Iconic Music Star Opens Up About Dating a Man 40 Years Her Junior

By: Alyssa Miller | Published: Dec 19, 2023

Cher reveals that she manages to avoid heartbreak thanks to being “cute” and dating younger men. During an episode of Amelia Dimoldenberg’s YouTube interview series, “Chicken Shop Date,” the 77-year-old actor and singer discussed dating some of the biggest names in Hollywood.

While Cher is currently with her on-and-off boyfriend Alexander “A.E.” Edwards, 37, Cher’s dating history is pretty impressive. How has she avoided heartbreak from these heartthrobs? Let’s get into it.

Cher Says Every Woman Should Try This at Least Once

Cher has shared a few dating tips in the past, but this one is something many women over a certain age should try. “Go out with a younger man,” Cher said without hesitation during her interview.

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Cher in "Chicken Shop Date"

Source: Amelia Dimoldenberg/YouTube

The “Goddess of Pop” says that there is one drawback to dating younger people. “I told my friends, don’t fall in love with a younger man. We’re too old,” she says.

Cher Has a Rich Dating History

Although Cher says that she didn’t “fall in love very quickly,” the Oscar winner previously married her co-star and signing partner Sonny Bono. Their marriage lasted from 1964 until 1975. She was married to musician Gregg Allman from 1975 to 1979.

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The Ottawa performance of the Cher Dressed to Kill Tour with Cyndi Lauper.

Source: David Carroll/Flickr

Cher also briefly dated Warren Beatty as a teenager, executive David Geffen, KISS frontman Gene Simmons, and actors Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer.

How Did Cher and A.E. Edwards Meet?

Cher and her current beau met briefly during Paris Fashion Week last year. Afterward, Edwards got Cher’s number from a friend and texted her. “It was really shocking, because people just don’t give out my number,” she told People.

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Alexander Edwards and singer Cher attend the Balmain Womenswear Spring/Summer 2024 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on September 27, 2023 in Paris, France.

Source: Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)

Cher added, “I had been telling all my friends, ‘We’re too old to go out with really younger men, and I will never fall in love on text.’ So, I did what I said not to do!”

What’s the Secret Behind Cher’s Latest Romance? 

Cher has expressed that she and Edwards share a strong connection. While Cher describes Edwards as “reserved” and “more obviously shy” compared to her, she is happy to be with a “beautiful man.”

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Tess Scali, played by Cher, preforming in "Burlesque"

Source: jonnessa/Flickr

“I hate to talk about how happy I am, but no, we have a great time together,” the “Moonstruck” star said. “We can talk about music. We can talk about everything. He’s got a great sense of humor, he’s got the cutest son in the world, ever … We just get each other.”

There Are a Few Issues Dating Someone 40 Years Younger

However, the age gap has proved to have some issues between the two. Occasionally, the pair runs into miscommunication issues. “Sometimes I’m talking to him and he has no idea who I’m talking about,” Cher told Extra (via MARCA). “The other day, I said, ‘Do you know who, I don’t know, Clark Gable [is]?’”

Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert in "It Happened One Night"

Source: GetArchive

While some people might understand the Grammy Award winner’s reference might be out of date for the 37-year-old, the two seem to have a common ground that allows them to embrace life together.

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Jane Fonda Shares Similiar Dating Advice as Cher

Cher isn’t the only older woman dating younger men. Jane Fonda was honest while explaining why she isn’t interested in dating anyone who is old enough to drink.

American Actress Jane Fonda at the Berlin Film Festival 2013

Source: Siebbi/Wikimedia Commons

During an appearance on the “Absolutely Not” podcast, the Hollywood legend said she is retiring from the bedroom, but would only take another lover if they were 20 years old.

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Jane Fonda Says She Would Enjoy Being With a 20-Year-Old

“I’m done, I’m over, I’m 86 years old, even in the dark I wouldn’t want to be naked in front of anybody,” Fonda joked to host, comic Heather McMahan. “And here’s another thing, I’m ashamed to say this, if I were to take a lover, he’d have to be 20.”

Jane Fonda at the "Youth" premiere, Elgin & Wintergarden Theatre

Source: Viv Lynch/Flickr

The activist and actor’s reason behind this strict age limit is quite a laugh: “Because I don’t like old skin.”

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Jane Fonda Jokes About Her Statement

The “Barbarella” star realizes the irony of her statement, and mentions that she wouldn’t want anyone to be interested in her if they don’t want to see “old skin.” “And consequently, I don’t want to foist that on anybody else. I assume other people are like me, I just don’t like old skin,” Fonda says.

Jane Fonda during press conference

Source: Rob Mieremet/Anefo/Wikimedia Commons

Fonda has been married three times. She was wed to director Roger Vadim from 1965 to 1973 and activist Tom Hayden from 1973 to 1990. She married CNN founder Ted Turner in 1991, and they divorced in 2001.

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Why Is Jane Fond “Ogling” 20-Year-Olds? 

Fonda does make it clear that there is a certain standard that older women face that older men do not have issues with. However, the “9 to 5” actor says that she isn’t looking to be in a relationship with a 20-year-old.

Jane Fonda at the Cannes Film Festival

Source: Georges Biard/Wikimedia Commons

“I disapprove of 86-year-old men with 20-year-old women, so I’m not going to repeat it,” she explained. “I can ogle them, and I can’t pretend that I don’t get turned on if I see a certain kind of a person, but no, no, no, I don’t want to force that on anybody.”

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The Age Gap Shouldn’t Matter, According to Cher

Despite Cher and A.E. Edwards’s 40-year age gap, the singer says that their connection is undeniable. “No matter what happens, I love being with him. He makes me laugh, and we have fun. What I learned is that it’s never too late,” she told People.

Cher walking out of a building

Source: Renan Katayama/Flickr

“If you wrote out all the statistics, you would go, ‘Well, this is doomed.’ But we’ve been together a year, and if it was just a year, it would’ve been worth it. I’ve had the best time,” she says.

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Cher’s Final Words of Wisdom

Love is complicated (life after love even more so), but Cher’s last piece of advice can help anyone looking for their next romantic partner. “If you have happiness, you can’t think about how long it’s going to last. You have to think about, ‘How does it feel?’ and live in the moment,” Cher tells People.

Cher attends The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Opening Gala at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on September 25, 2021 in Los Angeles, California.

Source: Matt Winkelmeyer/WireImage

Despite breaking up earlier this year, Cher says that she is still with Edwards and that the two are very much in love.

Source: YouTube

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