The “Believe” icon opened up about her friendship with Streep in an interview on ‘The Jennifer Hudson Show’

Cher and Meryl Streep’s friendship has been going strong for over 40 years.

During an appearance on Wednesday’s episode of The Jennifer Hudson Show, the 77-year-old “Believe” icon opened up about feeling nervous to meet Streep when they costarred in the 1983 film Silkwood and how working together sparked their strong bond.

“I went to make a movie with her. I was packing my bag, and then I started unpacking it, and my sister kept packing it,” recalled Cher. “I went, ‘I cannot go make a movie with Meryl Streep, OK?'”

Meryl Streep and Cher in Los Angeles in April 2024.KEVIN MAZUR/GETTY

“And then I get to Texas, and a woman comes at me with wide, white hair and a white dress,” added the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee. “She puts her arms around me, and she says, ‘I’m so glad you’re here,’ and it was her.”

Cher elaborated, “From that moment, we were inseparable. We’ve remained friends ever since.”

In the film “Silkwood,” inspired by true events, Streep portrayed Karen Silkwood, a whistleblower and activist in the nuclear industry, with Cher portraying her close friend and roommate, Dolly Pelliker, who was also depicted as a lesbian. The movie, which also starred Kurt Russell, received Oscar nominations for Cher, Streep, and director Mike Nichols.

Meryl Streep and Cher in Los Angeles in February 2024.MONICA SCHIPPER/GETTY

In a 1984 PEOPLE cover story interview, Cher reminisced about the first encounter with Streep on set, saying, “The first day on location, Meryl just came up, threw her arms around me and said, ‘I’m so glad you’re here.’ She’s all communication and warmth and friendship with a great sense of humor.”

Similarly, Streep shared her feelings, stating, “I was already in the mindset of ‘My friend is coming, I have somebody on my side.'”

Cher.SWAN GALLET/WWD VIA GETTY

The duo has continued their collaboration, co-starring in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, where Cher portrayed Ruby Sheridan, the mother of Streep’s character, Donna Sheridan. In an interview with Harper’s Bazaar during the 2018 film’s release, Cher reflected on how their friendship grew after Silkwood.

“We used to go to the movies on Sundays. When I was in New York, I would go to her house every day,” shared the Oscar-winning Moonstruck star.

Cher Reveals Reason Why She Dates Younger Men — and Once Turned Down Elvis Presley

“Men my age or older — well, now they’re all dead,” Cher said on ‘The Jennifer Hudson Show’

During her appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show on Wednesday, May 1, Cher discussed her dating preferences, particularly her relationship with 38-year-old music executive boyfriend, Alexander “AE” Edwards.

Reflecting on why she declined dating Elvis Presley, she explained, “It was because I was nervous and I knew of the people around him and it wasn’t that they were bad people, it’s just that I was kind of nervous of his reputation and I mean…”

“I’m really shy when I’m not working and kind of shy around men,” she added. “And the reason I go out with young men is because men my age or older — well, now they’re all dead — but before they just never, they were always terrified to approach me and younger men were the only ones that…”

“They’re bold,” Hudson, 42, said, to which Cher replied, “Yeah, raised by women like me!”

Cher and Jennifer Hudson on ‘The Jennifer Hudson Show’.

WARNER BROS

Cher was first photographed holding hands with Edwards in November 2022. Confirming the romance, she added “Alexander ❤️”  alongside a photo of him posted on X (formerly known as Twitter).

She was also asked if he was her “new man,” to which she replied with a “🥰” emoji.

Responding to backlash at the time due to their 40-year age gap, she wrote on X that “Love doesn’t know math.”

Alexander “AE” Edwards and Cher at the iHeartRadio Music Awards in Los Angeles in April 2024.GILBERT FLORES/BILLBOARD VIA GETTY

Meanwhile, Cher spoke opened up about her relationship on The Kelly Clarkson Show in December 2022.

“On paper, it’s kind of ridiculous,” she said at the time. “But in real life, we get along great. He’s fabulous. And I don’t give men qualities that they don’t deserve.”