Cher-ing the Feels

Singer Cher, 77, certainly has staying power!

The American Theatre Guild opened its Broadway in Santa Barbara series at the Granada with The Cher Show, celebrating her six decades of stardom, kicking off with partnering with then husband Sonny Bono in “I Got You Babe” in the ‘60s.

She then proceeded to garner an Oscar, Grammy, Emmy, and enough Bob Mackie-designed risqué gowns to cause a nationwide sequin shortage.

Dubbed the Goddess of Pop, the thoroughly entertaining two-and-a-half-hour show had so much content featuring all 35 of her major hits that it took three women to play her role!

In the ‘70s her hits included “Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves,” and a disco album Take Me Home, which I remember actually dancing to with her at New York’s notorious nightclub Studio 54 when I was an editor at New York Magazine before my get up and go, got up and went.

In 1982, Cher made her debut on the Great White Way with Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean, which I attended, as well as London’s West End version. It was later adapted as a movie.

She followed it with Silkwood, Mask, and Moonstruck in 1987, which nabbed her an Academy Award.

Cher also won three Golden Globes and, to date, has sold more than 100 million records.

An extraordinary and delightful character who really puts the show into showbiz…