Father abandoned family when Cher was a few months old

Placed in a Catholic home until mother could save enough money to support her

Ran away from home at age 16 and met Sonny Bono, who was working for record producer Phil Spector

Worked as background vocalist for Spector recordings (of the Ronettes and the Crystals)

Recorded first song, "Ringo, I Love You," under the pseudonym of Bonnie Jo Mason; produced by Phil Spector

Began performing with Bono as 'Caesar and Cleo'

Changed name to 'Sonny and Cher'; reached Top Ten with the singles "Baby Don't Go" and "I Got You Babe"

Film acting debut in "Wild on the Beach"

Played herself in William Friedkin's "Good Times"

Debuted the Sonny and Cher nightclub act

Acted the title role in "Chastity"; written by Sonny Bono

Appeared on TV in "The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour" (CBS)

Had solo TV series, "Cher" (CBS)

After their divorce, re-teamed with Bono for "The Sonny and Cher Show" (CBS)

Off-Broadway acting debut in "Come Back to the Five & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean"

Reprised role of Cissy in movie version of "Come Back to the Five & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean"

Played Meryl Streep's lesbian friend in Mike Nichols' "Silkwood"; earned first Oscar nomination as Best Supporting Actress

Formed film production company, Isis

Played the mother of a severely disfigured boy (Eric Stoltz) in Peter Bogdanovich's "Mask"

Won an Academy Award playing a frumpy bookkeeper in Norman Jewison's "Moonstruck"

Teamed with Jack Nicholson, Susan Sarandon and Michelle Pfeiffer for "The Witches of Eastwick"

Returned to her recording career with the album Cher

Released the album Heart of Stone, with the hit single "If I Could Turn Back Time"

Last film for six years, "Mermaids"

First exercise video released, "CherFitness: A New Attitude"

Collaborated with MTV's cartoon "Beavis and Butt-head" for a rock version of Sonny & Cher's "I Got You Babe"

Returned to the big screen in the disappointing "Faithful"

Made directing debut with a segment of HBO's "If These Walls Could Talk"; also starred in the segment she directed; earned a Golden Globe nomination as Best Supporting Actress

Paid tribute to Bono in the CBS special "Sonny and Me: Cher Remembers"; executive produced

Released her 23rd studio album, Believe; the title song became the biggest hit of Cher's entire career

Published her first memoir, The First Time

Returned to films in the ensemble of Franco Zeffirelli's "Tea With Mussolini"

Traveled with her "Living Proof: The Farewell Tour"; aired on NBC in 2003; and later in 2003 released the album Live: The Farewell Tour

Had a cameo apperance in the Farrelly brothers comedy "Stuck on You"

Earned a Grammy nomination for the song "Love One Another"

Returned to performing at Las Vegas' Caesar's Palace, in the show titled "Cher at the Colosseum"