Cher has emerged victorious in a legal battle against Mary Bono, widow of her ex-husband Sonny Bono, over royalties for iconic songs like I Got You Babe. The dispute stems from a 1978 divorce settlement granting Cher 50% of publishing revenues from Sonny and Cher's music. In 2016, Mary Bono attempted to terminate Cher's royalty rights, leading to a lawsuit filed by Cher in 2021.

U.S. District Judge John Kronstadt ruled in Cher's favor, affirming her contractual right to receive royalties and awarding her over $400,000 in unpaid funds. The judge determined that federal termination rules could not nullify the divorce settlement.

Despite this victory, the legal clash continues. Mary Bono's lawyer recently argued in court that Cher's royalty rights should have ended in July 2022 when she sold her stake in the catalog. A trial is set for February to resolve ongoing disputes.

Meanwhile, you can hear all of Cher's music, including earlier work as Sonny and Cher, on Exclusively Cher on YouRadio.