Cher

Web posted on:
Friday, November 27, 1998 2:34:15 PM EST

From Reporter Jill Brooke

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Cher has maintained a successful showbiz career for three decades, and she's not slowing down. The singer and actress has a new CD, "Believe," on the shelves; she will be singing the national anthem at the Super Bowl in 1999; and she has just released a new book, "The First Time."

The book tells about the important first-time events in Cher's life, including memories of her family, public performances, and music.

This string of work follows one of the most traumatic periods of her life -- the death of her ex-husband and singing partner Sonny Bono, who was killed in a skiing accident earlier this year. Although she wasn't on the best of terms with him, his death has made her become more reflective.

"When they're gone, that's when you appreciate them," Cher says. "That's why it was important for me to dedicate the book and the album, because I can't remember what we were arguing about. I bet he can't either."

Sonny and Cher were one of the most memorable acts from the 1970s, singing "I Got You Babe" while hosting their own highly successful variety show. After they split, Cher surprised many by becoming an actress and turning in gut-wrenching performances in the films "If These Walls Could Talk" and "Silkwood," and an Oscar-winning one for "Moonstruck."

Listen to a clip of "Believe" Audio clip: 225k MPEG-3 Audio clip: 310k WAV

Then her career took a turn even stranger than any of her outfits. She got involved in infomercials, a decision she admits damaged the credibility she had worked so hard to build. Now she's back, and her fans couldn't be more thrilled.

But she says she wants her fans to know something -- she isn't as outrageous as her image. It's more an act than a lifestyle. For example, she says her new CD isn't only for dancing.

"I think it's like a perfect thing, if you're a girl, like to clean out your drawers or do your housework to," Cher says.

And believe it or not, she's a homebody, often spending time with a small circle of friends and family.

"I'm not different than anybody else," she says. "Maybe a little bit more insecure and neurotic possibly, I don't know."

Although the book didn't offer any juicy details about her thoughts on her relationships with Sonny Bono or even Greg Allman, her fans didn't seem to mind.

"Well, I'm sure Cher didn't want to be giving away all her secrets," said one fan.

"This is not a biography," Cher says. "It's just stories, you know. And the ones I chose to leave out need a lot more detail."

That is why fans can be sure this is not the last time we'll hear from Cher.