‘I would have gone out with him for his vote’

Cher’s famous relationships are almost as iconic as her career in the entertainment industry, and both topics are covered extensively her just-released book, “Cher: The Memoir, Part One.” But there is one man she “would have, could have, should have” taken a chance on and didn’t.

During a conversation about her new book with friend and former NBC News correspondent Harry Smith Nov. 20 at Temple Emanu-El in New York, Cher answered a question that Smith threw out there “just for fun.”

“Are there men in your life,” Smith began, “was there ever a man, and this is not in the book—it’s just for fun—a man that you said ‘would have, could have, should’ have ?”

The crowd sighed and the singer replied, “Michael McDonald.”

“I would have gone out with him for his vote,” she continued. “If he would just sing to me, I would just love it.”

Cher also recalled that the Doobie Brothers musician was once on the road with her and that she did background vocals just to be on the same stage with him.

“Why do you think men always fall in love with you?” Smith asked.

“How can you not?” someone in the audience said.

“Look at her!” another screamed.

Cher was married to Sonny Bono until the two divorced in 1975, and she tied the knot with Gregg Allman days after her first divorce was finalized. The two also had their fair share of problems, including Allman’s battle with addiction, and divorced a few years after their wedding. She also dated music executive David Geffen and Kiss rocker Gene Simmons. She reflects on all the relationships in her memoir.

Recently, she has been linked with music director Alexander “AE” Edwards.

In response to Smith’s question, Cher was a little shy.

“Should I just say all this? It sounds so—” she began, “because I’m a really good girlfriend and I’ve learned how to do this.”

The 78-year-old also described himself as “really funny” and “sweet”.

“I’m monogamous,” she added. “And I know that if I look at a man while I’m with my girlfriend, it’s over, because I don’t look at men. I don’t see men. If I’m with someone I love, the moment I see a boy, I’m like, “OK, bye!” But no, I’m a really good girlfriend.”

That habit is one that was instilled in Cher early on, as detailed in her memoirs, when she writes several times about Bono not allowing her to interact with other men. In one instance, she recalled when he burned her tennis clothes after finding out from a friend that she went to a party after one of her tennis lessons and was seen talking to some men.

“I was so mad about it,” Cher said as she told the story to Smith.

As she grapples with the decision to leave Bono, Cher called friend Lucille Ballwho divorced her famous husband and television partner, Desi Arnaz, for advice.

In her book, Cher wrote: “I told her, ‘Lucy, I want to leave Sonny, and you’re the only one I know who’s ever been in the same situation. What am I going to do?'”

The singer said Ball replied, “F—him, you’re the one with the talent.”

Cher also shared another fun tidbit with fans during her book talk about Ball.

“I’m going to tell you something that’s really embarrassing, though,” the “Believe” singer told Smith.

She explained that because she is dyslexic, she does not know her address or phone number.

“If people want to find me, they will,” she said.

“I have my cell phone. If I want to know what my phone number is, I just click on ‘Lucille Ball.’ That’s my name,” she revealed.

“It’s not in the book,” Smith said. “These are good things.”

This article was originally published on TODAY.com