'I Was Dizzy With Loneliness': Cher Reflects On Her Complicated Marriage To Sonny Bono And The Time She Contemplated Suicide

In her upcoming self-titled memoir, Cher opened up about her complicated first marriage to Sonny Bono, sharing vulnerable details including the times she contemplated taking her life.

Updated on Nov 25, 2024  |  01:23 AM IST |  38.8K
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Cher (PC: Getty Images)

Trigger Warning: This article contains mentions of suicide and an individual's death.

Cher had a whirlwind romance with Sonny Bono which led to their impromptu wedding. However, the much-in-love couple and former roommates fell apart since their relationship was officiated and some of the issues they had were because of Bono’s infidelity and his controlling and abusive nature. 

In the singer’s upcoming self-titled memoir, she opened up about the struggles of her first marriage, recalling how it gave her a pang of loneliness. "There I was, twenty-six years old and in what had become a loveless marriage," she wrote. The Grammy winner shared details of a particularly depressing night back in 1972. 

"Sonny had given me the vehicle and the confidence to become the somebody my mother always told me I would be, and then he just lost interest," she said. Cher recalled stepping out barefoot on the balcony of their suit and feeling numb. "I was dizzy with loneliness. I saw how easy it would be to step over the edge and simply disappear,” she added. 


She recalled not being able to find any other option than jumping off until she thought of her mother, her sister, and everybody who looked up to her for inspiration. “And I would step back inside," she added.

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After this tragic chapter of her life concluded, Cher witnessed massive successes from delivering standout films like Moonstruck, Silkwood, and The Witches of Eastwick to thriving as a solo music artist. 

Although the couple wasn’t officially divorced until 1975, they started living separate lives in 1974 and the musician had already started another relationship. Cher tied the knot with rock star Gregg Allman merely four days after her divorce from Bono was finalized.  

Despite personal fallout, Bono and the Strong Enough singer maintained a professional relationship and returned to television for The Sonny and Cher Show. The two reportedly remained friends until the former died in 1998. At the request of Bono’s fourth wife Mary, the singer had delivered a eulogy at his funeral back then. 

Disclaimer: If you know someone who is having suicidal thoughts, anxiety, going through depression, or is suffering from a serious mental illness, reach out to a nearby doctor, mental health expert, or an NGO for immediate help.​ There are several helplines available for the same.

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