Cher’s Son Elijah Blue Allman Rushed to Hospital, Estranged Wife Reacts (Exclusive)

Cher‘s son Elijah Blue Allman has been hospitalized for “acting erratically,” authorities said.

Elijah — the 48-year-old son of the “Believe” singer, 79, and the late Gregg Allman — was rushed to a hospital on Saturday, June 14, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department (SBCSD). TMZ was first to report the news.

“Deputies from our Morongo Basin Station responded to a residence in Landers for a male subject acting erratically. When deputies arrived, Elijah Allman, 48, was being evaluated by emergency medical personnel,” authorities said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE. “Deputies located drugs inside the home and Allman was transported to the hospital. The investigation is ongoing.”

Legal representatives for Elijah, as well as a representative for Cher, did not respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment on Sunday, June 15.

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In an exclusive statement to PEOPLE, Elijah’s estranged wife, Marieangela King Allman, expressed her support.

“While it is true that Elijah has faced personal challenges in the past, one constant has been his unwavering commitment to sobriety and his loyalty to those he loves,” she said.

“Like many, he continues to confront his inner struggles — but it is important to recognize that he does so from a place of strength, not defeat,” Marieangela continued. “Despite the assumptions that often color how his journey is portrayed, the reality is that Elijah remains grounded, focused and deeply committed to living with integrity and purpose.”

“I want to state, without hesitation, that I will always root for him,” she added. “My support is steadfast and comes from a place of deep respect for the person he is and the resilience he continues to show.”

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Cher welcomed Elijah, her youngest son, in 1976 with her then-husband Allman of The Allman Brothers Band. Elijah is the couple’s only child.

Elijah was the second child for Cher. He joined his older sibling, Chaz Bono, who was born in 1969 to the star and her then-husband Sonny Bono. Elijah also has four siblings on his father’s side: Devon, Layla, Michael and Delilah.

A musician in his own right, who is professionally known as P. Exeter Blue, Elijah is one of the founding members of the metal band Deadsy. 

“He’s a really smart, really talented, really strange person,” Cher told Entertainment Weekly in 1999 of Elijah. “He marches to his own drummer more than any person I’ve ever met.”

Elijah’s hospital stay comes amid a tumultuous past few years for the star.

In December 2023, Cher filed for a temporary conservatorship over her son’s estate due to Elijah’s alleged substance abuse and declining mental health. She and Elijah eventually reached a private agreement, and Cher voluntarily dismissed her petition for conservatorship in September 2024.

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Prior to that, Elijah’s estranged wife made allegations of Cher hiring four men to kidnap him. The accusations became public as part of the former pair’s divorce proceedings, but Cher responded to the allegations, telling PEOPLE, “That rumor is not true,” and declining to comment further.

Cher and Elijah have openly discussed the complicated nature of their mother-son relationship over the years. “He and I have such a bizarre relationship. We’ve had so many strange moments. I don’t really understand him. Somehow, Elijah and I kind of talk through osmosis,” the singer said while appearing on Dr. Phil in 2004.

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.