For more than six decades, Cher has lived much of her life in front of the world. But behind the glamorous outfits, hit records and television appearances was a story she admits she once struggled to tell.

In Cher: The Memoir, Part One, Cher opened up about her chaotic childhood and her complicated marriage and professional partnership with Sonny Bono. She revealed that she eventually discovered the business arrangement surrounding “Cher Enterprises” left her as an employee rather than an equal partner — a realization that helped push her toward independence.

Cher has admitted that writing honestly wasn’t easy. At first, she avoided some of the most personal parts of her story, particularly her relationships, before deciding there was little point in telling her life story halfway.

Now 80, Cher’s story looks very different from the image millions first knew from The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour. Behind one of entertainment’s most recognizable stars was a woman fighting for control of her own career and life.