Cher’s famous relationships are nearly as iconic as her career in the entertainment industry, and both topics are extensively covered in her just-released book, “Cher: The Memoir, Part One.” But there’s one man she “would’ve, could’ve, should’ve” taken a chance on and didn’t.
During a conversation about her new book with friend and former NBC News correspondent Harry Smith Nov. 20 at New York City’s Temple Emanu-El, Cher answered a question that Smith threw out there “just for fun.”
“Are there men in your life,” Smith began, “was there ever a man, and this is not in the book — this is just for fun — a man that you said, ‘Would’ve, could’ve, should’ve’?”
The crowd ooohed, and the singer responded, “Michael McDonald.”
“I would have gone out with him for his voice,” she continued. “If he just would sing to me, I would just love it.”
Cher also recalled the Doobie Brothers musician was once on the road with her and that she did background vocals just to be on the same stage with him.
“Why is it, you think, that men always fall in love with you?” Smith asked.
“How can you not?” someone in the audience said.
“Look at her!” another screamed.
Cher was married to Sonny Bono until the two divorced in 1975, and she tied the knot with Gregg Allman days after her first divorce was finalized. The two also had their fair share of issues, including Allman’s battle with addiction, and divorced a few years after their wedding. She also dated music executive David Geffen and Kiss rocker Gene Simmons. She reflects on all of the relationships in her memoir.
More recently, she’s been linked to music executive Alexander “AE” Edwards.
In response to Smith’s question, Cher was a little shy.
“Should I just say all this stuff? It sounds so —” she started, “because I’m a really good girlfriend, and I learned how to do this.”
The 78-year-old also described herself as “really funny” and “sweet-ish.”
“I’m monogamous,” she added. “And I know that if I look at a man while I’m with my boyfriend, it’s over, because I don’t look at men. I don’t see men. If I’m with someone that I love, the moment I see a boy it’s like, ‘OK, goodbye!’ But no, I’m a really good girlfriend.”
That habit is one that was instilled in Cher early on, as detailed in her memoir, when she writes multiple times about Bono not allowing her to interact with other men. In one instance, she recalled when he burned her tennis clothes after finding out from a friend she went to a party after one of her tennis lessons and was seen talking to some men.
“I was so pissed off at that,” Cher said while telling the story to Smith.
While grappling with the decision to leave Bono, Cher called friend Lucille Ball, who divorced her famous husband and TV partner, Desi Arnaz, for advice.
In her book, Cher wrote, “I told her, ‘Lucy, I want to leave Sonny and you’re the only one I know that’s ever been in this same situation. What should I do?’”
The singer said Ball responded, “F— him, you’re the one with the talent.”
Cher also shared another fun tidbit with fans during her book talk about Ball.
“I want to tell you something that’s really embarrassing, though,” the “Believe” singer said to Smith.
She explained that because she has dyslexia, she doesn’t know her address or phone number.
“If people want to find me, they will,” she said.
“I have my mobile. If I want to know what my phone number is, I just click to ‘Lucille Ball.’ That’s what my name is,” she revealed.
