Vault: Interview Cher (Part 2)

Summary

The Bert Show: Vault – Interview Cher (Part 2)

Date: October 28, 2025
Host: The Bert Show Cast
Guest: Cher
Summary by: Podcast Summarizer

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Episode Overview

This episode features the second part of The Bert Show’s interview with the iconic singer and actress, Cher. The conversation dives deep into her personal life, her relationship with her child Chaz (formerly Chastity), her experiences with parenthood, thoughts on LGBTQ+ issues, reflections on her career, and candid answers to rapid-fire questions. The mood is open, honest, and witty, capturing Cher’s unique perspective and humor.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Cher’s Relationship with Chaz & Coming Out Narrative

(00:00 – 02:04)

• Open, Honest Family Dialogue:
  Cher discusses being interviewed by Chaz (then Chastity) for The Advocate, describing the experience as profoundly honest because “there’s no way you can lie” to your own child.

  • Cher: “She knew the right questions and...she has been there for the whole time.” (00:48)

• Cher’s Initial Reaction:
  Cher admits her reaction upon learning that Chaz was a lesbian was surprisingly difficult, despite having many gay friends.

  • Cher: “I had a very un-Cher like reaction...It took me a while, you know, to really get to that point, honestly.” (01:18)
    She underscores the importance of honesty for other parents and why sharing this journey openly mattered.

2. Advice to Families on Coming Out

(02:04 – 03:01)

• For Kids:
  Cher recommends coming out first to the most receptive family member to build support and confidence.

  • Cher: “If you have an uncle or a brother or a sister...who’s going to be the most receptive...pick someone who’s going to at least be the most on your side.” (02:08)

• For Parents:
  She urges parents to remember their love, to avoid overreacting, and to give themselves and their children time.

  • Cher: “You have to remember you really love your children...they are basically the same people...They need your support.” (02:27)
    She reflects personally on feeling “out of the loop” when her family knew before she did.

3. Cher’s Relationship with the LGBTQ+ Community

(03:01 – 03:27)

• Cultural Icon Status:
  The host asks why the gay community is so drawn to Cher.
  • Cher: “Gay guys either like you or they don’t...They just either bond with you or they don’t.” (03:04)
    While the host jokes it’s her “fabulous clothes, fabulous attitude and fabulous songs” (03:12), Cher insists it’s more than that.

4. Rapid-Fire Q&A with Cher

(03:27 – 04:52)

• Turning Down Thelma and Louise:

  • Cher: “Yeah, I actually turned it down because I didn’t like the ending. That was really stupid.” (03:30)

• Living with Dyslexia:

  • Cher: “True.” (03:42, on having dyslexia)
  • She describes managing scripts by relying on a photographic memory but struggling with numbers:
    • “I get confused when I’m dialing long distance because I always transpose the numbers...But once I read something, I pretty much can commit it to memory.” (03:47)

• Napster’s Impact on Music:

  • Cher: “It was a bad thing...other people get paid for their work...Napster kind of just pulled the rug right out from under you.” (04:04)

• Hearing Herself on the Radio:
  Cher shares she’s still excited every time her songs play, perhaps even more so as she gets older.

  • Cher: “Especially after your sell-by date, you know, it gets more amazing to you. I’m always thrilled...” (04:28)

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Parenting and Coming Out:
  “You have to take a deep breath and kind of sit back and go slowly and try not to overreact...The rough thing for me was that everyone in my family had known about it and I was the last person.” – Cher (02:27–02:54)

• On Being a Gay Icon:
  “I’m not so sure that’s enough. You know, there’s something else that happens...” – Cher (03:16)

• On Regret and Career Decisions:
  “If they belong to you, they come to you. And if not, they don’t...” – Cher on turning down Thelma and Louise (03:35)

• On Lifelong Excitement:
  “I always get excited when I hear a song on the radio.” – Cher (04:28)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Cher discusses interview with Chaz: 00:00–00:48
• Her reaction to Chaz coming out: 01:15–01:51
• Advice for kids and parents: 02:04–03:01
• The LGBTQ+ community connection: 03:01–03:27
• Turning down Thelma and Louise: 03:27–03:41
• Living with dyslexia: 03:41–04:02
• Napster’s effect on music: 04:02–04:17
• Hearing herself on the radio: 04:17–04:41
• Farewells & closing thoughts: 04:41–04:52

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Tone & Style

Cher’s responses are candid, humorous, and reflective. The hosts keep the energy light yet sincere, blending thoughtful discussion with playful banter.

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For New Listeners

This episode offers an insightful, heartfelt conversation with Cher—revealing her vulnerabilities as a mother, her wisdom from decades in show business, and her inimitable sense of humor. Whether you’re a fan or curious about Cher’s personal journey, this episode provides both entertainment and thought-provoking moments.

Transcript

[A]

You're on the Burt Show. When we talked to Cher, she pretty much gave us exactly what we were looking for. She was down to earth, open about everything in her life and is embarrassed about nothing. This is Cher on the Burt show on Q100. I was on the Internet yesterday doing a little research on what was going on in your life, and I ran into what I consider a fantastic article by your daughter, Chastity. And she was interviewing you for the Advocate.

[B]

Right.

[A]

As honest an interview as I have ever read. And you were so incredibly honest with her about your feelings when she first told you that she was a lesbian. I just felt, reading the thing, that you two were so connected. But then. And I came in and I told the guys about it this morning, and they said that maybe they thought that you guys were estranged again. And I said, that can't be.

[B]

No, I mean. And also, that article was. It was so strange to be interviewed by your daughter because there's no way you can lie. First of all, you just don't do it. You know, you try not to. I always try to tell the truth in interviews, but with Chaz, it was especially, you know, like, she knew the right questions and, you know, and she has been there for the whole time. So.

[A]

So for those of you that don't know, when. When you found out that your daughter was a lesbian, and I guess it was one of the tabloids that really called her out, right?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

You had a different reaction than you thought you might, right?

[B]

Oh, I had kind of, as I said, I had a very unchair like, reaction because I have so many gay friends. But I think if different, you really are called to believe what you, you know, like, you really have to know that you believe what you say you believe. And it took me a while, you know, to really get to that point, honestly, to say, you know, this is. This doesn't bother me. I'm fine with it. And I thought that that would have been something that would have just happened immediately, but it really didn't. So Jas thought it was really important, too, for other parents. So that's why we really did that article.

[A]

Sheriff, you had to give advice to the parents of not even suspecting now that their children are going to tell them this weekend that they're gay. What advice would you give to the parents? And what advice would you give to the kids, how they should break it to their folks?

[B]

Well, first for the kids, I would break it to the person in your family that you think is going to be the most receptive and then work backwards. If you have an uncle or a brother or a sister someone that you think is really going to be the most receptive because it's such a hard thing to tell anyone that you have to try to pick someone who's going to at least be the most on your side. And then for parents, you know, it's a difficult thing. But you have to remember that you really love your children and they are basically the same people and that they really need your support. So, you know, you have to take a deep breath and kind of sit back and go slowly and try not to overreact. I mean, which is what I must say I did. The rough thing for me was that everyone and my family had known about it and I was the last person. So I think a lot of it for me too, was not being in the. In the loop, so to speak.

[A]

Hey, Cher, why has the gay community embraced you so?

[B]

Well, gay guys either like you or they don't. I don't know if you can really tell. Why? It's just something that, you know. They just either bond with you or they don't.

[A]

She's got fabulous clothes, a fabulous attitude and fabulous songs. So that's why they're.

[B]

You know what? But I'm not so sure that's enough. You know, there's something else that happens. I mean, it doesn't hurt for sure. I think that it's not exactly. It's not exactly enough.

[A]

Right. True or false? You were supposed to be in Thelma and Louise.

[B]

Yeah, I actually turned it down because I didn't like the ending. So that was really stupid. But if they belong to you, they come to you. And if not, they don't. So obviously that just didn't.

[A]

True or false? You have dyslexia.

[B]

True.

[A]

True. That's gotta be tough. How frustrating is that when you have to read a script or something?

[B]

I also have kind of a photographic memory. I get confused when I'm dialing long distance because I always transpose the numbers and I have to read really slowly. But once I read something, I pretty much can commit it to memory. So scripts are kind of easy for me.

[A]

Was Napster a good thing or a bad thing for people in your industry?

[B]

It was a bad thing.

[A]

Really bad thing.

[B]

Yeah, it was kind of rough because it's like other people get paid for their work. You know, everyone. I mean, you do a job and you get paid for it. Napster kind of just pulled a rug right out from under you.

[A]

Is it still cool, like, I mean, when you're driving down the road and you hear Song for the Lonely, your new single after all these years, is it still a blast to hear yourself on the radio or is it just ho hum? I'll change to another station now.

[B]

I don't. I think kind of the more you go, especially after your kind of sell by date, you know, it gets more amazing to you. And I'm always thrilled. I mean, I always get excited when I hear a song on the radio.

[A]

Cher, totally awesome talking to you this morning. It was well worth the Friday.

[B]

Oh, I'm glad. I'm glad I got back to you guys. And I'm sorry about Friday.

[A]

It's okay. Thanks so much, Sharon.

[B]

Good luck with the new cd.

[A]

Bye. Now you're on the Burch show.