Editing Cher (section)

=== 1971–1974: TV stardom and first musical comeback ===
[[File:Cher 1971.JPG|upright=0.7|alt=Cher holds up an ornate multi-strand beaded necklace with a large pendant, wearing a paisley-patterned blouse with billowy sleeves.|thumb|right|Cher on ''[[The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour]]'', 1971]]

[[CBS]] head of programming [[Fred Silverman]] offered Sonny and Cher their own TV program after he noticed them as guest-hosts on ''[[The Merv Griffin Show]]'' in 1971.{{sfn|Berman|2001|p=33}}{{efn|On May 31, 1971, Sonny and Cher starred in ''[[The Sonny & Cher Nitty Gritty Hour]]'', a Canadian TV special recorded in 1970 and sometimes described as a precursor to their [[CBS]] series. In 2015, [[David Winters (choreographer)|David Winters]] claimed he created the comedy-music format and pitched it to [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]], which opted for the [[Smothers Brothers]] instead. Winters said CBS later used his concept to develop ''[[The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour]]''. He considered legal action but ultimately did not pursue it, maintaining that the show was based on his idea.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JXLaDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT195 |page=195 |title=Tough Guys Do Dance |isbn=978-1948080538 |first=David |last=Winters |author-link=David Winters (choreographer) |year=2018 |publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]]}}</ref>}} ''[[The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour]]'' premiered as a summer replacement series on August 1, 1971 and had six episodes. Following its ratings success, the couple returned that December with a full-time show.{{sfn|Parish|Pitts|2003|p=149}}

Watched by more than 30&nbsp;million viewers weekly during its three-year run,<ref name=Johnson-2002/> ''The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour'' was praised for the comedic timing, as a deadpan Cher mocked Sonny about his looks and short stature. According to Berman, they "exuded an aura of warmth, playfulness and caring that only enhanced their appeal. Viewers were further enchanted when a young [Chaz] appeared on the show. They seemed like a perfect family."{{sfn|Berman|2001|pp=33–34}} Cher honed her acting skills through [[sketch comedy|comedy sketches]],{{sfn|Mansour|2005|p=450}} including her original character Laverne, a brash and over-the-top housewife,<ref name=Erickson>{{cite web |last=Erickson |first=Hal |author-link=Hal Erickson (author) |title=Cher – Biography, Movie Highlights and Photos |url=https://www.allmovie.com/artist/cher-p12664 |work=[[AllMovie]] |access-date=January 16, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160211184517/http://www.allmovie.com/artist/cher-p12664 |archive-date=February 11, 2016}}</ref> while her [[Bob Mackie]]-designed outfits set [[1970s in fashion|1970s fashion trends]].{{sfn|Bego|2001|pp=76–78}}

In 1971, Sonny and Cher signed with the [[Kapp Records]] division of [[MCA Records]] and Cher released the single "Classified 1A", in which she sings from the point of view of a soldier who bleeds to death in Vietnam. Written by Sonny, who felt that her first solo single on the label had to be poignant and topical, the song was rejected by radio station programmers as uncommercial.{{sfn|Bego|2001|pp=68–72}}

[[File:A Cowboy's Work Is Never Done - Cash Box ad 1972.jpg|upright=0.8|alt=Cher stands in a white, fringed two-piece with long sleeves and a high-slit skirt, her long black hair parted in the middle. Behind her, Sonny Bono wears a black tuxedo with a bow tie, arms crossed. An inset in the bottom right shows their All I Ever Need Is You album cover.|thumb|left|Advertisement for Sonny & Cher's single "[[A Cowboy's Work Is Never Done]]" featured in ''Cashbox'', February 12, 1972]]

Since Sonny's first attempts at reviving their recording career as a duo had also been unsuccessful, Kapp Records recruited [[Snuff Garrett]] to work with them. He produced Cher's second US number-one single, "[[Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves]]", which "proved that&nbsp;... Garrett knew more about Cher's voice and her persona as a singer than Sonny did", wrote Bego.{{sfn|Bego|2001|pp=68–72}} "Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves" was the first single by a solo artist to rank number one on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart at the same time as on the [[Canadian singles chart]].<ref>{{cite web |date=February 4, 2020 |title=The 6 Best Songs of Cher |url=https://www.nbc-2.com/story/41649347/the-6-best-songs-of-cher |access-date=February 17, 2021 |publisher=[[WBBH-TV|NBC2 News]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215132251/https://www.nbc-2.com/story/41649347/the-6-best-songs-of-cher |archive-date=February 15, 2020}}</ref> It was featured on the 1971 album ''[[Chér (1971 album)|Chér]]'' (later reissued under the title ''Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves''), which was certified [[RIAA certification|gold]] by the [[Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA)]].{{sfn|Bego|2001|p=72}} Its second single, "[[The Way of Love]]", reached number seven on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart{{sfn|Bronson|1997|p=301}} and established Cher's more confident image as a recording artist.<ref name=Eder/>

In 1972, Cher released the all-ballad album ''[[Foxy Lady (Cher album)|Foxy Lady]]'', demonstrating the evolution of her vocal abilities, according to Bego.{{sfn|Bego|2001|p=81}} Following its release, Garrett quit as producer after disagreeing with Sonny about the kind of material Cher should record.{{sfn|Bronson|1997|p=345}} At Sonny's insistence, Cher released the [[Standard (music)|standards]] album ''[[Bittersweet White Light]]'' (1973), which was commercially unsuccessful.{{sfn|Bego|2001|pp=81–82}} Later that year, lyricist Mary Dean brought Garrett "[[Half-Breed (song)|Half-Breed]]", a song about the daughter of a Cherokee mother and a white father, which she had written for Cher. Although no longer working with her, Garrett believed the song was a perfect fit and held onto it until Cher dismissed Sonny as producer and rejoined him.{{sfn|Bronson|1997|p=345}} "Half-Breed" became the title track of [[Half-Breed (album)|her next album]] and her third US number-one single.{{sfn|Bronson|1997|p=359}} Both the album and the single were certified gold by the RIAA.<ref name=RIAA>{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/|title=Gold & Platinum|publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of America]]|access-date=January 16, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180212231947/https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/|archive-date=February 12, 2018}}</ref>

In 1974, Cher released "[[Dark Lady (song)|Dark Lady]]" as the lead single from the [[Dark Lady (album)|album of the same name]].{{sfn|Bronson|1997|p=359}} It topped the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, tying her with [[Rosemary Clooney]], [[Patti Page]] and [[Connie Francis]] for the most number-one singles by a female solo artist in US history at the time.{{efn|name=NumberOnes|Some sources credit Cher as the female solo artist with the most [[Billboard Hot 100|US ''Billboard'' Hot 100]] number-one singles by the time she released "[[Dark Lady (song)|Dark Lady]]" in 1974—counting [[Sonny & Cher]]'s "[[I Got You Babe]]" as her first number one.{{sfn|Murrells|1978|p=380}}<ref>{{cite web |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/watch-dua-lipa-join-cher-for-believe-at-rock-hall-2024-induction |title=Watch Dua Lipa Join Cher for 'Believe' at Rock Hall 2024 Induction |first1=Walden |last1=Green |first2=Jazz |last2=Monroe |date=October 20, 2024 |access-date=March 29, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241021201722/https://pitchfork.com/news/watch-dua-lipa-join-cher-for-believe-at-rock-hall-2024-induction/ |archive-date=October 21, 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref> This claim likely stems from ''Billboard''{{'}}s current rules, which credit a song to a solo artist if their name appears in the official billing. ''Billboard''{{'}}s reporting in 1974 did not include "I Got You Babe" among Cher's solo number ones, suggesting that the current rules did not apply at the time and are not applied retroactively.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/70s/1974/Billboard%201974-03-30.pdf#page=10 |title=Joel Whitburn's Record Research Report |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=March 30, 1974 |access-date=February 25, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240519152305/https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/70s/1974/Billboard%201974-03-30.pdf#page=10 |archive-date=May 19, 2024}}</ref>}} Later that year, she released a ''[[Greatest Hits (Cher album)|Greatest Hits]]'' album that, according to ''Billboard'', proved her to be "one of the most consistent hitmakers of the past five years", as well as a "proven superstar who always sells records".<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Top Album Picks|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lAkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA54|access-date=January 16, 2016|date=November 17, 1974|first=Bob|last=Kirsch}}</ref> Between 1971 and 1973, Sonny & Cher's recording career was revived with four albums released under Kapp Records and MCA Records: ''[[Sonny & Cher Live]]'' (1971), ''[[All I Ever Need Is You (1971 Sonny & Cher album)|All I Ever Need Is You]]'' (1972), ''[[Mama Was a Rock and Roll Singer, Papa Used to Write All Her Songs]]'' (1973) and ''[[Live in Las Vegas Vol. 2]]'' (1973).{{sfn|Larkin|2011|p=2999}} Cher later commented that her tight schedule during this period required her to record entire albums in just a few days while also touring and filming ''The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://dancemusic.about.com/cs/features/a/CherBackDean.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050917153552/http://dancemusic.about.com/cs/features/a/CherBackDean2.htm |archive-date=September 17, 2005 |title=Cher: Back To The Dance Floor! (Part 2) |last1=Danza |first1=Johnny |last2=Ferguson |first2=Dean |website=[[About.com]]}}</ref>