Music icon Cher paid tribute to her late mother, Georgia Holt, on what would have been her 99th birthday with a moving social media message on Monday, June 9.
According to People, the singer reflected on her mother’s legacy and shared personal memories as she continues to remember Holt’s influence nearly three years after her passing in December 2022.
Holt, an actress and singer known for a role on the classic television show "I Love Lucy," died at 96 after being hospitalized with pneumonia months earlier. Cher first announced her death on December 11, 2022, in a brief but emotional post on X, formerly known as Twitter, writing, “Mom is gone,” accompanied by a sad-face emoji.
This week, Cher returned to X to express her ongoing connection with her late mother. On what would have been Holt’s 99th birthday, the Grammy winner wrote, “Hey 🌟Mom🌟Happy 🎈🎂Day. Sometimes I Talk 2 U, Need 2 Ask U a Question, Or I FORGET, & THINK, OH..GOTTA CALL MOM.” She ended the message with a sentimental thought: “MOM, I AM WHO I AM … BECAUSE OF U💋Me.”
The tribute illustrates the deep bond Cher and Holt shared during Holt’s life. Their relationship extended beyond personal life into their careers, including joint television appearances and creative collaborations.
In 1978, Holt made a vocal cameo in "Cher...Special," a TV variety show headlined by her daughter. That same closeness was eventually captured in a documentary produced by Cher titled Dear Mom, Love Cher, which aired on Lifetime in 2013.
The film explored Holt’s life through exclusive interviews and archival footage. It also documented her complicated personal life, including her marriages and her roles as mother to Cher and her sister Georganne LaPiere, and grandmother to Chaz Bono and Elijah Blue Allman.
Promoting the documentary, Holt and Cher appeared together on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" in April 2013, showcasing their candid and affectionate relationship to a national audience. Their bond left a lasting imprint on Cher’s life and continues to influence her today.
The singer delved even deeper into her mother’s story in Cher: The Memoir, Part One, released in November 2024. In the book, she recounted a surprising anecdote about one of Holt’s former husbands, real estate magnate Joseph Harper Collins.
According to Cher’s memoir, Holt met Collins in 1957 at a party and shortly after became engaged. Though the couple moved into his Beverly Hills mansion with Cher and Georganne, Holt later ended the marriage. Cher recalled that her mother said Collins was "too wild in the bedroom" for her tastes.
Despite the divorce, Collins made sure Holt and her daughters were well taken care of. As part of their settlement, he arranged a new home and a housekeeper for the family. These glimpses into Holt’s personal life provide a more vivid picture of the world Cher grew up in.
Following her mother’s death in 2022, Cher openly shared cherished memories of childhood. She recalled that Holt and her friends were "so beautiful" during those early years. She also admired her mother’s fashion sense, describing her as an "amazing dresser."
These reflections continue to resonate as Cher honors Holt’s legacy in both public tributes and her memoir. The affection she carries for her mother was evident not only in recent posts but in how she has chosen to keep her memory alive over the years.
Georgia Holt leaves behind a family that includes her two daughters and two grandsons, all of whom have impacted the worlds of music, entertainment, and activism. Holt herself led a multifaceted life in entertainment, creating a legacy that Cher often credits as foundational to her success.
Cher’s frequent tributes serve as reminders of her deep respect for her mother’s resilience and influence. Through interviews, music, and film, she continues to honor Holt’s journey and the role she played in shaping her daughters’ lives.
Even after nearly three years since her death, Holt’s presence remains strong in Cher’s life. Her message on June 9 not only commemorated her mother’s birthday but served as a window into the lasting emotional threads that connect them.
Cher’s expressions of love—through heartfelt words and visible dedication—paint a portrait not only of a grieving daughter but of a woman proud of the mother who helped shape her spirit and career. Holt’s impact remains present.
