Cher was born Cherilyn Sarkisian on May 20, 1946. Her mother, Georgia Holt (pictured here), was a moderately successful singer and actress. Her father, John Sarkisian, was an Armenian-American truck driver. Cher's childhood was marked by poverty and frequent moves across the US. Aged 16, she dropped out of high school and left for Los Angeles, where she met her future husband, Sonny Bono.

Though Sonny Bono first planned to launch Cher as a solo act, she preferred to perform with him because of her stage fright. The performing couple Sonny & Cher became overnight stars with "I Got You Babe" in 1965. The failure of their marriage was revealed in 1974: Sonny had repeatedly cheated on Cher and tried to control her finances. Still, Cher delivered a tearful eulogy at his funeral in 1998.

Cher's collaborations have come to include a wide array of performers, including Tina Turner, Wu-Tang Clan, Christina Aguilera, and, of course, Sonny Bono. She developed an affinity for up-and-coming artists and eccentric stars on the fringes of mainstream culture. She's pictured here with Gregg Allman, who said that working with Cher made him more "famous for being famous than for his music."

Few people in showbiz have managed to amass as impressive an array of awards as Cher. Through her career spanning over five decades, Cher won three Golden Globe Awards, one Grammy Award, one Emmy Award and even an Academy Award - for her performance in the 1988 romantic comedy "Moonstruck" (pictured here). The singer-cum-actress was already nominated for an Oscar for the 1984 drama "Silkwood."

Cher's public image has largely been shaped by her love of cosmetic surgery, which allegedly began in the 80s. Her look changed from that of a natural ethnic beauty to that of a youthful and colorful diva, who daringly showed off her assets. Despite her quest to improve her appearance through face-lifts, Cher's actual persona has been perceived as one built on authenticity and modesty.

After recovering from a series of health issues, including chronic fatigue syndrome, Cher celebrated one of the greatest comebacks in pop history in 1998. "Believe" shot to top of the charts, establishing the so-called "Cher effect" - a deliberate manipulation of auto-tuning software - as a stylistic device in pop music. The album obtained three Grammy nominations, and won "Best Dance Recording."

Cher's most recent album "Closer to the Truth" features some emancipated themes, with tracks like "Woman's World," "Take It Like a Man," and "I Walk Alone" evoking notions of empowerment and independence. Throughout her career, Cher has been an advocate of LGBT rights and women's liberation. She has a transgender son, Chaz Bono (born Chastity Bono in 1969), who completed his transition in 2010.

With her elaborate costumes and campy dance numbers, Cher's shows have gained legendary status. Although she had announced that her 2002-2005 "Farewell Tour" would be her last - breaking box-office records - she's had a few more since. The dance floor diva keeps exerting her ever-growing influence on pop culture, with a Broadway show based on her hits set to debut in 2017.