In her newly released memoir, “Cher: The Memoir, Part One,” legendary entertainer Cher shares an amusing and surprising anecdote about her name. She reveals that when she attempted to legally change her name in 1979, she was shocked to find that her birth certificate listed her first name as Cheryl, rather than the name she thought was hers, Cherilyn.
Cher recounts how her mother, Georgia Holt, a teenager at the time of her birth in 1946, was too exhausted post-labor to accurately register her name. When a nurse inquired about the baby’s name, Holt, not knowing for sure, drew inspiration from her favorite actress, Lana Turner, and concocted the name Cherilyn, which was a combination of that name and her own mother’s name, Lynda.
This twist of fate led Cher to humorously confront her mother with “Do you even know my real name, Mom?” Holt responded, acknowledging her youthful inexperience and the difficulty of the moment, stating, “I was only a teenager, and I was in a lot of pain. Give me a break.”
Ultimately, Cher made the decision to simplify her identity by legally adopting the name Cher in 1979, dropping not only her first name but also her four surnames that included her father’s name, her stepfather’s name, and the last names of her former husbands, Sonny Bono and Gregg Allman.
“Cher: The Memoir, Part One” is currently available, having been published on November 19, and promises more engaging stories from the life of the iconic performer.
Reflecting on Cher’s journey, this story illuminates the enchanting twists and turns of her early life and career. It serves as a reminder that even icons can have humorous and relatable experiences. Cher’s ability to embrace her true self through her name change represents a powerful moment of self-affirmation, inspiring others to embrace their identities fully.