FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY: CHER NAMED ONE OF TIME MAGAZINE’S “TOP 100 MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE OF 2025”

When the news broke, the world paused — not in disbelief, but in collective admiration. For more than six decades, Cher has been more than an entertainer; she has been a cultural force — a living testament to resilience, reinvention, and raw authenticity. Now, at 79, she joins the ranks of TIME Magazine’s Top 100 Most Influential People of 2025, honored not just for her stardom, but for the impact of her spirit on generations of dreamers who learned from her that survival itself can be an art form.

From her earliest days as one half of Sonny & Cher, the California-born singer defied the molds of her era. Her smoky contralto voice became an anthem for those who felt unseen, her humor and honesty a shield against critics who underestimated her. She has danced through disco, conquered rock, reshaped pop, and even won an Oscar — all while proving that age, gender, and expectation could never confine her. “If I could turn back time,” she once sang, but the truth is, Cher never needed to. She has always lived ahead of it.

Over the years, her influence has stretched far beyond music. She became a style icon whose fashion choices — from Bob Mackie gowns to glittering bodysuits — turned every red carpet into a stage. She spoke out for equality when few dared. She stood up for LGBTQ+ rights before it was politically safe. And when social media arrived, she didn’t fade quietly into nostalgia — she became its reigning queen, wielding humor, empathy, and truth with the same precision she once used to deliver her chart-topping hits.

In recognizing Cher, TIME didn’t simply honor a performer — they celebrated a pioneer. A woman who reinvented herself not to stay relevant, but to stay real. Her career has never been about chasing trends; it’s been about creating them. And in doing so, she has taught generations that self-belief, even in the face of ridicule, is the most radical form of power.

At the announcement event in Los Angeles, the room rose to its feet as Cher entered — wearing her signature black ensemble, silver jewelry glinting under soft lights. She smiled with quiet confidence, her presence commanding yet warm. When asked how she defined influence, she laughed softly and said, “I’ve never tried to influence anyone. I just lived the way I wanted — maybe that’s the influence.”

Her words captured what millions have felt for decades: that Cher’s greatness isn’t just about fame, but about fearless authenticity. She is proof that a woman’s power doesn’t expire, that truth can glitter louder than noise, and that influence — the real kind — is earned not by perfection, but by persistence.

As the applause swelled, she lifted her hand in gratitude — a gesture simple yet iconic, like her career itself. In an age where fame burns fast and fades faster, Cher remains timeless — not because she chases the future, but because she embodies it.

And as the spotlight glowed softly around her, one could almost hear the echo of her most enduring message:
“Don’t be afraid to stand out — the world remembers the ones who dared.”