Happy Birthday, Cher!

She's a top recording artist, the original cougar (remember "bagel boy" Rob Camilletti?), the mother of a transgender child and an inspiration to drag queens everywhere. Now, she's poking her nose into political commentary and promising a new album. In honor of this unique entertainer, who turns 66 on May 20, here are some things you may not know about her.

She Was Born In A Farming Town

Despite her mega-glitz image, Cher has roots in a gritty town. El Centro, in California’s Imperial Valley, was a big agricultural center at the time she was born.

She's Had Hits For Over Three Decades Cher’s popularity has lasted from 1965 until today. But her last #1 single, “Believe,” came in 1999. However, she's promised a new album later this year, so let's hope it's got some great numbers.

Her Wigs Cost More Than A Motorcycle Maybe it’s because of the approximate cost of $8,000 for each wig, but Cher was pretty upset when one of her hairpieces was stolen from her dressing room while she was performing in 2003. The suspects, caught less than a day later, were overly enthusiastic fans.

She's A Constant Cover Girl Cher’s been on the cover of “People” magazine 25 times, with everyone from Gregg Allman (then her husband) to Gene Simmons of Kiss (he just happened to be on that week).

She Has An Infamous First Name Cher, born Cherilyn Sarkisian, was named after Cheryl Crane (left), Lana Turner’s daughter. As a 14-year-old, Crane fatally stabbed Turner’s boyfriend, Johnny Stompanato. Although the killing shocked Hollywood, it was ruled a justifiable homicide.

She Had Her Own Home-Decor Line In the mid-1990s, Cher branched out from music with a home-design line of her own, called Sanctuary. The goth catalog she sent out, now a collector’s item, specialized in heavy, dark furnishings with an occasional flash of armor. On the cover: Cher herself, channeling Joan of Arc.

Sonny's Death Devastated Her Although Sonny and Cher had been divorced since 1975, his 1998 death in a skiing accident was traumatic for her. The couple, veterans of the music and television scenes, remained friendly after the breakup. Cher told an interviewer, “When Son died, I felt as if I had the wind knocked out of me, and it took a hell of a long time to breathe in again.I lost a huge part of Cher the day that Sonny died.”

She's Proud Of Her Transgender Child Chaz Bono, 43, Cher’s child with Sonny, caused a lot of controversy both after she came out as a lesbian and then, several years later, transitioned to being a male. Although Cher first had a hard time with both issues, she now says publicly, “My child is a wonderful child…Chaz has the most courage of almost anybody I know.”

She Doesn't Like To Take Advice In one of the strangest music-related marriages ever, Cher, the personification of showbiz entertainment, walked down the aisle with country-boy rocker Gregg Allman. The two got into repeated arguments about Cher’s singing style, until she said one day, “Well, enough other f***king people like it, so if you don't like it, f**k you!" The couple had a son, Elijah Blue, but the marriage didn’t last. No surprise there.

She Doesn't Like Mitt Romney Earlier this month, Cher tweeted her contempt of Mitt Romney and his “his right wing racist homophobic women-hating tea bagger masters.” That was too much for Donald Trump. He tweeted that she was a “total loser” and “an average talent who is out of touch with reality.” We beg to differ, Mr. Trump!