Cher is fuming. The 80-year-old star, who celebrated a major legal victory last year, has now received a financial slap: a federal judge ruled she must pay over one million dollars in legal costs to the widow of her ex-husband, Sonny Bono. What seemed like a triumph has turned into a financial nightmare.
According to court documents, Federal Judge John A. Kronstadt rejected the singer’s request for Mary Bono to cover her attorney fees. Cher had sought reimbursement of $1,023,605.30 in legal fees, but the magistrate said no.
The legal battle began in October 2021, when Cher sued Mary Bono for one million dollars. The singer claimed unpaid royalties for iconic songs by the duo Sonny & Cher, such as «I Got You Babe» and «The Beat Goes On.» The conflict dates back to the divorce agreement signed in 1978, where Cher secured 50% of the royalties from works recorded together. But according to the lawsuit, Mary Bono sought to void those rights using a provision of the Copyright Act of 1976, which Cher’s lawyers argued did not apply.
In May 2024, the court partially ruled in her favor: a California court found a breach of contract and ordered payment of over $418,000 in back royalties. It was a victory for Cher, confirming the validity of her economic rights. But the joy was short-lived.
With that favorable ruling, Cher’s lawyers asked that Mary Bono also pay the legal fees. They argued that the singer had succeeded in the action and that the claims shared «a common core of facts.» However, Judge Kronstadt ruled on July 17 that the controversy was not governed by federal copyright law but by contractual issues. That distinction was key: since it was not a lawsuit based on the Federal Copyright Act, there was no basis to shift costs to the defendant.
As a result, Cher will have to dig into her pockets and pay over one million dollars in legal fees, and an additional $10,000 may be added to complete the defense. So far, neither Cher’s representatives nor Mary Bono’s have made public statements.
The dispute once again highlights the complex business relationship between Cher and Sonny Bono, one of the most successful couples in American music in the 60s and 70s. Married between 1964 and 1975, they dominated with hits and even had their own TV show, The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour. After the divorce, Cher became a superstar with Grammy, Emmy, Oscar, and Golden Globe awards; Sonny entered politics, serving as mayor of Palm Springs and a Republican congressman until his death in a skiing accident in 1998. Mary Bono, his widow, also held his congressional seat.
The story between Cher and the Bonos continues to make headlines. Now, the pop goddess will have to pay up and shell out a fortune in legal fees. A low blow for a legend.
para mi esta cher es la caripelá del capitalismo se cree q por ser millonaria puede chorear regalías a la viuda de sonny bien merecido q le rompan el orto con un palo de lucas justicia clasista pero al menos esta vez le erraron aguante mary y los laburantes
para mi cher se la re busco por zurda y ahora le cae la justicia divina un palo verde a la diva choreadora bien merecido se lo tiene por forra y encima se cree dueña de la historia