In a surprising twist revealed in her latest memoir, Cher found out that her birth certificate did not bear the name "Cherilyn," which she had always believed to be her own.
Cher details the startling discovery of her true birth name in her new memoir, leading to a legal name change in 1979, People reported.
Born on May 20, 1946, in El Centro, California, the future superstar was brought into the world by Georgia Holt, a 19-year-old in the throes of labor pain. The labor was intense and prolonged, culminating in Cher's birth a month premature. At the time, her mother, influenced partially by exhaustion and partly by a nurse’s suggestion, named her inspired by Lana Turner's daughter and her own mother's name.
The name 'Cherilyn' was thought to have been solidified at that moment. However, the truth would only come out decades later when Cher, born Cherilyn Sarkisian, sought to legally simplify her name to just 'Cher.'
In 1979, at a pivotal moment in her life, Cher decided to legally ditch her full birth name along with surnames from marriages and adoption, such as LaPiere, Bono, and Allman. It was during this process she requested a copy of her birth certificate, leading to an unexpected revelation. The document declared her name as 'Cheryl,' not 'Cherilyn'.
The discovery was a bewildering experience for Cher, who had for years identified with the name Cherilyn. In her own words, "I believed Cherilyn was my name until the day years later when I decided to legally change my name to simply Cher."
Seeking clarity, she confronted her mother about the discrepancy. Georgia Holt, reflecting on the circumstances of Cher's birth, could only recall the severe pain and exhaustion she endured. She responded to Cher’s query humorously yet earnestly, highlighting her youth and distressed state during labor, saying, "I was only a teenager, and I was in a lot of pain. Give me a break."
This mix-up, embedded in a moment of physical exhaustion and simple human error, led to decades of identity under a mistaken name. It wasn't until her legal name change that Cher corrected her identity to reflect her preferred name.
Georgia Holt, who passed away in December 2022 at the age of 96, had a significant influence on her daughter. She never provided explicit life advice in the conventional sense. Instead, she bestowed wisdom through the tales of her experiences, encapsulating both her mistakes and successes.
Holt's method of guidance shaped Cher into the person she became, instilling lessons through anecdotal living rather than prescriptive advice. Cher reminisced, "Instead, we learned about life by listening to her talk about the things she did wrong and the things she did right."
The story of Cher’s name is just a piece of a larger narrative laid out in her memoir, "Cher: The Memoir, Part One," released on November 19. Beyond a simple personal recount, the book delves into the layered interactions and moments that defined not only the star’s career but also her evolution amid the spotlight.
As one of the most iconic figures in the entertainment industry, Cher's life has been under scrutiny for decades. However, her memoir opens a new window into her personal history, revealing facets of her life that even long-time fans might not know. Highlighting her birth story and name change is not just a recollection of a clerical error but a deeper dive into personal identity and family influences that shaped one of music's biggest stars.
Cher's journey, from the discovery of the true spelling of her name to the intentional crafting of her public persona, underscores a story of self-realization and individuality. Boldly making the switch to a mononym, Cher has established a singular presence in the pantheon of pop culture, inspiring countless others to follow their paths despite unexpected turns and revelations.
With her mother's indirect life lessons and the surprises revealed in her memoir, Cher continues to captivate the public not only with her talents but also with her resilience and adaptability in the face of personal and professional evolution.
