Cher Reveals Dark Moments in Marriage to Sonny Bono in New Memoir

In her newly released memoir, Cher: The Memoir (Part One), the legendary singer and actress Cher opens up about the darker chapters of her marriage to the late Sonny Bono. Among her revelations is the startling claim that Sonny once admitted to seriously contemplating harming her as their relationship crumbled.

Cher recounts an emotionally turbulent period in October 1972 while staying at the Sahara Hotel in Las Vegas. At her lowest, she says she contemplated taking her own life by jumping from their hotel balcony. This despair was partly driven by her efforts to make Sonny understand the depth of her unhappiness, including confessing a fabricated intention to have an affair with their guitarist, Bill.

“I didn’t really mean it,” Cher writes, explaining that the statement was meant to jolt Sonny into recognizing her desire to end their marriage.

Despite months of personal anguish, the couple continued working together on their hit show, The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour. Behind the scenes, however, their marriage was unraveling. Cher recalls a shocking morning when Sonny confessed he had contemplated throwing her off the balcony after her remarks about Bill.

“He laughed a little at that, and so did I,” Cher recounts. “It was crazy that he was telling me... He said, ‘I figured I’d plead insanity like Spade Cooley and get seven years in jail before they released me. Then I’d get a book deal and my own show.’”

Cher responded with chilling honesty: “There would have been no need to push me—I was already thinking about jumping myself.” She describes this moment as the darkest of their marriage.

While Cher says she never believed Sonny would act on such thoughts, she acknowledges the gravity of the exchange and the deep emotional struggles they both faced.

The couple officially separated in 1974, finalizing their divorce in 1975 after 11 years of marriage. They had one child together, Chaz Bono. Despite their personal struggles, Sonny and Cher remained cultural icons for their music and television legacy.

Sonny Bono tragically died in a skiing accident in 1998, but Cher’s memoir continues to delve into their complex relationship, offering an unflinching look at both their professional success and personal struggles.

Cher’s reflections highlight the emotional weight of their marriage and the enduring impact it had on her life and career.