Cher, the legendary singer and actress, has long been admired not only for her artistry but also for her vocal support of the LGBTQ+ community. Yet behind the public persona lies a deeply personal and emotional journey as a mother navigating her son Chaz Bono’s transgender transition—a journey marked by fear, struggle, and ultimately, profound understanding.

Chaz Bono, born in 1969 to Cher and her late ex-husband Sonny Bono, publicly announced his transgender identity in 2009. This revelation marked a pivotal moment in their family’s dynamic, challenging Cher in ways few could foresee. Despite her long-standing advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights, Cher’s own experience with Chaz’s transition was complex and fraught with emotional turmoil.

In candid interviews over the years, Cher has peeled back the layers of her initial reactions. Speaking with Britain’s Sunday Times in 2013, she called the experience “a strange thing for a mother to go through.” Fear gripped her to the point that she hesitated to see Chaz, worried she might not recognize the person he was becoming. She even requested Chaz save his old voicemail greeting—an emotional clinging to the son she knew before his transformation.

Her reflections deepened in a 2020 conversation with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour. Cher described how hearing Chaz’s old voicemail message stirred a painful longing, though she came to realize, “you don’t really lose them. They just are in a different shape.” This realization hinted at the gradual acceptance dawning within her—a recognition that while appearances change, the essence of her child remained the same.

Cher has emphasized that her understanding did not come in a single, clear-cut moment but was instead a slow, sometimes painful process. In a 2023 interview with The LA Times, she revealed, “The hard thing wasn’t the transition but waiting to see who the person would be. It’s hard to lose one child to get a new one, especially so late.” This powerful metaphor illustrates the emotional upheaval and the cautious hope she experienced as Chaz’s identity evolved.

The turning point, as Cher described in a 2024 interview on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs, was marked by fear and vulnerability: “It was hard for me. It was really hard. I was so frightened.” That fear—rooted in uncertainty and love—became the doorway through which she began to truly feel the depth of Chaz’s pain and the significance of his journey.

Today, their relationship reflects healing and closeness. Cher has spoken warmly about Chaz’s happiness and success, noting, “We’re in the best place we’ve ever been since she was young,” and calling Chaz “a great person.” The ups and downs of their journey have ultimately forged a bond grounded in acceptance and mutual respect.

Cher’s story offers a rare and honest glimpse into the emotional complexity faced by families of transgender individuals—highlighting that acceptance often involves confronting fear, grief, and profound transformation. Her journey stands as a testament to the power of love evolving through understanding, reminding us that sometimes the hardest paths lead to the most meaningful connections.