Cher reveals first impression of Dolly Parton, admits giving side eye to manager before asking about her

Cher reveals first impression of Dolly Parton, admits giving side eye to manager before asking about her
Cher recalled her first meeting with Dolly Patron in her new memoir 'Cher: The Memoir, Part One' (Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Cher has talked about her impression of Dolly Parton when they first met, in her book — ‘Cher: The Memoir, Part One’.

The book released on November 19 mentioned that the ‘Moonstruck’ star and Parton came face to face for the first time during a party at the house of the former's manager in 1978, noted People.

Cher noted that she first gave “the side eye” look to her manager before enquiring about the "extraordinary-looking woman with a mass of blond curls."

 Co-host Dolly Parton speaks onstage during the 57th Academy of Country Music Awards at Allegiant Stadium on March 07, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for ACM)
Co-host Dolly Parton speaks onstage during the 57th Academy of Country Music Awards at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada (Kevin Winter/Getty Images for ACM)

Cher and Dolly Parton have been friends for years

The ‘Goddess of Pop’ revealed that she was asked by her manager to not judge Dolly Parton before completely knowing her.

“Don’t make your mind up based on appearance. You’re going to love her. She’s a fabulous country singer. Her name is Dolly Parton,” he reportedly told her.

Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner during 2003 BMI Country Music Awards at BMI Nashville in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. (Photo by Frank Mullen/WireImage)
Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner during 2003 BMI Country Music Awards at BMI Nashville in Nashville, Tennessee, United States (Frank Mullen/WireImage)

Cher asserted in her book that her manager was “right, and she is still my friend to this day.”


Cher reveals how she legally changed her name

Another interesting revelation from the Grammy Award winner’s book was that her birth name was registered as Cheryl instead of Cherilyn which was given by her mother, as per People.

She wrote, “I believed Cherilyn was my name until the day years later when I decided to legally change my name to simply Cher.”

Cher performs during the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show 2024 at Duggal Greenhouse on October 15, 2024 in Brooklyn, New York. (Photo by TheStewartofNY/FilmMagic)
Cher performs during the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show 2024 at Duggal Greenhouse in Brooklyn, New York (TheStewartofNY/FilmMagic)

Recalling her birth story, Cher, who was born in May 1946, mentioned, “She [her then 19-year-old mother, Georgia Holt] was exhausted by the time I arrived at around 7.30 am on Monday, May 20.”

HOLLYWOOD, CA - NOVEMBER 18: Cher and her mother Georgia Holt attend Cher's hand and footprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on November 18, 2010 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic)
Cher and her mother Georgia Holt attend Cher's hand and footprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California (Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic)

After her birth when her mother was asked about her baby’s name, she “had no idea, but the woman insisted so she replied, 'Well, Lana Turner's my favorite actress and her little girl's called Cheryl. My mother's name is Lynda, so how about Cherilyn?’”

Later in 1979 at the age of 33, the ‘Burlesque’ actress changed her name to Cher.

Cher says she was ‘never disrespectful’ to her mother

In 2013, Cher opened up about her mother who died in December 2022.

Cher performs onstage at the 2024 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on October 19, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)
Cher performs onstage at the 2024 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio (Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)

The 78-year-old iconic entertainer told People, "She never gave me and my sister [actress Georganne LaPiere Bartylak] advice because, truthfully, she knew we’d never take it. Instead, we learned about life by listening to her talk about the things she did wrong and the things she did right.”

Cher also shared that she was a “strong-headed” child and she once ran “away when I was 11.”

“I hopped a train with my friends. I was just very adventurous – but never disrespectful. She wouldn’t have put up with that,” she added.

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