For decades, Cher has defied time, expectations, and gravity — and now, at 79, she’s defying something else entirely: judgment. The pop icon has opened up about her 40-year age gap with her boyfriend, 39-year-old music executive Alexander “AE” Edwards, saying she’s long stopped caring what people think about her love life.
“Love doesn’t know math,” she said during a new interview with Vanity Fair. “When we’re together, it doesn’t feel like there’s an age gap. We just connect — we laugh, we talk about everything, we’re equals. I know how it looks to people, but I don’t live my life for their approval.”
The couple, who first made headlines in late 2022 after being spotted holding hands in Los Angeles, have remained one of Hollywood’s most talked-about relationships. AE, a record executive at Def Jam, is best known for his previous relationship with model Amber Rose. But for Cher, who has spent her entire career breaking norms, the public’s fascination with her romance only makes her smile. “It’s funny to me that people still find love shocking,” she said. “I’ve been shocking people since 1965.”
“Love doesn’t know math,” Cher says of her 40-year age gap with Alexander Edwards. @PopBase
The *Believe* singer admitted she was hesitant at first when AE began pursuing her. “I told him straight up, ‘You’re too young for me.’ And he said, ‘If you weren’t Cher, would you say that?’” she recalled with a grin. “He had a point.”
Friends say AE has brought a lightness back into Cher’s life following years of heartbreak and loss. “He makes her laugh every day,” a source told People. “He’s confident but not controlling — she likes that he doesn’t treat her like a legend, just like a woman.”
For Cher, who’s survived the ups and downs of five decades in entertainment — and relationships with everyone from Sonny Bono to Val Kilmer — this new chapter feels refreshingly free. “I’ve dated older men, I’ve dated younger men — the only thing that matters is energy,” she told Rolling Stone. “If you’ve got the same energy, age disappears.”
The pair reportedly met at Paris Fashion Week, introduced by mutual friends. What started as a casual flirtation quickly evolved into something real. “He texted me out of the blue one night and said something like, ‘You’re amazing.’ I thought, ‘Who is this kid?’ But then we started talking. He was funny and kind. He surprised me.”
Cher says she told Alexander Edwards he was “too young,” but he told her: “If you weren’t Cher, would you say that?” @guardian
AE, who’s 39, has spoken about their relationship publicly only a few times, always with admiration. “She’s the GOAT,” he told reporters at the Billboard Awards. “But more than that, she’s the sweetest person I’ve ever met. We just vibe. That’s all there is to it.”
Their connection has sparked both fascination and criticism online. “Cher’s dating a man who wasn’t even born when ‘If I Could Turn Back Time’ came out,” one user joked on X. Others have defended the singer fiercely. “If she’s happy, that’s all that matters,” another wrote. “She’s Cher — she doesn’t owe anyone explanations.”
During her interview, Cher addressed those double standards directly. “When older men date younger women, it’s seen as normal. When an older woman does it, it’s a scandal,” she said bluntly. “I’ve earned the right to date whoever I want.”
Psychologists say relationships with large age gaps can work if the couple shares mutual respect and similar values. “What matters most is emotional compatibility,” relationship expert Dr. Jane Greer explained. “Cher and AE both seem emotionally secure, and that’s what sustains relationships — not age.”
“When you’ve been alive this long, you stop caring what people think. That’s Cher’s superpower.” @itvnews
Those close to the couple say they’ve managed to blend their worlds seamlessly — from late-night studio sessions to quiet nights at home. “She’s still got that wild energy,” one friend told E! News. “He keeps up with her, which not many men can do.”
Despite the criticism, Cher insists she’s never been happier. “I’m not trying to prove anything,” she said. “At this age, I don’t have time to waste on what people think I should or shouldn’t do. I’ve lived too much life for that.”
Her openness about love, aging, and independence has resonated deeply with fans. “She’s rewriting the rules of aging,” said one viral post on Instagram. “Cher isn’t growing old — she’s just growing louder.”
In a world obsessed with youth, Cher’s attitude feels revolutionary. “When you’ve been alive this long, you stop caring what people think,” she told The New York Times. “That’s my superpower. I do what makes me happy. And right now, he does.”
“Love doesn’t know age — it only knows energy.” — Cher @BBCWorld
As she approaches her 80th birthday, Cher shows no signs of slowing down — either in love or life. She’s currently working on new music, set to headline a Las Vegas residency next year, and, according to AE, “still dances like she’s 25.”
Asked how she keeps her youthful spirit, Cher smiled and simply said, “I never stopped believing in love — or in myself.”