# Georgia Holt

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American singer-songwriter (1926–2022)

Georgia Holt Georgia Holt in the 1940s Born Jackie Jean Crouch (1926-06-09)June 9, 1926 Kensett, Arkansas, U.S. Died December 10, 2022(2022-12-10) (aged 96) Other name Georgia LaPiere Occupations Singer-songwriter actress model Years active 1932–2014 Spouses John Sarkisian ​ ​ (m. 1945; div. 1947)​ ​ ​ (m. 1965; div. 1966)​ Chris Alcaide ​ ​ (m. 1948; div. 1951)​ John Southall ​ ​ (m. 1951; div. 1955)​ Joseph Harper Collins ​ ​ (m. 1957; div. 1961)​ Gilbert Hartmann LaPiere ​ ​ (m. 1962; div. 1964)​ Hamilton T. Holt ​ ​ (m. 1970; div. 1974)​ Partner Craig Spencer (1976–2022) Children 2, including Cher Relatives Chaz Bono (grandson) Elijah Blue Allman (grandson) Musical career Genres Country Musical artist

**Georgia Holt** (born **Jackie Jean Crouch**; June 9, 1926 – December 10, 2022) was an American singer-songwriter, model, and occasional bit part actress. She was best known for being the mother of [Cher](/source/Cher).

## Early life

Holt was born Jackie Jean Crouch on June 9, 1926, in [Kensett, Arkansas](/source/Kensett%2C_Arkansas), to Lynda Inez (née Gulley; 1913–2009) and Roy Malloy Crouch (1905–1969).[1] Mr. Crouch was a baker at the time. Frequently moving back and forth between her separated parents before settling in Los Angeles,[1] Holt estimated that she attended 17 [junior high schools](/source/Middle_school). Her father taught her how to sing and play guitar.[2][3][4][5][6]

## Career

Holt sang on an [Oklahoma City](/source/Oklahoma_City) radio station when she was six years old, and by the age of 10, had sung with [Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys](/source/Bob_Wills_and_the_Texas_Playboys). She won several talent and beauty competitions[4] and had a number of minor television and film roles in the 1950s. These included [*Watch the Birdie*](/source/Watch_the_Birdie_(1950_film)) (1950), *[Grounds for Marriage](/source/Grounds_for_Marriage)* (1951) and *[Lovely to Look At](/source/Lovely_to_Look_At)* (1952).[7] However, by the mid-1950s, Holt's income was largely derived from working as a club singer.[6]

After Holt performed in a singers' workshop ([Phil Moore](/source/Phil_Moore_(jazz_musician))'s "Get Your Act Together") in July 1978 at [Studio One](/source/Studio_One_(West_Hollywood_Nightclub)) in [Los Angeles](/source/Los_Angeles), [Mike Douglas](/source/Mike_Douglas), [Merv Griffin](/source/Merv_Griffin), and [Dinah Shore](/source/Dinah_Shore) booked Holt to appear on their television talk shows.[4] Holt also appeared as an audience polling member as part of a group of ten mothers of famous celebrities on the American game show *[Card Sharks](/source/Card_Sharks)* on July 4–8, 1988.[8]

Holt was the subject of the 2013 [Lifetime](/source/Lifetime_(TV_network)) documentary *[Dear Mom, Love Cher](/source/Dear_Mom%2C_Love_Cher)*, which was executive produced by her daughter, [Cher](/source/Cher). The same year, Holt also released her album *Honky Tonk Woman*, which was recorded in 1982 with the [TCB Band](/source/TCB_Band). It was Holt's discovery of the tapes which led to the documentary project.[6] The album includes a duet with Cher titled "I'm Just Your Yesterday".[9]

In 2013, Holt and Cher appeared together on *[The Tonight Show with Jay Leno](/source/The_Tonight_Show_with_Jay_Leno)*[10][11] and *[The Ellen DeGeneres Show](/source/The_Ellen_DeGeneres_Show)*[3] to promote the documentary and album.[3]

## Personal life

Holt was married and divorced seven times to six husbands. She married Cher's father, [Armenian-American](/source/Armenian-American) truck driver John Paul Sarkisian,[12] on June 22, 1945 in [Reno, Nevada](/source/Reno%2C_Nevada);[13] they briefly remarried and redivorced about 20 years later. Holt's second husband was actor [Chris Alcaide](/source/Chris_Alcaide).[1] Her third husband was actor John Southall, with whom she had her second child, actress Georganne LaPiere.[14][15] She later wed Joseph Harper Collins,[6] after whom she married Gilbert Hartmann LaPiere, a bank manager who legally adopted Cher and Georganne and changed their surnames to LaPiere.[16] Holt's last marriage was to Hamilton T. Holt, by whose surname she became known.[6]

From 1976 until her death, Holt was in a relationship with Craig Spencer.[17] Holt was 50 and running an antiques shop when she met the then 28-year-old Spencer, who was initially interested in her daughter Georganne.[6]

In the late 1970s, Holt owned and operated a bedding store in [Brentwood, California](/source/Brentwood%2C_California), called Granny's Cabbage Patch. It was paid for by Cher, who noted in her 2024 autobiography that it consistently operated at a financial loss until its closure.

Holt had two grandsons, Cher's children, [Chaz Bono](/source/Chaz_Bono) and [Elijah Blue Allman](/source/Elijah_Blue_Allman).[9]

On December 10, 2022, Cher announced on [Twitter](/source/Twitter) that Holt had died at age 96.[18][19] Holt was survived by Spencer, her daughters and grandchildren.[6]

## Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes Ref 1950 A Life of Her Own Uncredited Movies Watch the Birdie Grandpop's Girl 1951 Grounds for Marriage First Girl 1955 The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet Bride TV episode "David's Engagement" Artists and Models Uncredited Movie 1956 I Love Lucy Jaques Marcel Model TV episode "Lucy Gets a Paris Gown" 1966 The Lucy Show Model TV episode "Lucy and Pat Collins" 1978 Cher... Special Herself Voice only 1979 The Mike Douglas Show TV series 1980 The Merv Griffin Show 1987 Superstars and Their Moms TV movie, also co-executive producer 1999 Behind the Music TV series documentary episode "Cher" 2011 Becoming Chaz TV series 2013 Entertainment Tonight Television infotainment series The Tonight Show with Jay Leno Late night comedy program (NBC-TV) [20] The Ellen DeGeneres Show TV series Good Morning America Morning news program (ABC-TV) Access Hollywood Television infotainment series Dear Mom, Love Cher TV documentary [20] 20/20 Weekly news program (on ABC-TV) 2013 Sunday Morning Herself Weekly news program 2014 RuPaul's Drag Race Herself/Guest Judge Season 6 episode 9; "Queens of Talk" [20]

## Discography

Title Album details Peak chart positions US Country US Heat Honky Tonk Woman Release date: April 30, 2013 43[21] 13[21]

## Bibliography

- Holt, Georgia; Quinn, Phyllis; Russell, Sue (1989). *Star Mothers – The Moms Behind the Celebrities*. New York: St. Martin's Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-312-91540-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-312-91540-3).

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Hendricks_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Hendricks_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Hendricks_1-2) Hendricks, Nancy (December 12, 2022). ["Georgia Holt (1926–2022)"](https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/georgia-holt-12542/). *Encyclopedia of Arkansas*. Central Arkansas Library System. Retrieved September 7, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Woo, Kelly (April 2, 2013). ["First Look at Cher With Her Mom in Lifetime Documentary"](https://tv.yahoo.com/news/first-look-at-cher-with-her-mom-in-lifetime-documentary--photo--183457865.html). *Yahoo! TV*. Retrieved May 1, 2013.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Advocate_Watch_Cher_and_her_Mother_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Advocate_Watch_Cher_and_her_Mother_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Advocate_Watch_Cher_and_her_Mother_3-2) Peeples, Jase (May 1, 2013). ["Watch: Cher and Her Mother Sing on Ellen"](http://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/television/2013/05/01/watch-cher-and-her-mother-sing-ellen). *The Advocate*. Retrieved May 1, 2013.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-People_Seven_Failed_Marriages_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-People_Seven_Failed_Marriages_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-People_Seven_Failed_Marriages_4-2) Kalter, Suzy (August 7, 1978). ["After Seven Failed Marriages, Cher's Ma (Chastity's Grandma) Takes Her Own Star Turn"](https://web.archive.org/web/20130607141704/https://people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20071447,00.html). *People*. Archived from [the original](http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20071447,00.html) on June 7, 2013. Retrieved May 1, 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["The Controversy of Cher's Heritage"](https://www.aaanativearts.com/the-controversy-of-cher-s-heritage). *AAA Native Arts*. September 28, 2015.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_6-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:0_6-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-:0_6-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-:0_6-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-:0_6-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-:0_6-6) ["Georgia Holt, singer, actress and mother of Cher – obituary"](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2022/12/14/georgia-holt-singer-actress-mother-cher-obituary/). *[The Telegraph](/source/The_Daily_Telegraph)*. December 14, 2022. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0307-1235](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0307-1235). Retrieved December 14, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-ci_7-0)** Claesson, Samuel (March 2025). "Georgia Pelham Holt". *Classic Images*. pp. 26–29.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Meet Cher's 93 year old mother, Georgia Holt- Great Video with Cher, Chaz, and Elijah Blue , sister Georgeanne, Allman & Georgia"](https://web.archive.org/web/20221211053017/https://thelifeandtimesofhollywood.com/meet-chers-93-year-old-mother-georgia-holt-great-video-with-cher-chaz-and-elijah-blue-allman-georgia/). *thelifeandtimesofhollywood.com/*. October 5, 2019. Archived from [the original](https://thelifeandtimesofhollywood.com/meet-chers-93-year-old-mother-georgia-holt-great-video-with-cher-chaz-and-elijah-blue-allman-georgia/) on December 11, 2022. Retrieved December 11, 2022.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-EW_Lifetime_documentary_9-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-EW_Lifetime_documentary_9-1) Rice, Lynette (April 1, 2013). ["Cher's family subject of Lifetime documentary"](https://web.archive.org/web/20130404000600/http://insidetv.ew.com/2013/04/01/chers-family-subject-of-lifetime-documentary-exclusive/). *Entertainment Weekly*. Archived from [the original](http://insidetv.ew.com/2013/04/01/chers-family-subject-of-lifetime-documentary-exclusive) on April 4, 2013. Retrieved May 1, 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Yahr, Emily (April 29, 2013). ["TV highlights"](https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/tv-highlights-amanda-knox-sits-for-first-interview-since-release-from-prison/2013/04/29/c2a301b2-a935-11e2-a8e2-5b98cb59187f_story.html). *The Washington Post*. Retrieved May 1, 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Avery, Dan (May 1, 2013). ["Cher Reveals Her Teenage Mugshot On "The Tonight Show""](http://www.newnownext.com/cher-reveals-her-teenage-mugshot-on-the-tonight-show-photo/05/2013/). *NewNowNext*. Retrieved May 1, 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Cher. Biography, news, photos and videos"](https://www.hellomagazine.com/profiles/cher/). *HELLO!*. October 8, 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Licensed To Wed"](https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/701709261). *The Fresno Bee*. June 25, 1945. p. 11.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Cain, Sian (December 12, 2022). ["Georgia Holt, actor, singer and Cher's mother, dies aged 96"](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/dec/12/georgia-holt-actor-singer-and-chers-mother-dies-aged-96). *The Guardian*. Retrieved December 14, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** MyNewsGH (December 11, 2022). ["Georgia Holt Children: Meet Cher and Georganne LaPiere"](https://www.mynewsgh.com/georgia-holt-children-meet-cher-and-georganne-lapiere/). *MyNewsGh*. Retrieved December 3, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["CHER, HER FAMILY SAGA and a mother's love | lady.co.uk"](https://lady.co.uk/cher-her-family-saga-and-mother%E2%80%99s-love). *lady.co.uk*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["Lifetime's 'Dear Mom, Love Cher' has Georgia on its Mind"](http://www.tvworthwatching.com/post/Dear-Mom-Love-Cher-Lifetime.aspx).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** ["Cher confirms her mother Georgia Holt death at 96"](https://www.geo.tv/latest/457967-cher-confirms-her-mother-georgia-holt-death-at-96). *Geo.tv*. December 11, 2022. Retrieved December 12, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** Cher [@cher] (December 11, 2022). ["Mom is gone😔"](https://twitter.com/cher/status/1601804644501508096) ([Tweet](/source/Tweet_(social_media))) – via [Twitter](/source/Twitter).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-tvguide_20-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-tvguide_20-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-tvguide_20-2) ["Georgia Holt"](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/georgia-holt/credits/3000050087/). *TV Guide*.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-denver_05102013_21-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-denver_05102013_21-1) ["Cher's mother Georgia Holt makes chart debut at age 86"](https://www.denverpost.com/2013/05/10/chers-mother-georgia-holt-makes-chart-debut-at-age-86/). *Denver Post*. May 10, 2013. Retrieved December 14, 2022.

## External links

- [Georgia Holt](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4917742/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier))

- [Georgia Holt](https://www.discogs.com/artist/Georgia+Holt) discography at [Discogs](/source/Discogs)

Authority control databases International ISNI National Italy Artists MusicBrainz

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Georgia Holt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_Holt) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_Holt?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.