Cher Recalls Taking a Stranger's Horse and Hopping a Freight Train at Age 9: 'Could've Gotten Killed'

Mar. 15, 2025

Cher’s always been ready to take a risk — even as a child.During an interview on the Nov. 18 episode ofThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the 78-year-old Goddess of Pop opened up about the history of her “fearlessness” and recalled the time she took a stranger’s horse and hopped a freight train at age 9.“I don’t know exactly where I got my fearlessness from because it was kind of… I don’t know. I didn’t know how to do it any other way,” she said. “But also, when I was 9 years old I took a horse and hopped a freight train.“Cher on ‘The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon’ in November 2024.Todd Owyoung/NBC via GettyCher insisted she “didn’t steal” the horse but rather “borrowed” it. However, she didn’t know the owner. “No, I just rode it to the end of the fences, and then I saw a freight train, and I thought, ‘That’s a good idea,'” she recalled.The “Believe” singer, who was with a friend at the time, “didn’t really know” what was in store upon boarding the train. “Of course, we could’ve gotten killed,” she quipped.“We went to Santa Ana, I think,” said Cher, “and then when it got dark my friend got scared.“Cher in February 2024.Kevin Mazur/GettyNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Realizing the adventure was coming to an end, theMoonstruckstar called her late mom, Georgia Holt, from the train. “My mom thought it was cool,” she explained. “The only thing she was upset about was that I threw my lunch pale away.“Cher opens up about her life and career in her new memoir,Cher: The Memoir: Part One, out now. Elsewhere in theTonight Showinterview, she got candid about the difficulty of writing the book: “It was a bitch.“Cher in October 2024.Kevin Mazur/GettyThe PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!“It’s not going through your life that’s hard so much, but I did it a couple times because the first time it didn’t work out,” she said. “The second time, I just didn’t want to tell anything, and then I thought, ‘You know what? Give back the money.'““It’s hard because when you’re telling your life there’s parts you’d like to guard,” added Cher. “And I just thought, ‘I have to tell everything.'”

Cher’s always been ready to take a risk — even as a child.

During an interview on the Nov. 18 episode ofThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the 78-year-old Goddess of Pop opened up about the history of her “fearlessness” and recalled the time she took a stranger’s horse and hopped a freight train at age 9.

“I don’t know exactly where I got my fearlessness from because it was kind of… I don’t know. I didn’t know how to do it any other way,” she said. “But also, when I was 9 years old I took a horse and hopped a freight train.”

Cher on ‘The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon’ in November 2024.Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty

Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty

Cher insisted she “didn’t steal” the horse but rather “borrowed” it. However, she didn’t know the owner. “No, I just rode it to the end of the fences, and then I saw a freight train, and I thought, ‘That’s a good idea,'” she recalled.

The “Believe” singer, who was with a friend at the time, “didn’t really know” what was in store upon boarding the train. “Of course, we could’ve gotten killed,” she quipped.

“We went to Santa Ana, I think,” said Cher, “and then when it got dark my friend got scared.”

Cher in February 2024.Kevin Mazur/Getty

Kevin Mazur/Getty

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Realizing the adventure was coming to an end, theMoonstruckstar called her late mom, Georgia Holt, from the train. “My mom thought it was cool,” she explained. “The only thing she was upset about was that I threw my lunch pale away.”

Cher opens up about her life and career in her new memoir,Cher: The Memoir: Part One, out now. Elsewhere in theTonight Showinterview, she got candid about the difficulty of writing the book: “It was a bitch.”

Cher in October 2024.Kevin Mazur/Getty

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

“It’s not going through your life that’s hard so much, but I did it a couple times because the first time it didn’t work out,” she said. “The second time, I just didn’t want to tell anything, and then I thought, ‘You know what? Give back the money.'”

“It’s hard because when you’re telling your life there’s parts you’d like to guard,” added Cher. “And I just thought, ‘I have to tell everything.'”

source: people.com