Cher Recounts Finding Out Her Legal Name After Birth Name Mix-Up; Says ‘I Believed Cherilyn Was…’

As a dedicated follower of Cher’s journey, her new memoir has truly been a captivating read. The revelation about her legal name being different than what she believed was both surprising and enlightening. It’s fascinating to delve into the life experiences of such an iconic figure, especially when they involve unexpected twists like this one.


Everyone is buzzing about Cher’s latest memoir due to the surprising disclosures it contains. Among these revelations is the fact that she unintentionally discovered her legal name wasn’t what she thought when she tried to legally change her name to Cher in 1979.

In 1979, when Cherilyn Sarkisian requested a copy of her birth certificate, she was taken aback to discover that her original given name was listed as Cheryl instead of the well-known mononym “Cher” she’s recognized by today.

According to an article in People magazine, in her new memoir, she writes that she thought Cherilyn was her name for many years after a hospital nurse made a mistake. Later on, she decided to officially change her name to just Cher.

In 1946, when her mother, Georgia Holt (then 19 years old), went into premature labor at a modest hospital in El Centro, California, she endured a prolonged, unmedicated childbirth. The renowned singer revealed that by the time her mom gave birth around 7:30 a.m. on May 20 (a Monday), she was utterly exhausted.

While her mother was going through recovery, a nurse stopped by to inquire about the chosen name for the newborn child. The singer recalled that her mom hadn’t decided yet, but the persistent nurse prompted an answer, so she suggested, “I admire Lana Turner and her daughter is named Cheryl. Since my mother’s name is Lynda, how about we call her Cherilyn?

When the singer of “I Got You Babe” discovered her mistaken name, she inquired from her mother whether she had been informed about her genuine name all along. Upon being handed the document, her mother glanced at it, then gave a shrug in response.

At that time, the singer’s mom explained that she was just a young teenage girl, going through a great deal of hardship. She urged Cher to show understanding and leniency.

On November 19, 2024, the renowned singer published her autobiography called “Cher: The Memoir, Part One.

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2024-11-24 16:08