Leave it to Cher to deliver blunt honesty wrapped in humor — and a little heart.
During a recent appearance on Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert podcast, the music icon didn’t shy away from sharing her candid thoughts about Shepard’s marriage to Kristen Bell — including the belief that Bell might deserve better.
The conversation unfolded playfully, with Dax, 51, acknowledging Cher’s long-standing skepticism.
“Who would be your dream partner for her?” Dax asked Cher. “Cause I know you think she could be better, and I don’t disagree.”
Cher, 79, didn’t name an alternative partner, but softened her stance with trust and respect. “The truth is, I trust her. So you must have something that I don’t see.”
Cher and Kristen first met on the set of the 2010 musical Burlesque, where they quickly bonded. At the time, Kristen and Dax were already engaged, eventually marrying in 2013. The couple now share daughters Lincoln, 12, and Delta, 11.
Reflecting on their early connection, Cher shared: “We got along so well, and we were very sympatico, and I respected her a lot,” she recalled. “I didn’t know who she was, but she was good.”
Dax took the opportunity to plead his case, emphasizing the one trait he believes should earn Cher’s approval: “I’ll tell you the thing that you should like about me. I’m not threatened by her shining. Love it. The shinier she gets, the better.”
That sentiment resonated with Cher, who noted similarities to her own relationship with longtime boyfriend Alexander “AE” Edwards. “Alexander is that way too. The more I shine, the more he has won.”
Kristen chimed in with a phrase that perfectly captured the dynamic:
“Guys who polish you so you shine more.”
By the end of the exchange, the conversation shifted from skepticism to mutual admiration.
“I adore you, and I understand nobody’s good enough for her,” Dax told Cher.
Kristen responded with warmth, calling Dax “almost too good for me,” and referring to him as a “slow burn.”
Cher closed things out with an unexpected endorsement:
“You seem like a good dad.”
Kristen quickly added that he is “the best dad there ever was.”
To which Dax joked:
“I put on a good show when the guests are here… That was the first hug I’d given my daughter in two years. Just because you were here. I wanted to impress you.”
It was classic Cher — honest, funny, and oddly heartwarming.
