When Tina Turner passed away in May 2023, the world mourned a rock legend. But for Cher, it was the loss of a sister she’d fought alongside for nearly fifty years. Most people see the glitzy 1970s variety show clips and think they were just two divas sharing a stage. Honestly? It was way deeper than that. They were survival partners.
The 1975 Meeting That Changed Everything
In April 1975, Tina Turner walked onto the set of The Cher Show on CBS. At the time, Cher was the "Goddess of Pop," navigating her own messy, very public divorce from Sonny Bono. Tina was still trapped in a nightmare marriage with Ike Turner.
Cher has talked about this moment a lot lately, especially in her recent memoirs. She remembers Tina coming into her dressing room before they went on camera. Tina had a bruise on her arm. She didn't want the audience to see it, so she asked Cher for some cover-up makeup.
While Cher was helping her hide the mark, Tina asked a question that felt like a punch: "Tell me how you left him."
Cher’s answer was basically the blueprint for the rest of Tina’s life: "I just walked out and kept going."
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It’s wild to think that Cher had received that exact same advice from Lucille Ball just a few years earlier. It was a chain of powerful women helping each other escape. Tina left Ike for good in 1976, just a year after that conversation.
Why That Shame Shame Shame Performance Still Matters
If you haven't seen the video of them singing "Shame, Shame, Shame," go watch it right now. They’re wearing these identical, shimmering Bob Mackie dresses. It’s pure 70s energy.
Cher admitted she was terrified of dancing next to Tina. She once told Oprah Winfrey that dancing with Tina Turner was like "dancing with a hurricane." You've got Cher, who is tall and somewhat gangly, trying to keep up with the most electric performer in rock history.
But what the cameras didn't capture was the mutual respect. Tina was actually in awe of Cher's freedom. She saw a woman who was in total control of her career, her studio, and her life. For Tina, who was still being controlled by Ike at the time, Cher was a glimpse of what her own future could look like.
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Other Times They Shared the Spotlight
- The Beatles Tribute (1975): They teamed up with Kate Smith for a medley that shouldn't have worked but totally did.
- The 1977 Sonny & Cher Show: Even after the divorce, Tina came back to perform "Makin' Music is My Business" with Cher.
- Divas Live (1999): Decades later, they were still the benchmarks for every other female artist in the room.
The Quiet Years in Switzerland
As they got older, the friendship didn't fade; it just moved away from the cameras. Tina eventually moved to a massive estate in Küsnacht, Switzerland, with her husband Erwin Bach. When Tina’s health started declining—she dealt with high blood pressure, a stroke, intestinal cancer, and eventually a kidney transplant in 2017—Cher didn't just send flowers. She showed up.
Cher started making regular trips to Zurich. She realized that people often stop calling when a legend gets sick. They assume they want privacy, or they’re just uncomfortable with the reality of aging. Cher didn't care. She wanted Tina to know she wasn't forgotten.
During one of her last visits, Cher arrived to find Tina lying on a chaise lounge. Tina told her, "I'm tired."
But then, something shifted. For the next two hours, the two of them were "running around the house," laughing hysterically. Tina just needed to talk and yell and be herself with someone who knew her before the world did.
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The Last Gift: A Pair of High Heels
There's something incredibly poetic about the final gift Tina gave Cher. It wasn't jewelry or a gold record. It was a pair of her signature high heels.
Cher says she keeps them in her closet and won't ever wear them. If you know anything about Tina, those shoes were her armor. She performed in them for decades, even when she was in pain. For Cher to have them now is like holding onto a piece of Tina's strength.
People often ask what made their bond so special. It wasn't just the fame. It was the fact that they both survived a version of the industry that tried to break them. They were both told they were "over" multiple times. They both had to reinvent themselves in their 40s.
Cher and Tina Turner: How to Build a Lasting Bond
If there's a lesson in the Cher and Tina Turner story, it's about the value of showing up. Here is how you can apply their brand of friendship to your own life:
- Be the "Cover-Up" Friend: When someone is going through a hard time, don't just ask "how are you?" Offer practical help, like Cher did with the makeup and the honest advice.
- Acknowledge the Hurricane: Don't be intimidated by your friends' success. Cher knew Tina was a better dancer, but she got on stage anyway. Celebrate your friends' strengths without letting them diminish yours.
- The "Two-Hour Laugh" Rule: Even when things are grim—like Tina's final months—humor is a lifeline. Don't be afraid to be silly or "run around the house" when someone is hurting. Sometimes, a distraction is better than a deep conversation.
- Keep the Mementos: Hold onto the things that remind you of where you've been. Those high heels in Cher's closet aren't just shoes; they're a reminder that you can walk out of any bad situation and keep going.
The story of Cher and Tina Turner isn't just a piece of music history. It's a masterclass in how to stay human in an industry—and a world—that often treats people like products.
To truly honor their legacy, start by reaching out to that one friend you haven't seen in a while. Don't just text; make the effort to show up. Whether it's a trip across the ocean or just a drive across town, being present is the only thing that actually matters in the end.