Cher's Memoir Details Sonny Bono's Control and Deceit

Cher's recently released memoir, 'Cher: The Memoir, Part One,' provides an intimate look into her tumultuous relationship with Sonny Bono, highlighting issues of control and financial manipulation. Cher reveals that Sonny exerted considerable control over her life, even banning her from wearing perfume, and that she discovered financial exploitation only after their separation, with music executive David Geffen helping her realize the extent of Bono's deceit. The memoir also explores Cher's personal struggles, including moments of suicidal ideation during her marriage, which she describes as loveless. Despite Sonny's controlling nature, Cher recounts how her eventual decision to leave him was spurred by a flirtation with a guitarist in her band. Her narrative is rich with anecdotes about her early life, Hollywood encounters, and her subsequent relationships post-Sonny, painting a picture of resilience and reinvention. The memoir ends around 1980, with Cher preparing for a new chapter as an actress in New York City.