Georgia Holt has died at the age of 96, according to Deadline. She was an established actress, singer, and model, but was known by most as the mother of the Goddess of Pop, Cher.
Holt was born in Kensett, Arkansas in 1926. Before making it to Hollywood, Holt won several beauty competitions and worked in modeling. Her most notable acting credits are in TV shows The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (1955) and I Love Lucy (1956). She made small appearances in films such as A Life of Her Own (1950), Grounds for Marriage (1951), and Father’s Little Dividend (1951). She also appeared in talk shows by Dinah Shore, Merv Griffin, and Mike Douglas.
Holt began singing as a child and, via The Hollywood Reporter, sang with American Western Swing artist Bob Wills and his band, the Texas Playboys, at age ten. In 1980, Holt recorded her first and only album titled Honky Tonk Woman, signed with Columbia Records, which included members of Elvis Presley’s band and a duet with Cher called “I’m Just Your Yesterday.” The album was only released in 2013, however, with edits by musical director Paul Mirkovich (The Voice), after Holt discovered the tapes in her garage.
In 2013, Cher and Holt released a documentary on Lifetime named Dear Mom, Love Cher. In 2014, Holt and her grandson Chaz Bono guest judged RuPaul’s Drag Race on LogoTV.
Holt was married seven times and had two daughters.
Cher confirmed her mother’s passing in a tweet on Twitter, citing “Mom is gone.”
No cause of death has been reported, although Holt was hospitalized earlier this year with a case of pneumonia. No memorial plans have been announced as of today.