“It’s a Big Regret” — Cher Shares the Last Time She Spoke to Sonny Bono Before the Accident and One Secret About Their Child That Has Only Come to Light After All These Years

It’s been more than two decades since Sonny Bono’s tragic death in a skiing accident — but for Cher, time has done little to dull the ache of losing her former partner in life and music. In a candid and emotional interview, the legendary singer opened up about the final phone call she shared with Sonny before his death in 1998, describing it as both “comforting and painful.” She also revealed a touching secret about their child, Chaz Bono, that only became clear years later — a reflection that deepened her understanding of both her late ex-husband and their family.

“It’s a big regret,” Cher said quietly. “We didn’t end on bad terms, but we didn’t end the way I wish we had.”

💔 “I Thought There Would Always Be Time”

Cher and Sonny Bono’s partnership helped define the sound and spirit of the 1960s and ’70s. From their 1965 breakout hit “I Got You Babe” to The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour, the duo became one of entertainment’s most iconic pairings — balancing humor, chemistry, and heart. But behind their success were struggles that tested their marriage and friendship.

By the time Sonny passed away in January 1998, the two had long gone their separate ways — both personally and professionally — though their connection never truly faded.

“The last time we spoke, it was short — maybe five minutes,” Cher recalled. “He’d called to ask about [our child] Chaz, and we laughed about something silly. It felt easy, like old times.”

She paused, her voice softening.

“I hung up thinking, ‘I’ll call him next week.’ Then I got the news. And my heart just stopped.”

For Cher, that unfinished goodbye has remained one of her deepest regrets.

“You always think you’ll have another chance — another birthday, another laugh, another fight even. But life doesn’t always wait for you to make peace.”

🌲 The Day Everything Changed

On January 5, 1998, news broke that Sonny Bono had died in a skiing accident near Lake Tahoe. Cher remembers receiving the call and refusing to believe it.

“They told me, and I just said, ‘No. No, not Sonny,’” she said. “He was the toughest person I’d ever known. It didn’t make sense that something so still could take him away.”

Days later, Cher stood at the podium during his funeral, delivering a eulogy that remains one of the most moving tributes in entertainment history — a raw, heartfelt goodbye to the man who had been her creative partner, her rival, and her lifelong friend.

“He was the most unforgettable person I’ll ever know,” she said. “He left a mark on my soul that no one else ever could.”

🌙 “The Secret About Our Child”

In the same interview, Cher shared something she’d never spoken about publicly before — a quiet revelation that came years after Sonny’s passing, tied to their only child, Chaz Bono.

“Sonny used to tell me, ‘You know, our kid’s got something special — but you have to let them find it,’” she said. “At the time, I thought he just meant talent.”

Years later, after Chaz publicly embraced his identity and became an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and visibility, Cher says she began to see that comment in a new light.

“Looking back now, I think Sonny sensed something deeper,” she reflected. “He knew Chaz’s soul in a way that went beyond what we could see. It’s like he understood him before the rest of us did.”

She smiled, her eyes misting with emotion.

“I think he’d be incredibly proud of who Chaz is. And I wish I could tell him, ‘You were right — he’s exactly who he’s meant to be.’”

💫 A Legacy of Love and Learning

Though their relationship was famously complicated, Cher has never denied the impact Sonny had on her life. Their love story — filled with passion, partnership, and creative triumph — remains one of the most talked-about in show business.

“We had fire, we had chaos, but we also had magic,” she said. “Sonny believed in me before anyone else did. Without him, there would be no Cher. That’s something I’ll always honor.”

Now in her late seventies, Cher says time has given her perspective — not to erase the pain, but to understand it.

“You don’t stop missing people,” she said softly. “You just start understanding them differently.”

🌹 “If I Could Tell Him One Thing…”

When asked what she would say to Sonny if she could speak to him one last time, Cher didn’t hesitate.

“I’d say, ‘Thank you for believing in me when I didn’t believe in myself. And I’m sorry I didn’t say it enough.’”

Then, with a small, wistful smile, she added:

“And I’d probably tell him to stop skiing so fast.”

For Cher, the story of Sonny Bono isn’t just one of fame and heartbreak — it’s one of growth, forgiveness, and eternal connection.

“Sonny will always be a part of me,” she said. “And maybe that’s how love really works — it changes form, but it never truly leaves.”