Bob Mackie, the celebrated fashion and costume designer whose glittering creations helped shape the public images of Cher, Tina Turner, Dolly Parton and generations of entertainers, died Monday at 87.

By yourNEWS Media Newsroom.

Bob Mackie, the legendary costume and fashion designer whose extravagant, instantly recognizable creations became part of Hollywood and music history, died Monday at the age of 87.

His death was announced in a statement posted to his official Instagram account.

“It is with a heavy heart that we share the news that Mr. Bob Mackie passed away today,” the statement read. “He lived his 87 years to the fullest, fulfilling his dream of being a Fashion and Costume Designer, which is all he ever wanted to do.”

“His genius and extraordinary designs will live on forever, continuing to bring beauty into this world,” the statement concluded.

Mackie built a career around spectacle, glamour and theatricality, becoming especially known for designs covered in sequins, beads and feathers and for costumes that often pushed the boundaries of conventional red-carpet and television fashion.

Over decades, his work became closely associated with some of entertainment’s most recognizable performers, including Cher, Carol Burnett, Diana Ross, Dolly Parton and Tina Turner.

His rise began after he started designing for entertainer Mitzi Gaynor and later joined “The Carol Burnett Show,” where he created costumes throughout the variety program’s 11-season run.

That work helped establish Mackie as one of television’s most prominent costume designers and provided a showcase for the highly theatrical approach that would become his signature.

His partnership with Cher became particularly influential.

One of his best-known designs was the dramatic feathered ensemble Cher wore to the 1986 Academy Awards, an outfit that became one of the defining fashion images of her career.

Mackie later reflected on how Cher’s wardrobe choices influenced mainstream fashion during the 1970s.

“Nobody was allowed to even design a halter dress until Cher started wearing them on Sonny & Cher [in the ‘70s], and then all of a sudden they were in everybody’s collection,” Mackie previously told People. “And then girls were showing way more skin than they should have, because Cher was showing more skin than she should have. But she looked good in it.”

His work earned nine Emmy Awards, three Academy Award nominations and a Tony Award for “The Cher Show.”

Although Mackie became synonymous with an earlier era of television variety shows, nightclub glamour and elaborate stage costumes, his designs remained relevant decades later as younger performers rediscovered his archives.

Sabrina Carpenter became one of the most visible recent examples.

At the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards, Carpenter appeared in a sparkling silver-and-white vintage Mackie gown originally created for Madonna’s 1991 Academy Awards performance.

Carpenter has returned to Mackie’s archive for multiple major appearances, helping introduce his work to a new generation of fans.

Before his death, Mackie also acknowledged growing interest from younger performers including Miley Cyrus and Zendaya, who helped renew attention around his archival designs.

That continued demand underscored the longevity of a career built on creating clothes intended not merely to dress performers but to make them unforgettable.

From Cher’s feathered Academy Awards look to the costumes that helped define “The Carol Burnett Show,” Mackie’s designs became inseparable from the performers who wore them.

His death at 87 closes a career that spanned generations of entertainment while leaving behind an archive that continues to influence contemporary music, fashion and red-carpet style.

Original article