Holt was born Jackie Jean Crouch on June 9, 1926 in [[Kensett, Arkansas]] to Lynda Inez (née Gulley; February 8, 1913 – May 13, 20091913–2009) and Roy Malloy Crouch (July 17, 1905 – June 18, 19691905–1969). Mr. Crouch was a baker at the time. Holt said she was of English, German, Irish, French, Dutch, and [[Cherokee]] descent. Frequently moving back and forth between her separated parents, Holt estimated that she attended 17 [[Middle school|junior high schoolschools]]s. Her father taught her how to sing and play guitar.<ref name="Yahoo! TV First Look">{{cite news|last=Woo|first=Kelly|title=First Look at Cher With Her Mom in Lifetime Documentary|url=https://tv.yahoo.com/news/first-look-at-cher-with-her-mom-in-lifetime-documentary--photo--183457865.html|accessdate=May 1, 2013|newspaper=Yahoo! TV|date=April 2, 2013}}</ref><ref name="Advocate Watch Cher and her Mother">{{cite news|last=Peeples|first=Jase|title=Watch: Cher and Her Mother Sing on Ellen|url=http://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/television/2013/05/01/watch-cher-and-her-mother-sing-ellen|accessdate=May 1, 2013|newspaper=The Advocate|date=May 1, 2013}}</ref><ref name="People Seven Failed Marriages">{{cite news |last=Kalter |first=Suzy |date=August 7, 1978 |title=After Seven Failed Marriages, Cher's Ma (Chastity's Grandma) Takes Her Own Star Turn |newspaper=People |url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20071447,00.html |url-status=dead |accessdate=May 1, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607141704/https://people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20071447,00.html |archive-date=7 June 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aaanativearts.com/the-controversy-of-cher-s-heritage|title=The Controversy of Cher's Heritage|date=September 28, 2015|website=AAA Native Arts}}</ref><ref name=":0" /><ref name="People Seven Failed Marriages"/>
