Cher wins royalties lawsuit against Sonny Bono's widow

Cher officially came out on top in her years-long legal dispute with ex-husband Sonny Bono‘s widow.

Cher has prevailed in a legal battle with Mary Bono, the widow of her former husband and musical partner Sonny Bono, over royalties from their songs.

The dispute stemmed from a 1978 divorce settlement that granted Cher a permanent 50% stake in the couple's musical publishing catalog. Following Sonny's death in 1998, Cher and his family reached an agreement regarding the rights.

However, in 2016, Mary Bono invoked the Copyright Act's "termination rights," a provision allowing songwriters or their heirs to reclaim publishing rights after 35 years. This meant she argued Cher was no longer entitled to royalties.

Cher sued in 2021, claiming she was still owed the 50% share outlined in the divorce settlement. Mary Bono countersued, arguing the termination rights could not be waived.

The judge, John A. Kronstadt, ruled in Cher's favor on Wednesday, May 29th. He determined that the divorce settlement gave Cher a "contractual right to receive financial compensation," separate from copyright ownership.

"A right to receive royalties is distinct from a grant of copyright," Judge Kronstadt stated.

This decision means Cher will continue to receive royalties on her hits with Sonny, including "I Got You Babe" and "The Beat Goes On." The judge also awarded Cher over $400,000 in royalties withheld during the legal battle.

Sonny & Cher were a popular music duo in the 1960s, selling over 40 million records worldwide before their split. Cher went on to a successful solo career, while Sonny Bono transitioned into politics.