Singing superstar Cher appeared to confirm the death of her mum on social media – prompting an outpouring of tributes.
The Believe chanteuse, 76, is normally an avid Twitter user but has recently been posting less following news of her mother Georgia Holt's health issues in September. She returned after a two day break to seemingly announce Holt's death at the age of 96 at around 5am UK time on Sunday December 11, the Mirror reports.
The tweet simply read: "Mom is gone", accompanied by a dismayed-looking emoji. As of the time of publication the tweet has prompted more than 11,000 responses from friends and fans sending love to the If I Could Turn Back Time star.
Actress Mary Helgenberger replied: "Oh Cher I'm so very sorry to hear that your beloved mother has passed. My heart goes out to you. What a blessing to have had her in your life for as long as you did. May she rest in peace."
US celebrity blogger Perez Hilton also reached out: "My deepest condolences. The biggest hug to you and your family! Your mother was a gem!"
Holt was a star in her own right, working as an actress, songwriter and model, and she encouraged her daughter to follow her into show business. She had been married and divorced six times - including a remarriage to first husband John Sarkisian 19 years after they divorced, before divorcing him again.
Holt and John welcomed their only daughter Cher in 1946. Holt went on to have another child, actress Georganne LaPiere, with husband John Southnall. Through Cher, Holt has two grandsons: Chaz Bono and Elijah Blue Allma.
Cher and her mum shared a very close bond. In 2013, the singer executive produced a Lifetime documentary Dear Mom, Love Cher all about her mother's life. The pair also duetted on tune I'm Just Your Yesterday for the rerelease of Holt's 1982 album Honky Tonk Woman in 2013.
Cher hit the headlines last week after confirming her romance with Alexander 'AE' Edwards, who is 40 years her junior. The superstar poked fun at her and her music executive beau's age gap during a recent appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show.
"Well, on paper it's kind of ridiculous," Cher admitted. "But in real life we get along great. He's fabulous and I don't give men qualities that they don't deserve."
Cher then proceeded to heap praise on her 'very kind' toyboy, adding: "He's very smart, he's very talented and he's really funny so - and I think he's quite handsome." The Mama Mia star then said she'd been forced to date outside her age group because 'older men are not into her.'
She added: "If I hadn't met younger men in my life, I would have never had a date, because older men just didn't like me all that much, do you know what I mean?" Cher said she had been with a 'couple boyfriends' who were 'hovering around my age' but she got the feeling 'they just didn't like me for some reason.'
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