Cher Called Tom Cruise One of Her ‘Top-Five’ Lovers despite 16-Year Age Difference – Inside Their Love Story

• Cher had a brief but intense romance with Tom Cruise in the mid-1980s, which left a lasting impression on her.
• The pair first met at Madonna's 1985 wedding and were brought together the second time by their dyslexia.
• Years later, the singer ranked the actor among her "top-five" lovers and remembered him as a wonderful but shy boy who didn't have money.

Cher, born Cherilyn Sarkisian, is a legend in the music industry known for her distinctive contralto singing voice and her ability to reinvent herself. She has enjoyed success not only in music but also in film, television, and on stage. Cher's life, marked by numerous high-profile relationships and a candid approach to her personal life, is as diverse as her career.

She moved to Los Angeles as a 16-year-old dancer and soon met Sonny Bono, a musician 11 years her senior. Their marriage and professional partnership, known as Sonny and Cher, produced hits like "I Got You Babe," but ended in divorce in 1975 due to Bono's controlling nature.

Cher's second marriage to Gregg Allman of The Allman Brothers Band was intense but short-lived, largely due to Allman's struggles with addiction.

She has never been shy about expressing her opinions and feelings about her past and present lovers. Among her many romances, one that particularly stands out is with Tom Cruise, the superstar actor and renowned Scientologist.

Their relationship, which blossomed in the mid-1980s, was as intense as it was brief. Cher herself has described Cruise as one of her best lovers.

Their paths first crossed in Malibu at Madonna's high-profile wedding with Sean Penn in 1985. Cher narrated, "Then a bunch of people who were dyslexic were invited to the White House, and Tom and I are both dyslexic." Their shared experience of dyslexia, a condition that affects reading and writing skills, brought them together for the second time at a White House event.

The actor, who was 22 and riding high on the success of "Risky Business," left an impression on Cher. Their relationship didn't take off immediately, but the singer recalled they had a connection.

It was during an episode of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" that Cher opened up about their relationship. Oprah Winfrey revealed that when she had recently visited Cruise's Colorado home, he had insisted that she greet Cher on his behalf.

Curious about the nature of their romance, she asked Cher how long they had dated, to which Cher confessed, "Oh, that was a long date. I lived in his apartment."

Cher fondly remembered Cruise, who is 16 years her junior, as a wonderful and different person, revealing that she was completely smitten with him. She added, "And he was so, like, different. He was a shy boy. He didn't have any money."

The timeline of their relationship remains unclear, but it's believed to have occurred sometime between 1983 and 1986, a period marked by Cruise's rising stardom. Despite the end of their romantic involvement, Cher and Cruise have managed to maintain a friendship. Cher, however, has expressed confusion over Cruise's association with Scientology.

When asked about her past lovers on "Watch What Happens Live," Cher told Andy Cohen, "He was in the top five." On the other hand, Cruise has remained silent about their past romance.

Besides playing a paramount role in her fling with Cruise, Cher's dyslexia has been a significant part of her life. Despite being unable to read music due to her dyslexia, she has an exceptional ability to understand and interpret it. She credits her dyslexia for her photographic memory, which allows her to grasp the feeling of a piece of music or text at first glance.

She said, "I can read something and pretty much get the feeling of it the first time." However, her dyslexia also made school a challenge for her. In 2018, Cher expressed her intention to pen a candid memoir, a decision that reportedly caused concern for Cruise.

A source quoted by Mirror suggested that Cruise was apprehensive about what Cher might disclose about their past relationship in her book. Despite potential hurdles, Cher stated that she was committed to honesty in her memoir, promising to share a comprehensive account of her life.

In an interview, the legendary "Believe" singer, when asked about life after love, affirmed its existence but admitted it's challenging.

When asked what she thought every woman should experience, she said, "Go out with a younger man." True to her word, Cher's colorful romantic history has included a diverse array of partners, some older and some younger than her.

For instance, bagel baker Rob Camilletti was 18 years younger than Cher. Currently, she is with Alexander Edwards, a music producer who is 40 years her junior.

Cher and Edwards' relationship began unexpectedly after their first meeting at a Paris Fashion Week event in 2022. She was initially shocked at a mutual friend giving Edwards her number, but she found herself drawn to him.

The 77-year-old diva was initially upset when Edwards prematurely used an affectionate nickname, "baby," with an extra emphasis on the "y," before their relationship had fully developed.

The incident occurred when Cher was leaving for Switzerland. Edwards texted her asking about her plans, to which she replied that she was going to Switzerland and she was a bit tired. Edwards responded, wishing her rest and addressing her as "babyyy." An irritated Cher thought, "He doesn't know me well enough to put three Ys on baby!"

After the initial hiccup, Edwards kept texting and managed to smooth things over. Cher confessed that she had previously advised her friends against dating much younger men and falling in love over text, yet she found herself doing exactly that.

Cher broke her own rules for Edwards, whom she describes as "special." She enjoys his company, his sense of humor, and the fun they have together.

Despite the odds, their relationship has lasted over a year, and in October 2023, Cher described the time they had been together as the "best." Cher revealed she chooses to focus on the joy their relationship brings rather than the internet's fascination with their age difference. She believes in living in the moment and cherishing the happiness it brings.

Their relationship goes beyond romance to professional collaborators. Edwards produced Cher's new track "Drop Top Sleigh Ride," which featured on her Christmas album along with the lead single "DJ Play a Christmas Song."

Cher praised Edwards as a great producer and expressed her satisfaction with his work on "Drop Top Sleigh Ride." Acknowledging the challenges of entrusting a loved one with her music, Cher said she had faith in Edwards and was thrilled with the result.