HOLLYWOOD—Georgia Holt, mother of Cher, is a woman who is not afraid of getting older. She enjoys sitting in her living room listening to her country songs album recorded 30 years ago. The lady is very happy.

MSJ: Georgia, as a little girl growing up in Arkansas did you have dreams of one day living and performing in a place like Hollywood?

GH: Michael of course, I think most kids dream or fantasize about doing exceptional things in the future. At six I was singing country songs and was a real diva. My dad taught me how to sing and play the guitar and I’ve been doing it ever since.

MSJ: So there were real opportunities to grow and develop as a young performer then?

GH: Oh sure, I was on radio and when I was 10 years old. I sang with bandleader Bob Wills as well as the Texas Playboys group. So I quickly learned how to deal with musicians as well as understand the idea of professionalism. And I loved every minute of it.

MSJ: I heard you were a beauty queen, too.

GH: Oh yeah! I tried everything that would put me before an audience or the public. I did some modeling and anything else which might help my bank account.

MSJ: Being in show biz must have exposed you to all types of men, being a young innocent girl who was determined to get ahead?

GH: True I was young but I was no fool. I knew how to handle myself and all the guys who felt they could take advantage.  It doesn’t take long to learn the game and when you do then it’s easy to survive.

MSJ: Where you more interested in music than anything else?

GH: Not really. I enjoyed acting and I had an opportunity to do some TV and films. However, I’ve done more television than anything else. However, I must tell you that I enjoyed doing shows like the Mike Douglas, Merv Griffin and Dinah Shore shows more than anything. Possibly because of the format. Those shows made you feel as if you were home sitting in the kitchen with an old friend.

MSJ: You’ve been married several times haven’t you? Was it difficult For you to settle down with one partner?

GH: I was six-times married and I learned a lot about myself as well as men. And the most important thing was that I can make it on my own.  It can be lonely sometimes but you learn to deal with it like most things in life. The best thing that ever came from the marriage were my two kids Cher and Georganne. So it was worth all the disappointments and headache which happens when a relationship ends.  I’m very proud of my girls! They know how to handle life.

MSJ: And you’re grandmother, too!

GH: Yes and they are wonderful human beings. Chaz is finding his own way in being happy and I’m very proud of him.  Elijah Blue he has a way to go yet but he’s getting there.  They are both on a  journey of discovery and there’s nothing wrong with that.

MSJ: Georgia, what do you like most about yourself at this stage of your life?

GH: My goodness, Michael! Well since you asked, I like the idea that I can accept change physically in myself and still have a hunger to learn more about life and other people each day I wake up. Life to me is still exciting even though I’m getting closer to being ninety years old. I still have that wonderful urge to dance and sing!