Cher... Special

Lore & Background

The special opens with a spotlight on the floor and the voice of Georgia Holt, Cher's mother, calling her young daughter. Cher steps into the spotlight made up to look like a younger version of herself with pigtails, sitting on the floor and expressing upset over not being blonde. Her mother tells her she is beautiful and that someday she will realize how special she is. Cher explains she got into the record albums to learn songs from West Side Story for school, and when asked what part she will play, replies 'all of them'. She then performs a fifteen-minute medley from the musical, playing both male and female characters.

Other segments include guests Dolly Parton and Rod Stewart cast as neighbors in an apartment building performing their hit songs 'Two Doors Down' and 'Hot Legs'; Cher and Dolly having a conversation consisting entirely of song titles and lyrics from pop songs; and Cher working by day in a boring secretarial job but dancing at night in discos. Laverne, Cher's most famous character from The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour, stops by for a quick chat. The final segment is a 'Musical Battle to Save Cher's Soul Medley' performed by Cher, Dolly Parton, and The Tubes, where The Tubes try to lead her astray while Parton and gospel singers try to save her.

The special concludes with Cher saying, 'Momma, I'm still here. I've got the same hair, the same bumpy nose and vampire teeth. But you were right, I feel better about myself now.' Her nine-year-old daughter Chastity then asks, 'Mom, have you been into my records again?' Cher responds, 'my children Chastity and Elijah both have blonde hair. I guess they don't have the advantages of having black hair, but nobody told them it was going to be easy.' She then sings 'A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes' as her young son Elijah Blue Allman comes out and sits on her lap.

Reader's Guide

Cher... Special stands as a notable example of the variety special format in late 1970s American television, showcasing Cher's versatility as a performer. The special's structure—blending autobiographical framing, musical medleys, comedy sketches, and guest appearances—reflects the variety show tradition that Cher had helped define on The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour. Its ratings success, ranking among the Top 10 most watched programs of the week, demonstrates Cher's continued drawing power after her split from Sonny Bono. The special received a technical Emmy Award for Best Achievement in Lighting Direction and an Emmy nomination for Best Art Direction for a Comedy-Variety or Musical Special; Dolly Parton was also nominated for an Emmy in the category of Best Supporting Actress in a Variety or Musical Special. The West Side Story medley, in which Cher plays all roles, has been preserved as a special feature on the DVD edition of The Farewell Tour. In 2020, Time Life released the DVD set The Best of Cher, which included an edited version of Cher... Special (omitting Rod Stewart and the conversation between Cher and Dolly Parton) as a bonus feature. Individual segments, particularly the song lyric conversation, have appeared on YouTube.

Did You Know?

• Cher performed a fifteen-minute West Side Story medley playing both male and female characters.
• Dolly Parton was nominated for an Emmy for Best Supporting Actress in a Variety or Musical Special for her appearance.
• The final segment featured a 'Musical Battle to Save Cher's Soul Medley' with The Tubes and Dolly Parton.