Why Is Cher (Still) Called 'Goddess of Pop'?

Sit yourself down, music lovers, and let's delve into the mystery and majesty of Cher. A fable has been churning in the great mill of pop culture, dismissed by some as nothing more than cheap gossip while simultaneously revered by others as an irrefutable truth. It’s a discordant symphony about Cher's unassailable position as the Goddess of Pop. The skeptics among us, flinging digital stones from the ramparts of Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and other hotbeds of instant opinion, might attempt to reduce her storied career to mere statistics, contrasting her chart performances and sales with those of musicians who came after her. These musicians, in all honesty, should be bending their knees in gratitude to Cher for blazing the trail they now tread.

Now, if you ask me why the lass from El Centro, California is worshipped as the Goddess of Pop, I'd say it's because Cher, darling, is more than just the notes she hits and the albums she sells. Cher's story is a labyrinthine narrative that sweeps far beyond the confines of the pop charts or even the record-breaking accolades that punctuate her musical career.

The skeptics amongst us might chime in at this point, and in a tone dripping with self-satisfaction, point out that other divas, too, have had impressive careers. "What of Whitney Houston, Madonna, Mariah Carey, Britney Spears, Lady Gaga?" they cry. These are all fantastic ladies in their own right, each one chiseling her place in the annals of pop history. But here's the kicker: Cher isn't just a musical phenomenon. She's a multi-dimensional entertainer, an Oscar-winning actress, a TV supernova, a fearless fashion innovator, and so much more.

Take a moment and ponder this. Sure, there are those who have tread similar paths—Barbra Streisand, for instance. But she falls short in two critical areas. First, Streisand never managed to craft that monumental, over-the-top persona that turned folks like Elvis, Marlene Dietrich, Katherine Hepburn, and our beloved Cher into larger-than-life figures. Second, Streisand’s music and film careers were so tightly interlaced that it's nearly impossible to untangle one from the other. Cher, on the other hand, has deftly balanced both, becoming known to an entire generation as an "actress who sang," not just a singer who dabbled in acting.

But let's return to the crux of the matter: the titanic title of "Goddess of Pop." Now, I assert that when this title is bestowed upon Cher, it doesn’t merely refer to her sway in the music industry. It signifies her immense impact on the very fabric of popular culture. To attempt to dismantle Cher's cultural legacy by scrutinizing only one facet of her multifarious career would be akin to describing the Sistine Chapel as "some old ceiling." Cher is not just a singer. She is Cher, the all-encompassing monarch of pop culture.

Consider the seismic shifts Cher has provoked in the landscape of popular culture. She pioneered the fluid, androgynous identity in the mid '60s, paving the path for icons like David Bowie and Patti Smith. She effortlessly encapsulates rebellion, showmanship, and deep musicality, shifting between subgenres and shocking without alienating her fanbase. If pop divas were playing football, Cher wouldn't be a mere player; she'd be the entire stadium, the floodlights, and the roaring crowd all rolled into one.

Why Is Cher Famous?

Cher's fame and staying power lies in her uncanny ability to continually reinvent herself, to twist and turn with every shift of popular culture. She's the ultimate pop chameleon, a queen of comebacks who outshines the morning sun. She has continually broken the shackles of age and expectations, defying the fetishes of youth to forge a career that resonates with fans of all generations.

Her chutzpah to refuse dependency on men and to carve her own path in an industry that continues to be male-dominated has not only transformed her image but also inspired feminist critics. She has refused to play the docile damsel and instead embraced the role of the bold and the beautiful, the one who points fingers at the fatheads and tells them where to get off.

Cher's cultural influence pervades every facet of her life. Her unapologetic, audacious approach to fashion, her romantic liaisons, her bold tattoos and her willingness to wear feathered headdresses are more than mere eccentricities; they are affirmations of a woman who refuses to bow to societal norms, who relishes the freedom to be truly herself. In her, we see our fantasies of rebellion and freedom come to life.

From being a teenage pop sensation to a TV hostess, a fashion magazine model, a rock star, a Broadway actress, a disco diva, and an Academy Award-winning movie star, Cher’s journey is unparalleled in its breadth and brilliance. She has remained persistently, irrevocably Cher, the Goddess of Pop. Every time a skeptic tries to undermine her influence, remember that Cher isn't just a pop star. She is an institution, a force of nature, a pop culture legend. Simply put, Cher is Cher. And there ain't nobody else like her.

Remarkably, even after six decades under the glaring spotlight, Cher's influence remains as potent as ever. The secret to her enduring relevance? It's her audacity to be utterly herself, authentically and without apology. From the beginning, Cher sauntered into the music scene with bell-bottoms, fur vests, and a persona as vibrant as her couture. Then, as she pirouetted into her fourth decade, Cher dared to reveal her nude form on the avant-garde stage of MTV. This audacious display of self-love and defiance echoed across the network, during an epoch dominated by the young, endearing and innocent voices of Paula Abdul, Debbie Gibson, and Tiffany. Yet, there was Cher, stepping boldly and unapologetically into the luminescence, her spirit as audacious as her revealed form. As the familiar girl-next-door melodies wafted through the air, Cher shattered the normative sound barrier, reminding the world that strength, appeal, and insubordinate charisma weren't the sole provinces of youth. Rather, she proposed that age, in itself, could be a vibrant revolution. Today, that vibrant spirit endures, from her vociferous political commentary on social media to her refusal to silently fade into Hollywood's twilight years.

Now, some might argue that her longevity is due to her constant reinvention, that she simply morphs with the times to stay relevant. But I challenge this idea. Yes, Cher has indeed reinvented herself many times over, but not by being a chameleon, adopting the colors of the environment around her. Rather, she reshapes the environment itself to suit her. Every 'reinvention' is not a new Cher, but a new side of the same woman, unearthing another layer of the same resilient spirit that has made her a beacon in the world of pop.

Consider her music. Cher has given us folk, pop, disco, rock, and dance chart-toppers across the decades. Her enduring appeal isn't about producing carbon copies of what's popular, but about taking what's popular and infusing it with the essence of Cher. Her ability to take any genre and make it her own is a testament to her versatility as an artist, her grasp of the musical zeitgeist, and her unerring sense of who she is.

The impact of Cher's life and career is not just felt in the world of music and entertainment. It reverberates in the realms of fashion, feminism, LGBT rights, and even in political activism. Cher's iconic style—bold, unique, and flamboyant—has left its indelible mark on the fashion world. Her refusal to be boxed in by societal expectations of age, beauty, or even gender, has made her a role model for generations of women and a gay icon.

Cher's social and political activism has only amplified her standing as a cultural heavyweight. From standing up for veterans to advocating for equal rights, Cher has shown that a true Goddess uses her platform to speak truth to power. She is a celebrity who knows her influence and uses it to make a difference.

Cher speaking to troops during a visit to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany, July 2006.

At the end of the day, the true measure of a star is not their social media numbers or chart positions. It's the impact they've had on the world, and on the lives of the people who look up to them. By this measure, there can be no doubt that Cher deserves the title of Goddess of Pop.

In the pantheon of pop, there are plenty of stars, divas, and icons. But there's only one Cher. A singular force who changed the game, broke the rules, and shaped pop culture in her own image. And in doing so, she became more than just a musician, more than just an actress. Cher became a symbol of defiance, resilience, and authenticity.

So, to the skeptics and naysayers who refuse to recognize Cher as the Goddess of Pop, I say this: You’re entitled to your opinion, just as I’m entitled to mine. But when it comes to the sheer power of influence, of cultural and societal impact, of longevity in a notoriously fickle industry, I see no one else who fits the bill quite like Cher. She stands atop the pantheon of pop, not because we've placed her there, but because she climbed there herself, one groundbreaking, record-shattering step at a time. And from her perch, she continues to inspire, provoke, and amaze. Long live the Goddess of Pop, long live Cher.