BREAKING NEWS: CHER BATTLES ILLNESS TO HAVE HER TWO-YEAR DREAM FINALLY COME TRUE!
After a near three-year “farewell retirement,” Cher has successfully battled illness to come out of a self-imposed exile to headline in her own new variety spectacular at The Colosseum in Caesars Palace starting May 6. The superstar, one-named icon, finally made it official this morning—exactly as Luxe Life predicted eight months ago! It’s a three-year $60-million a year contract for about 200 shows featuring Cher’s hits across her four decades of super-stardom.
Ticket sales immediately caused a buying frenzy when they went on sale this morning at 7 a.m. (THURS)—some 100-minutes before her West Coast breakfast-time announcement on ABC-TV’s Good Morning America program. Some buyers were backed up waiting on the Internet as long as 30-minutes. As an unabashed fan, I snagged my four ducats by 7:05 a.m. for the front-level orchestra on her premiere night!
She revealed that she has been battling the Epstein-Barr virus and it nearly ended any dream she had of doing another show after her Farewell Tour. Cher says that she’s been plotting the Vegas show for the past two-and-a-half years and prays, “I hope I can pull it off.” She continued: “I was sick constantly and almost died from pneumonia. I was first diagnosed with it in the late 80’s and I was sick a long time. I went to Germany last year for medical treatment. It was amazing what they could do for me over there.”
(Epstein-Barr is a modern-day persistent infection akin to mononucleosis with glandular fever. Some patients have had their own bone marrow replaced and Epstein-Barr has been linked to chronic fatigue syndrome and lymphoma causing jaw tumors requiring chemotherapy).
“I started in Vegas at Caesars,” Cher added, “so I’ve come full circle. I’m back! I’m happy. I’m proud! I’m simply a failure at retirement. I’ll give fans the best experience yet. Everybody knows I only do things in a big way—and this will be the biggest. We’ve never had technology like this before to work with. I’d better do what I can do while I still can do it”. I was told: “The show will leave audiences in awe. It is as ultra glitzy and glamorous as she is—and it’s a visual phenomenon that simply hasn’t ever been seen before.” So expect new versions of “I Believe in Love’ and “Turn Back Time’ for sure.
Asked about the $60-million paycheck Cher said: “ It’s a lot of money but I don’t care about the money. It’s not about the money. But I always worried about money. I always feared I’d wind up a bag lady. In fact when I was married to Sonny I bought two frying pans so I’d always have the extra one if anything ever happened!”
The 90-minute performance with 18 dancers and aerialists and choreography by Doriana Sanchez will play Tuesday and Wednesday nights and again Saturday and Sunday nights. Her first dates run from May 6 through June 1 and then again Aug. 12 through Aug. 31 with tickets at “Celine Dion prices” of $250 down to $95 at ticketmaster.com. An album— her 27th—will be produced from the show!
(CLICK HERE FOR OUR LUXE LIFE COVERAGE YESTERDAY WITH ALL THE SHOW SECRETS)
Famed designer Bob Mackie who has been with Cher for almost her entire career is already designing an entire new on-stage wardrobe for her. “The costumes will be stunning and incredibly extraordinary,” I was told. She’s also begun a strict workout regimen on a Power Plate fitness machine and is now adding daily private yoga classes to the “keep fit” sessions.
Cher also admitted on GMA that she has suffered from depression “ Not working does make it worse” she admitted. “Working helps me, it keeps me moving and around people and being productive. She admitted to plastic surgery but not as much as tabloids have speculated. “I never felt pretty” said Cher. “I create the illusion of it because it’s what comes from inside of you. I hate getting old. I’m sorry it actually happens and I’m as smart as I got when I was 40.”
Cher, who will appear this Sunday in a special presentation on the 50th Grammy Award live on CBS-TV will commute between her Malibu home and The Colosseum on her dark nights. She will also be given her own Cher Store at the casino—taking over the former Celine Dion retail space.
John Meglin, President of AEG Live/Concerts West commented: “Fan anticipation is unprecedented. There is simply no one like her. This project with Cher reinforces Vegas as the entertainment capital of the world. Her talent is legendary around the world.” Gary Selesner, Caesars President added: “There is only one home for someone of her legendary status—the most recognized casino in the world—Caesars! Cher’s name in one word encapsulates icon, award winning legend and captivating performer.”
On Good Morning America Cher also revealed two-extraordinary dating secrets that wound-up going nowhere—she’d once been invited to spend a weekend in Vegas with Elvis Presley. “It’s a true story but I was really nervous” she confided. “ I was too frightened to go and I’ve regretted it forever—the same with Marlon Brando too.” She says she’s still single, she’s not currently dating, but if she finds the right man she will marry for a third time. She also admitted that when she went out with Tom Cruise—before his Scientology days—she found him an “adorable young man.”
The flamboyant bejeweled multi-costumed Cher becomes the third member of a showbiz triumph irate rotating shows between newcomer Bette Midler who opens Feb. 20, and Sir Elton John who’s next run starts March 19. The two 60-year-young girls have effectively taken-over from Canadian songbird Celine Dion who wrapped up her five-year-run at Caesars two months ago.