Cher has filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles against the widow of the entertainer’s ex-husband Sonny Bono, alleging Mary Bono is withholding royalties from 1960s hits such as ‘The Beat Goes On’ and ‘I Got You Babe’.
The songstress was married to Sonny Bono from 1964 to 1975. They performed under the name of Caesar and Cleo before they switched to Sonny & Cher.
Aside from their music, they also starred in the CBS variety show ‘The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour’ from 1971 to 1974.
After their divorce, they agreed to split revenue from the songs they recorded together.
Cher’s lawyers claim that Sonny’s fourth wife, Mary Bono, ‘has undone’ Cher’s ownership of rights and royalties.
Cher and Mary Bono initially got along well, with Mary inviting the singer to deliver a eulogy at Bono’s funeral after he died in a skiing accident in 1998 at the age of 62.
However, their relationship has soured in recent years, and on Wednesday, 75-year-old Cher sued Mary Bono, now 59, for what she says are missing royalties.
Sonny passed away while he was serving as a Republican congressman for California. He had been elected mayor of Palm Springs from 1988 to 1992.
Mary Bono ran for election to his seat shortly after he died and served from 1998 to 2013.
The suit seeks at least $1 million in damages.
One person commented: “I’m surprised people are questioning her right to her own money. The royalties are legally hers. Why should she not be paid for her work?”
Another wrote: “I’m rooting for Mary. Cher has turned into the ultimate nut job.”
A third said: “She gave all her money to #FJB ‘s campaign .. saving up for the next Democratic campaign.”
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