In 1945, John Paul “Johnny” Sarkisian met Jackie Jean Crouch. Jackie was born in Kensett, Arkansas in 1926. Early on, Jackie’s father recognized that Jackie had singing talent. When she was 7 years old, Jackie began singing on local radio in Arkansas. When she was 10 years old, she sang with Bob Will and his Texas Playboys. In 1938, twelve-year-old Jackie won a statewide talent contest. To give Jackie a better chance than she would have in Arkansas, her father moved them to Los Angeles, California where Jackie enrolled in drama school. “I was born Jackie Jean Crouch,” she said, “and I thought it was a cute name until I came to California, and they called me a dumb Okie.” Tiring of the snide comments, Jackie adopted the stage name Georgia Pelham in honor of a deceased friend.

On June 22, 1945, Georgia married Johnny in Reno, Nevada. Both were 19 years old. Some sources said they broke up the following day, then got back together, then broke up again. It seems to have been a pattern for their relationship. During one of their times together, Georgia became pregnant. She and Johnny had decided to have an abortion. Nearing the point of no return, Georgia changed her mind in the clinic just minutes before the operation. On May 20, 1946, Georgia gave birth to a healthy baby girl they named Cherilyn because Lana Turner, her idol, had named her daughter Cheryl. Georgia and Johnny’s relationship ended for good soon after their daughter was born. Georgia said later, “I worked in an all-night diner from 7 at night until 7 in the morning for $3. Then I got a singing job in a bar and grill, a real dump, but in 1946 it paid $75 a week. That was a lot.”

In August 1947, Georgia, then a 21-year-old divorcee, was among the 32 entrants in the JamboReno Beauty Contest in Reno, Nevada. Out of the 32 contestants, Hollywood beauty contest specialist Earl Carroll crowned Georgia the winner of the contest and presented her with a $750 cash prize. Georgia then got several acting jobs in television commercials. In 1949, Georgia was one of three winners of the Jack Carson scholarship which allowed her to continue studying at Ben Bard’s drama school. Actor Jack Carson received top billing in “Romance on the High Seas,” a film which also starred Doris Day. He received second billing behind Cary Grant on Frank Capra’s “Arsenic and Old Lace.” He starred in over 130 productions from the 1930s to the 1960s. Jack Carson began his acting career by studying with Ben Bard. To show his appreciation, Jack Carson sponsored scholarship awards for up-and-coming actors and actresses to study under Ben Bard.

In April 1949, 15 candidates including Georgia Pelham entered the 8th annual Los Angeles Holiday on Wings” beauty contest, and Georgia won the competition. In 1950, Georgia auditioned for a part in the John Huston film “The Asphalt Jungle.” Georgia charmed her way through the audition and got the part. Well, that’s what they told her anyway. Georgia learned later that another newcomer got the part. Like Georgia, whose real middle name was Jean, the part went to another actress whose real middle name was Jean. Norma Jean Baker. You know… Marilyn Monroe. In that same year, Georgia appeared in her first film, “A Life of Her Own.” By 1952, she had had small, uncredited roles in five films. In 1955, she appeared in an episode of “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.” She appeared in the “I Love Lucy” episode “Lucy Gets a Paris Gown.” She acted in several other small roles, but she just never broke through in Hollywood. Georgia’s personal life was difficult as well. In addition to Johnny, Georgia was married to at least five other men, and, with John Southall, had a daughter they named Georganne. In 1961, Georgia married Gilbert Hartmann LaPiere. Soon after their marriage, Gilbert legally adopted Georgia’s two daughters and their last names legally became LaPiere.

In 1962, Georgia’s 16-year-old daughter dropped out of school and left home. Cherilyn had wanted to be famous since her childhood, but she felt that she was unattractive and untalented. She said later, “I couldn’t think of anything that I could do. I didn’t think I’d be a singer or dancer. I just thought, well, I’ll be famous. That was my goal.” After leaving home, Cherilyn danced in small clubs on Hollywood’s Sunset Strip and took acting classes. She introduced herself to anyone she could to get a break. In November of that year, she got a big break and became… a housekeeper. She became the housekeeper for…Sonny Bono. You know Cherilyn Sarkisian LaPiere as Cher. Can you imagine if Georgia had gone through with the abortion?