“Easier Getting Divorced From Two Men”: Cher Says Of Rock Hall Induction

After more than three decades of waiting, Cher has finally taken her place in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame – and she’s embracing it with flair. The 78-year-old music legend was inducted on Saturday, Oct. 19, in Cleveland, marking the end of a long journey that even she thought would never happen.

In classic Cher style, she took the stage in front of a cheering crowd and performed her iconic hits, including her 1998 anthem Believe with pop star Dua Lipa. She followed that up with a solo performance of If I Could Turn Back Time, reminding everyone of her timeless influence in the music world. The night reached its pinnacle when Cher was formally inducted by actress Zendaya.

But true to form, Cher didn’t hold back her humor. While accepting the honor, she joked that it was “easier getting divorced from two men” than getting into the Rock Hall, referencing her high-profile marriages to Sonny Bono and Gregg Allman.

Cher’s relationship with the Rock Hall hasn’t always been smooth. Just last December, she blasted the organization during an appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show after being snubbed for years. “I wouldn’t be in it now if they gave me a million dollars. They can just go you-know-what themselves,” she said at the time. Her frustration was understandable — despite her six decades of reinvention and influence, Cher had been eligible for induction since 1990.

Backstage after the ceremony, Cher opened up more about her past feelings toward the Hall of Fame. “I said I didn’t give a flying f— if I got in,” she admitted, reflecting on her earlier frustrations. “I had kind of a love-hate relationship… I thought, ‘What do I have to f—ing do, y’know, to be inducted into this place? What do you have to do to really be a part of it?’ So then I was really proud to say, ‘I don’t want to be a part of it.’”

But her attitude changed when she saw the list of fellow honorees for 2024. This year’s class includes legends like Mary J. Blige, Dionne Warwick, Dave Matthews Band, Foreigner, Peter Frampton, Kool & The Gang, Ozzy Osborne, and A Tribe Called Quest. Being included alongside these icons softened her perspective. “I just thought, ‘I’m gonna be with this group of people’ … They’re great, and I’m happy to just be with them,” she admitted. 

Cher also shared that a heartfelt letter from her former flame, record executive David Geffen, played a role in her change of heart. “David was like, ‘Sweetheart, you know this is great, you deserve it.’ And I felt good,” she said.

Now, Cher’s relationship with the Rock Hall seems to be more love than hate. “I can say that I’m happy I’m in because if I didn’t feel like it, I wouldn’t say it — I wouldn’t be here,” she concluded.