Cher wins royalties lawsuit against Sonny Bono's widow

Cher won a lawsuit she filed against the widow of Sonny Bono over royalties for songs she and Bono made together such as "I Got You Babe."

The Grammy award-winning singer is owed more than $400,000 accrued since the lawsuit was filed in 2021. She sued Mary Bono accusing her of withholding royalties from songs within the Sonny & Cher catalog. The lawsuit said Cher was entitled to a 50-50 share of the royalties as stated in an agreement she and her former husband and musical partner made in their 1978 divorce settlement. 

In 1998, Bono died in a skiing accident and left his share to his heirs.

At a federal court in Los Angeles, U.S. District Judge John Kronstadt said the over 40-year-old agreement entitled Cher to receive 50 percent of royalties from Sonny & Cher songs like "The Beat Goes On" and "I Got You Babe," according to court papers obtained by City News Service. 

The former couple created and performed together as Sonny & Cher through the 1960s and 70s, going on to star in The Sonny & Cher Show from 1971 to 1974.