For gay men of a certain age, Cher turning 80 means everything

A few weeks ago, I was talking with a younger friend after watching Cher absolutely nail her appearance on Saturday Night Live. She was brilliant, effortlessly Cher, the way she always is.My friend, in his 30s, was dazzled. And I said, almost without thinking: “You know, I can remember watching her on The Sonny & Cher Show.” I got a blank stare as he asked, “Who is Sonny?” Talk about dating yourself.For those who don’t know, The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour premiered on CBS in August 1971 and ran until May 1974, when the couple’s divorce brought it to a close. They reunited professionally in 1976 for The Sonny and Cher Show, which ran through 1977. I think it’s the latter one I remember.Cher and her then-husband Sonny sang together, and then traded barbs with each other. He was short, she was tall. They seemed to be total opposites, but those two names went together like sunshine and happiness. At the end of many episodes, I remember their daughter Chastity, now their son Chaz, would be brought out as the couple sang their signature song “I Got You, Babe.” It was one of those “Oh, how cute” moments. Mom and Dad are singing happily with their child.That was more than 50 years ago. And Cher has been the soundtrack of my life ever since.She followed me through “Moonstruck,” “If I Could Turn Back Time,” and “Song for the Lonely.” She followed me into the era of the Sony Walkman, yes, I was that guy, headphones on, Cher in my ears, while I was running. She followed me into middle age and beyond. And then a couple of Christmases ago, there she was again. Cher released “DJ Play a Christmas Song” as the lead single from her 2023 album Christmas, and it became her first entry on the Billboard Hot 100 in 21 years, making her the only solo artist to have had a number-one song on at least one Billboard chart in each of the last seven decades. I unabashedly love that song. And while we are at it, just wow, wow, wow to her rendition of “Run, Ru