Editing Cher (section)

=== 2002–2015: Farewell tours, musical film comeback and return to dance-pop ===
[[File:Cher at Farewell Tour.JPG|thumb|right|upright|alt=Cher sings on stage in a shimmering gold beaded outfit with fringe, a matching headpiece and long platinum blonde hair, surrounded by backup dancers.|Cher on [[Living Proof: The Farewell Tour]] (2002–2005), the highest-grossing tour by a female artist at the time]]

In June 2002, Cher launched [[Living Proof: The Farewell Tour]],<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Greenblatt|first=Leah|url=https://www.ew.com/article/2007/10/05/retirements-didnt-last |title=Retirements that didn't last|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=October 5, 2007|access-date=January 17, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307144149/http://www.ew.com/article/2007/10/05/retirements-didnt-last |archive-date=March 7, 2016}}</ref> promoted as her [[Farewell tour|final concert tour]], though she planned to keep recording and acting.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Newman|first=Melinda |date=January 18, 2003|title=The Beat |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aQ4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA13 |access-date=January 17, 2016}}</ref> [[Jon Pareles]] of ''The New York Times'' praised it as a celebration of Cher's resilience, highlighting her ability to "triumph over restraint, aging and gravity" and calling her "a hit machine immune to sagging flesh".<ref name=Pareles2002>{{cite news |last=Pareles |first=Jon |author-link=Jon Pareles |title=Pop Review: Cher's Goodbye Tour Reaches New York, With Glitter and Nostalgia Galore |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/29/arts/pop-review-cher-s-goodbye-tour-reaches-new-york-with-glitter-nostalgia-galore.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=June 29, 2002 |access-date=December 9, 2024 |archive-date=September 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240918221836/https://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/29/arts/pop-review-cher-s-goodbye-tour-reaches-new-york-with-glitter-nostalgia-galore.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Initially set for 49 shows, the tour was repeatedly extended.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.adobe.com/motion/cher.html |title=On the road with Cher |publisher=[[Adobe Systems]] |access-date=January 17, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222162955/https://www.adobe.com/motion/cher.html |archive-date=December 22, 2015}}</ref> By October 2003, it had become the most successful tour by a female artist, grossing $145&nbsp;million from 200 shows with 2.2&nbsp;million attendees.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Bonin |first=Liane |author-link=Liane Bonin |url=https://www.ew.com/article/2003/10/31/chers-tour-most-successful-ever-woman |title=Cher's tour is the most successful ever by a woman |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=October 31, 2003|access-date=January 17, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160402083139/http://www.ew.com/article/2003/10/31/chers-tour-most-successful-ever-woman |archive-date=April 2, 2016}}</ref> The [[NBC]] special ''[[The Farewell Tour (video)|Cher: The Farewell Tour]]'' drew 17&nbsp;million viewers,<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1004707,00.html |title=Numbers |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=April 21, 2003 |access-date=January 17, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222133237/http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1004707,00.html |archive-date=December 22, 2015}}</ref> becoming the highest-rated network concert special of 2003 and earning Cher the [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded)|Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special]].<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Hay|first=Carla|date=December 27, 2003|title=Tuned In: Rating Hits And Misses |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bA8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=RA1-PA71 |access-date=January 17, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/shows/cher-farewell-tour |title=''Cher: The Farewell Tour'' |publisher=[[Academy of Television Arts & Sciences]] |access-date=January 17, 2016 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222145154/http://www.emmys.com/shows/cher-farewell-tour|archive-date=December 22, 2015}}</ref>

After leaving Warner UK in 2002, Cher signed a global deal with Warner Bros. Records in September 2003.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Newman |first=Melinda |date=September 13, 2003 |title=The Beat: Cher Signs Worldwide Warner Bros. Deal |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bw8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA13 |access-date=January 17, 2016}}</ref> ''[[Forbes]]'' named her the [[Forbes list of highest-earning musicians#Female|highest-paid female musician]] of 2003, earning $33.1&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.forbes.com/2003/06/18/cz_celebs_musicians.html|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20220727053357/https://www.forbes.com/2003/06/18/cz_celebs_musicians.html |title=The Best Paid Musicians |magazine=[[Forbes]] |date=June 18, 2003 |archive-date=July 27, 2022 |access-date=July 27, 2022}}</ref> The compilation album ''[[The Very Best of Cher]]'' (2003) peaked at number four on the ''Billboard'' 200<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/70667/chers-farewell-tour-beats-on|title=Cher's 'Farewell' Tour Beats On|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=June 9, 2003|access-date=January 17, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160131230635/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/70667/chers-farewell-tour-beats-on|archive-date=January 31, 2016}}</ref> and was certified double platinum by the RIAA.<ref name=RIAA/> In the [[Farrelly brothers]]{{'}} comedy ''[[Stuck on You (film)|Stuck on You]]'' (2003), Cher played a satirical version of herself in a relationship with a high schooler ([[Frankie Muniz]]), referencing media scrutiny of her relationships with younger men.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2003/12/12/farrelly-brothers-comedy-chops-come-unglued-in-stuck-on-you/|first=Mark|last=Caro|newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |title=Farrelly brothers' comedy chops come unglued in ''Stuck on You'' |date=December 12, 2003 |access-date=January 17, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150505062655/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2003-12-12/entertainment/0312120301_1_quickee-burger-farrelly-brothers-peter-and-bobby-farrelly|archive-date=May 5, 2015}}</ref> Cher's Farewell Tour concluded in April 2005 after 325 shows, drawing over 3.5&nbsp;million attendees and grossing $250&nbsp;million, ranking among [[List of highest-grossing concert tours#2000s|the top-ten highest-grossing tours of the 2000s]].<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/billboard-bits-stingfiction-plane-cher-hey-ya-62916/ |title=Billboard Bits: Sting/Fiction Plane, Cher, 'Hey Ya!' |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=November 22, 2024 |archive-date=August 31, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230831200240/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/billboard-bits-stingfiction-plane-cher-hey-ya-62916/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=[[Forbes]] |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jesselawrence/2014/03/23/with-strong-demand-for-tickets-will-chers-dressed-to-kill-tour-really-be-farewell/ |title=With Strong Demand For Tickets, Will Cher's Dressed To Kill Tour Really Be Farewell? |date=March 23, 2014 |first=Jesse |last=Lawrence |access-date=January 17, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429045520/http://www.forbes.com/sites/jesselawrence/2014/03/23/with-strong-demand-for-tickets-will-chers-dressed-to-kill-tour-really-be-farewell/ |archive-date=April 29, 2014}}</ref>

After three years of retirement,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thecourier.com.au/story/5386479/cher-starts-australian-tour-in-newcastle/ |title=Cher starts Australian tour in Newcastle |first=Lisa |last=Rockman |date=May 8, 2018 |access-date=July 30, 2018 |archive-date=June 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200619201532/https://www.thecourier.com.au/story/5386479/cher-starts-australian-tour-in-newcastle/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Cher signed a $60 million&nbsp;deal for a 200-show residency at [[the Colosseum at Caesars Palace]] in Las Vegas.<ref>{{cite news |last1=McFadden |first1=Cynthia |author-link=Cynthia McFadden |last2=Orso |first2=Alberto |last3=Ibanga |first3=Imaeyen |url=https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/WinterConcert/story?id=4255476&page=1 |title=Cher Is Back&nbsp;... Again |publisher=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |date=April 30, 2008 |access-date=March 20, 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320181140/https://abcnews.go.com/amp/GMA/WinterConcert/story?id=4255476 |archive-date=March 20, 2021}}</ref> Titled [[Cher (2008–2011 concert residency)|Cher]] (2008–2011), the production featured advanced stage effects and over 20 costume changes.<ref>{{cite press release |date=September 21, 2010 |url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cher-announces-final-shows-of-three-year-residency-at-the-colosseum-at-caesars-palace-103420589.html |title=Cher Announces Final Shows of Three Year Residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace |agency=[[PR Newswire]] |access-date=January 17, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201000916/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cher-announces-final-shows-of-three-year-residency-at-the-colosseum-at-caesars-palace-103420589.html |archive-date=February 1, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/04/fashion/cher-talks-about-what-else-being-cher.html |title=Cher Talks About (What Else?) Being Cher |date=July 3, 2013 |first=Jacob |last=Bernstein |access-date=January 17, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220182150/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/04/fashion/cher-talks-about-what-else-being-cher.html |archive-date=December 20, 2016}}</ref> She returned to film in ''[[Burlesque (2010 American film)|Burlesque]]'' (2010)—her first musical since ''Good Times'' (1967)—playing an intimidating nightclub owner who mentors an aspiring performer ([[Christina Aguilera]]).<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/950591/christina-aguilera-and-cher-shine-on-burlesque-soundtrack |first=Mikael|last=Wood |title=Christina Aguilera and Cher Shine on ''Burlesque'' Soundtrack |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=November 19, 2010|access-date=January 17, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160125011407/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/950591/christina-aguilera-and-cher-shine-on-burlesque-soundtrack |archive-date=January 25, 2016}}</ref> Initially met with mixed reviews and modest box office results, the film was later reassessed; ''Entertainment Weekly'' called it "a [[Camp (style)|campy]], [[Cult film|niche classic]] [that] inspired everything, from drag queen revues to viral internet moments".<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/movies/burlesque-oral-history-cher-christina-aguilera/ |title=Cher, Christina Aguilera sing justice for ''Burlesque'', 10 years later |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=November 23, 2020 |access-date=March 29, 2025 |first=Joey |last=Nolfi |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201123180406/https://ew.com/movies/burlesque-oral-history-cher-christina-aguilera/ |archive-date=November 23, 2020}}</ref> Her ballad "[[You Haven't Seen the Last of Me]]", from the [[Burlesque (soundtrack)|soundtrack]], topped the [[Dance Club Songs|''Billboard'' Dance Club Songs]] chart in January 2011, making her the only artist with ''Billboard'' number-one singles in six consecutive decades (1960s–2010s).{{efn|name=BillboardNumberOnes}}

[[File:Cher Believe D2K.jpg|thumb|right|upright|alt=Cher sings on stage in a revealing bejeweled outfit with cascading silver fringe and a heart-shaped pastie on her left chest. She wears a platinum blonde wig with pink streaks.|Cher performing on the [[Dressed to Kill Tour (Cher)|Dressed to Kill Tour]] (2014)]]

After [[Voice-over|voicing]] Janet the Lioness in ''[[Zookeeper (film)|Zookeeper]]'' (2011),<ref>{{cite web |first=Roger |last=Ebert |author-link=Roger Ebert |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/zookeeper-2011 |title=A buddy comedy with a gorilla as the buddy |website=[[RogerEbert.com]] |access-date=January 17, 2016 |date=July 6, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160129014246/http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/zookeeper-2011 |archive-date=January 29, 2016}}</ref> Cher produced the documentary ''[[Dear Mom, Love Cher]]'' (2013). It follows her efforts to support her mother Georgia Holt's dream of becoming a singer, culminating in the release of [[Honky Tonk Woman (album)|Holt's debut album]] at age 87.<ref>{{cite news |first=Matthew |last=Gilbert |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/television/2013/05/05/cher-love-letter-her-mother/Xo0L5A4HCkVwAGJ0QA74HI/story.html |title=Cher's love letter to her mother |newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]] |date=May 6, 2013 |access-date=March 27, 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130630233040/http://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/television/2013/05/05/cher-love-letter-her-mother/Xo0L5A4HCkVwAGJ0QA74HI/story.html |archive-date=June 30, 2013}}</ref> ''[[Closer to the Truth (Cher album)|Closer to the Truth]]'' (2013), Cher's first studio album since 2001's ''Living Proof'', debuted at number three on the ''Billboard'' 200—her highest position on that chart to date<ref name=Caulfield-2013/>—and reached the top ten in Canada,<ref name=Cher-Billboard/> Germany,<ref name=Cher-Billboard/> Scotland<ref name=UKChartHistory/> and the UK.<ref name=UKChartHistory/> ''The Boston Globe'' wrote that "Cher's 'Goddess of Pop' sash remains in little danger of undue snatching; at 67, she sounds more convincing than [[Jennifer Lopez|J-Lo]] or [[Madonna]] reporting from 'the club'".<ref>{{cite news |first=Michael Andor |last=Brodeur |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/music/2013/09/23/album-review-cher-closer-truth/ULMSsWNd4TQFU0Ywth8sdM/story.html |title=Album Review: Cher, ''Closer to the Truth'' |newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]] |date=September 24, 2013 |access-date=January 17, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160124122911/http://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/music/2013/09/23/album-review-cher-closer-truth/ULMSsWNd4TQFU0Ywth8sdM/story.html |archive-date=January 24, 2016}}</ref> She premiered the lead single "[[Woman's World (Cher song)|Woman's World]]" during the [[The Voice (American TV series) season 4|season four]] finale of ''[[The Voice (U.S.)|The Voice]]''—her first live TV performance in over a decade<ref>{{cite news |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/cher-celebrate-release-single-womans-192934556.html |title=Cher to Celebrate Release of New Single 'Woman's World' With Performance on Final Episode of NBC's ''The Voice'' on Tuesday, June 18th |publisher=[[Yahoo! Finance]] |date=June 10, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170721224554/https://finance.yahoo.com/news/cher-celebrate-release-single-womans-192934556.html |archive-date=July 21, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>—and returned in [[The Voice (American TV series) season 5|season five]] as team adviser to judge [[Blake Shelton]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/videos/the-voice-recap-cher-chews-out-contestant-20131016 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |title=''The Voice'' Recap: Cher Chews Out Contestant |date=October 16, 2013 |access-date=January 17, 2016 |first=Katy |last=Kroll |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112095216/http://www.rollingstone.com/tv/videos/the-voice-recap-cher-chews-out-contestant-20131016 |archive-date=January 12, 2016}}</ref>

In June 2013, Cher headlined the annual [[Heritage of Pride#Events|Dance on the Pier]] benefit, celebrating LGBTQ [[Pride Day]], achieving the event's first full-capacity crowd in five years.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2013/07/03/its-a-womans-world-for-cher-and-all-her-fans/ |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |first=Liz |last=Smith |title=It's a 'Woman's World' for Cher – and all her fans! |date=July 3, 2013 |access-date=January 17, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928065155/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-07-03/entertainment/sns-201307021400--tms--lizsmittr--x-a20130703-20130703_1_dj-gay-men-all-fans |archive-date=September 28, 2013}}</ref> She embarked on the [[Dressed to Kill Tour (Cher)|Dressed to Kill Tour]] in March 2014, over a decade after announcing her "farewell tour",<ref name=Caulfield-2014a>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/touring/6157652/cher-tour-grosses-55-million-so-far |title=Cher Tour Grosses $55 Million (So Far) |first=Keith|last=Caulfield|date=July 15, 2014|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=January 17, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160129174638/http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/touring/6157652/cher-tour-grosses-55-million-so-far |archive-date=January 29, 2016}}</ref> joking during shows that this would be her last farewell tour while [[Crossed fingers|crossing fingers]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/entertainment/music/sdut-cher-concert-dressed-to-kill-san-diego-review-2014jul12-story.html |date=July 12, 2014 |first=Michael James |last=Rocha |newspaper=[[The San Diego Union-Tribune]] |access-date=January 17, 2016|title=Pop diva Cher still reigns supreme |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226221557/http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/entertainment/music/sdut-cher-concert-dressed-to-kill-san-diego-review-2014jul12-story.html |archive-date=December 26, 2016}}</ref> The tour's first leg, comprising 49 sold-out shows in North America, grossed $54.9&nbsp;million.<ref name=Caulfield-2014a/> Later that year, she canceled all remaining dates due to a kidney infection.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/touring/6327218/cher-cancels-remaining-tour-dates-to-recover |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=January 17, 2016 |date=November 20, 2014 |first=Diana |last=Swartz |title=Cher Cancels Remaining Tour Dates to Recover |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160131225105/http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/touring/6327218/cher-cancels-remaining-tour-dates-to-recover |archive-date=January 31, 2016}}</ref> Cher collaborated with American [[Hip hop music|hip hop]] group [[Wu-Tang Clan]] on their 2015 album ''[[Once Upon a Time in Shaolin]]'', credited under her 1964 alias, Bonnie Jo Mason.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|access-date=January 17, 2016|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/cher-wu-tang-collaborate-for-two-songs-on-secret-album-20140507|title=Cher, Wu-Tang Clan Collaborate for Two Songs on Secret Album |first=Jason |last=Newman |date=May 7, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151231145714/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/cher-wu-tang-collaborate-for-two-songs-on-secret-album-20140507 |archive-date=December 31, 2015}}</ref> The album, produced as a single copy and sold via online auction,<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/zackomalleygreenburg/2015/11/24/wu-tang-clan-secret-album-sold-by-paddle8-but-to-whom/ |magazine=[[Forbes]] |title=Wu-Tang Clan Secret Album Sold By Paddle8, But To Whom? |first=Zack O'Malley |last=Greenburg |author-link=Zack O'Malley Greenburg |date=November 24, 2015 |access-date=January 17, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180119060743/https://www.forbes.com/sites/zackomalleygreenburg/2015/11/24/wu-tang-clan-secret-album-sold-by-paddle8-but-to-whom/ |archive-date=January 19, 2018}}</ref> became the most expensive album ever sold.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/zackomalleygreenburg/2015/11/24/new-details-emerge-on-wu-tang-clan-secret-album-sale/ |title=New Details Emerge On Wu-Tang Clan Secret Album Sale |magazine=[[Forbes]] |access-date=January 6, 2019 |archive-date=September 21, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921002622/https://www.forbes.com/sites/zackomalleygreenburg/2015/11/24/new-details-emerge-on-wu-tang-clan-secret-album-sale/ |url-status=live}}</ref>