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Cher is trending again in the United States this week, as the 80-year-old icon’s memoir continues to draw attention and her family stays in the spotlight. The person at the centre of that family story is her son, Chaz Bono, the only child of Cher and the late Sonny Bono, who married his longtime partner Shara Blue Mathes in March 2026.
Bono, 57, has lived most of his life in public view, from closing out The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour as a small child to writing three books and becoming one of the most visible transgender men in American entertainment. His wedding this spring, attended by Cher herself, brought the family’s story back into the headlines.
Chaz Bono — Quick Reference Profile
| Detail | Fact |
|---|---|
| Full name | Chaz Salvatore Bono (born Chastity Sun Bono) |
| Date of birth | 4 March 1969, Los Angeles, California (age 57) |
| Parents | Cher and Sonny Bono |
| Half-brother | Elijah Blue Allman (born 1976) |
| Spouse | Shara Blue Mathes (married 8 March 2026) |
| Primary roles | Author, actor, musician, LGBTQ advocate |
| Famous anchor | Son of Cher and Sonny Bono |
| Best-known works | Family Outing (1998), The End of Innocence (2003), Transition (2011), Becoming Chaz (2011) |
| Net worth | Not publicly verified |
| Height | Not publicly verified |
| Social media | Not publicly verified |
Growing Up in the Sonny & Cher Spotlight
Chaz Bono was born in Los Angeles on 4 March 1969, the only child of the pop duo Sonny & Cher. He was named after Chastity, the 1969 film in which Cher played her first solo feature role. Millions of viewers watched him grow up in the closing moments of The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour, where he appeared in 32 episodes between 1972 and 1977.
His parents divorced in 1975, and his father later became a politician, serving as mayor of Palm Springs and then as a US congressman. Sonny Bono died in a skiing accident on 5 January 1998. Bono attended the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in New York City, where he studied drama.
Books, Music and a Public Transition
Bono first made music with the band Ceremony, which released the album Hang Out Your Poetry in 1993. His writing career followed: Family Outing, a guide to coming out, was published in 1998, and his memoir The End of Innocence followed in 2003. He had come out publicly as a lesbian in a 1995 cover story for The Advocate, after telling both parents at the age of 18.
Between 2008 and 2010, Bono underwent a female-to-male transition, and a California court granted his legal gender and name change on 6 May 2010. The documentary Becoming Chaz, which followed that journey, screened at the Sundance Film Festival in 2011 and later aired on the Oprah Winfrey Network. His book Transition was published the same year.
In September 2011, Bono competed on the 13th season of Dancing with the Stars, partnered with Lacey Schwimmer, becoming the first openly transgender man to appear on a major US network show in a role unrelated to being transgender. Like Erin Darke, whose long relationship with Daniel Radcliffe has kept her in the public eye without a wedding, Bono built his public identity on his own work rather than on his famous parent alone.
The 2026 Wedding to Shara Blue Mathes
On 8 March 2026, Bono married Shara Blue Mathes at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles. The couple had first met as teenagers in an acting class and began dating in 2017. Cher attended the ceremony, where the dress code was “Hollywood Glam Formal”, and the couple honeymooned in Hawaii.
People reported that Bono spoke to the magazine about the marriage, describing a connection that had lasted decades before the wedding. The marriage came in the same year his mother turned 80, on 20 May 2026, and as her memoir series continued: Cher: The Memoir, Part One was published on 19 November 2024, and Part Two has been listed by retailers for 17 November 2026, although some publisher listings have since moved it to spring 2027.
Money, Privacy and What Comes Next
Bono’s income has come from his books, acting roles, music and television appearances, but no reliable source publishes a verified figure for his personal wealth, so his net worth is recorded here as not publicly verified. He keeps a low profile between public appearances, and his personal social media accounts are not publicly verified either.
His half-brother Elijah Blue Allman, Cher’s son with the late Gregg Allman, turned 50 this year. The two brothers share a mother whose career has now spanned six decades, and whose second memoir volume keeps the Bono family name in the news. Like Malgosia Tomassi Keach, who stood by Stacy Keach through his final years, Bono’s story is one of a family member who stayed close to a famous relative while building a separate life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Chaz Bono?
Chaz Bono is the son of Cher and Sonny Bono, an American author, actor, musician and LGBTQ advocate, born on 4 March 1969 in Los Angeles.
Did Chaz Bono get married in 2026?
Yes. He married Shara Blue Mathes on 8 March 2026 at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles. They had first met as teenagers in acting class and began dating in 2017.
What books has Chaz Bono written?
Family Outing (1998), The End of Innocence (2003) and Transition (2011). He also fronted the band Ceremony, whose album Hang Out Your Poetry came out in 1993.
Was Chaz Bono on Dancing with the Stars?
Yes. He competed on season 13 in 2011 with professional dancer Lacey Schwimmer, the first openly transgender man to star on a major US network show in a non-transgender-related role.
How old is Chaz Bono?
He is 57, born on 4 March 1969.
What is Chaz Bono’s net worth?
Not publicly verified. No reliable source publishes a confirmed figure for his personal wealth.
Myths vs Facts
Myth: Chaz Bono is Cher’s only child.
Fact: He is Cher’s only child with Sonny Bono, but Cher also has a younger son, Elijah Blue Allman, with Gregg Allman.
Myth: Chaz Bono married in secret.
Fact: The wedding was reported by People, with Cher among the guests at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.
Myth: Chaz Bono’s net worth is widely published.
Fact: Figures circulate on low-authority celebrity-net-worth sites, but no reliable source confirms one, so it is recorded here as not publicly verified.
