Cher Is Back ... Again

Feb. 7, 2008 — -- The quintessential queen of comeback has once again risen like a Phoenix. Singer Cher will open at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas three years after she finished her international farewell tour.

She reportedly is receiving $60 million for her stint, although she initially played coy about her salary in her exclusive interview with Nightline anchor Cynthia McFadden at the superstar's Malibu home Sunday.

"I know it's a lot, but I don't care. If it's a lot, if someone says, 'ooh, it's a lot,' OK. fine. It must be a lot," Cher said.

Cher, who mostly has stayed out of the public eye the last few years, will replace Celine Dion in the city of sin. Among other challenges, she will face the difficulty of topping her profitable and successful last tour.

After four decades of success, Cher has managed to become the only artist to have a hit in each of the last four decades. Still, she worries about money.

"Oh, I always think I'm going to be a bag lady," she said. "When Sonny and I were really famous in the beginning, I remember going out and buying two electric frying pans. He said, 'What are you doing with that?' I went, 'Well I'm just saving one in the box in case.'"

With her commercial and financial success, Cher didn't need the backup pan. She has managed to bag almost every major accolade imaginable. She has Grammys, a Golden Globe and an Oscar.

Even with all her successes, Cher has had difficulties. The gay icon said she suffers from depression.

"When you have depression sometimes you feel like, you know, you're completely alone," Cher said.

For Cher, work eases her depression, which may explain why she keeps coming back for more.

"Work helps me a lot. I enjoy the work, but the work keeps you moving as well. It just keeps you moving, it keeps you around people. You don't get a chance to go, 'Oh, what's life about? You're just doing something. You're being productive."