Cher has been ordered to pay over $1 million in attorney’s fees she incurred during her successful legal battle against Sonny Bono’s widow Mary.
After Sonny and Cher divorced, they agreed to an equal split of the royalties from the songs they released as the double-act that propelled them both to fame.
In October 2021, Cher filed suit alleging Mary, an ex-congresswoman, was withholding proceeds the singer was owed from the music. In court documents viewed by the Daily Mail, Cher demanded damages ‘believed to exceed’ $1 million.
The Believe hitmaker triumphed in her case in May 2024, with a federal judge ordering that she be furnished with more than $418,000 in royalties.
However the court battle rumbled on into this year, with Cher filing a motion in January 2026 obtained by the Daily Mail in which she insisted that Mary be made to pay her a staggering $1,023,605.30 in attorney’s fees.
On July 17, US District Judge John A Kronstadt denied Cher’s request and left her responsible for her own legal costs, in court documents seen by the Daily Mail.
The Daily Mail has contacted a representative for Cher for comment.
Cher has been ordered to pay over $1 million in attorney’s fees she incurred during her successful legal battle against Sonny Bono’s widow Mary
In October 2021, Cher filed suit alleging Mary, an ex-congresswoman, was withholding proceeds the singer was owed from the music; Mary pictured in 2014
When Cher won her royalties case in 2024, the ruling stated that Wixen Music Publishing, a full-service music publisher and licensor specializing in finding uncollected and underpaid royalties, gave $187,000 to Sonny’s heirs but not Cher.
Of the six-figure number, $93,500 was paid to Mary, and the music publishing company also held $418,156.82 in royalties that should have been paid to Cher.
In 1978, three years after Cher and Sonny divorced, the pair agreed that the Believe singer would get a 50 percent stake in their catalog as part of their settlement.
When Sonny passed away in a tragic skiing accident in 1998, Mary was appointed the administrator of his estate.
She and his four children, who are referred to collectively as ‘the heirs,’ then entered a partnership over the catalog.
According to Cher’s initial filing, Wixen Music Publishing began cutting and disbursing her cut of the royalties after they became in involved in 2011.
However, the Grammy winner claimed that Mary and the rest of the heirs used the Copyright Act and terminated the previously agreed-upon terms of the original arrangement.
Cher alleged the heirs utilized the ‘termination rights’ section of the Copyright Act, which allows songwriters or their heirs to win back control of their U.S. publishing rights after 35 years, without her ‘knowledge or participation.’
Cher was the second wife to the the musician-turned-politician, and during their marriage, they were famously known as the singing duo Sonny & Cher. In 1978, three years after Cher and Sonny divorced, the pair agreed that the Believe singer would get a 50 percent stake in their catalog; seen in 1977
When Sonny passed away in a tragic skiing accident in 1998, Mary was appointed the administrator of his estate. She and his four children, who are referred to collectively as ‘the heirs,’ then entered a partnership over the catalog; seen in 1998
In 2021, Cher alleged Mary used those rights to stop paying her her cut of the royalties.
Cher subsequently filed a lawsuit against Mary and the heirs.
In February, a tentative ruling was made and alongside Wednesday’s ruling, both were in Cher’s favor.
Previously, Sonny and Cher tied the knot in 1964 and were married for 10 years before their separation.
They welcomed their child Chaz Bono in 1969. (He welcomed Christine ‘Christy’ Bono, his first child, with his first wife Donna Rankin in 1958.)
In 1975, Cher filed for divorce from Sonny, citing ‘involuntary servitude,’ and accused Sonny of withholding her earnings.
In 2021, Cher alleged Mary used those rights to stop paying her her cut of the royalties. Cher subsequently filed a lawsuit against Mary and the heirs. In February, a tentative ruling was made and alongside Wednesday’s ruling, both were in Cher’s favor
Previously, Sonny and Cher tied the knot in 1974 and were married for 10 years before their divorce. The pair were popularly known for being a singing duo, earning two Grammy nominations and selling over 40 million records worldwide in the 1970s; seen in 1968
In 1986, two years after divorcing his third wife Susie Coelho, Sonny married Mary in 1986. They welcomed son Chesare Elan Bono in 1988 and daughter Chianna Maria Bono in 1991
The pair were popularly known for being a singing duo, earning two Grammy nominations and selling over 40 million records worldwide in the 1970s.
Their variety show The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour aired from 1971 to 1974 before their separation and divorce.
In 1986, two years after divorcing his third wife Susie Coelho, Sonny married Mary in 1986.
They welcomed son Chesare Elan Bono in 1988 and daughter Chianna Maria Bono in 1991.
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