twain.
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