Watch: Gayle King’s Final Interview with Cher — A Legacy of Truth, Tenacity, and Timelessness

In a deeply moving and reflective farewell, Gayle King—the longtime co-host of CBS Mornings—brought her celebrated run to a close with an intimate conversation with one of music’s most enduring icons, Cher. Conducted in the sunlit tranquility of Cher’s Malibu mansion overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the interview was both a celebration of legacy and a meditation on resilience. As ocean waves rolled below her cliffside home, the superstar opened up about her life, her art, and her unyielding spirit—offering viewers a rare, unfiltered look into the woman behind the legend.

🌊 A Setting as Iconic as Its Guest

Cher’s Malibu estate, which she has lovingly called home for two decades, provided the perfect backdrop for Gayle King’s final interview in her role at CBS Mornings. Surrounded by her signature blend of art, history, and personal keepsakes, the 78-year-old star greeted King with warmth and wit, setting the tone for a conversation that was both nostalgic and revealing.

Cher, born Cherilyn Sarkisian in El Centro, California, reflected on her journey from shy dreamer to global superstar. “Offstage, I’m quiet—almost timid,” she admitted. “But when I’m performing, I feel free. I grow to be 15 feet tall.”

It’s a duality that has long defined her: the private artist versus the fearless performer. Cher credited her late mother, Georgia Holt, as her greatest influence—a resilient woman whose strength shaped her daughter’s outlook.

Even as a multi-decade hitmaker with chart-toppers spanning six consecutive decades, Cher remains her own toughest critic. “I don’t like my voice,” she confessed with a laugh, “but sometimes, in songs like Song for the Lonely or If I Could Turn Back Time, I hear something in it that feels… right.”

💕 Sonny, the Beginning, and the Bond Beyond Time

No reflection on Cher’s life would be complete without revisiting her storied partnership with Sonny Bono. She recounted their first meeting with the kind of cinematic clarity that only time can bring.

“It was like Maria at the dance in West Side Story,” she said softly. “Everything else just disappeared.”

At the time, Sonny saw potential in her even before she did. “He wrote me a poem once, saying I was a butterfly that deserved to be seen,” Cher remembered. Their chemistry—equal parts friendship, humor, and ambition—would eventually propel Sonny & Cher to stardom, anchored by their breakout hit I Got You Babe and their endearing onstage banter.

Though their marriage ended in 1975, their connection never truly faded. When Sonny tragically passed away in 1998, Cher delivered a deeply emotional eulogy that remains one of her most defining public moments.

“If Sonny walked in right now,” she told King, “we’d start bantering and laughing like no time had passed.”

🏆 Triumph, Criticism, and the Art of Reinvention

Throughout the interview, Cher reflected on her career’s many peaks—and the valleys that tested her perseverance. Winning an Academy Award for her performance in Moonstruck marked a career-defining triumph, but she recalled the acceptance speech with amusement. “I was a mess of nerves,” she said, smiling. “It was all improv at that point.”

Yet, for every accolade, Cher has faced moments of doubt and dismissal. “People laughed when I went from Oscars to infomercials,” she admitted, “but I just kept going.”

Her message to younger artists was simple yet profound: “You have to keep walking forward—even when people stop believing in you. Especially then.”

💃 Still Dancing: The Music Lives On

Even as she reflected on decades of success, Cher’s creative energy remains unstoppable. She spoke with enthusiasm about her album Dancing Queen, a tribute to ABBA that she recorded in honor of her then-92-year-old mother.

“Fernando nearly broke me,” she joked. “Those harmonies are tough! But I loved every second of it.”

She also teased her Here We Go Again Tour, which she insists will be her last—though King teasingly reminded her that Cher has said that before. Laughing, the singer replied, “This time, I mean it… maybe.”

🌅 A Farewell Fit for Legends

For Gayle King, this conversation was more than a professional send-off—it was a personal celebration of connection, storytelling, and authenticity. King’s hallmark empathy drew out Cher’s most introspective reflections, creating a poignant moment between two women who have shaped the cultural landscape in their own right.

As the interview closed, the camera panned across the Malibu horizon—a fitting visual metaphor for both women’s next chapters.

“It’s not about turning back time,” Cher mused, gazing at the ocean. “It’s about knowing that every moment, every song, every mistake… it all adds up to who you are.”

With that, CBS Mornings closed a defining era in its history, and Gayle King signed off with the same grace and sincerity that made her one of America’s most trusted voices.

Cher, radiant and reflective, offered the perfect final note: a reminder that true icons never fade—they simply keep evolving, always a beat ahead of time.