Sharon Cuneta was born on January 6, 1966, at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Santa Mesa, Manila to Pablo Cuneta (1911–1999), a former Mayor of Pasay who was the longest-serving mayor in the Philippines from 1951 to 1998, and Elaine Gamboa (1934–2014), the sister of actress and singer Helen Gamboa. Her early years were spent in San Lorenzo Village, Makati and then in their beloved family home in Paraiso Street Dasmariñas Village, Makati.

In January 1978, a wide-eyed, 12-year old Sharon Gamboa Cuneta made her first visit to 782 Aurora Boulevard, which was the address of Vicor Records. Her Uncle and Vice-President of Vicor, Tito Sotto, asked her to record “Tawag Ng Pag-Ibig” which he produced for her at Vicor and shortly after, this newbie singer was on television promoting her own song for the very first time and on the top-rated TV show Discorama hosted by TVJ, no less.

In May 1978, Sharon Cuneta followed up with a song by Rey Valera entitled “Mr. DJ” that became THE Song that started it all for her. Her Producer in Vicor, Tito Sotto, wanted Valera to make a song that would appeal to the Radio DJ’s and convince them to play her record on the air.

In 1980, because of her continued commercial success as a young singer, Cuneta’s boss at the time in Vicor Music, Boss Vic Del Rosario, gave her the golden opportunity to record her very first George Canseco song: “Langis at Tubig.” This became the theme song of the film with same title starring Vilma Santos and directed by Danny Zialcita.

Due to the commercial success of Dear Heart, a sequel was made. Since Sining Silangan didn’t have the means to create an immediate follow up film, Mayor Pablo Cuneta collaborated with Vic Del Rosario and established Viva Films. On November 12, 1981, Viva Films released its first feature film, P.S. I Love You, starring Cuneta and Concepcion. The film was a box office success and was followed by another Sharon-Gabby collaboration, My Only Love (1982).

On September 12, 1984, Cuneta publicly married Concepcion at the Manila Cathedral, eight months after Sharon’s 18th birthday. Their grand wedding ceremony was filmed and later on released as The Best of Sharon & Gabby on October the same year.

Cuneta was also awarded as Best Actress by FAMAS for her performance in the 1984 film Dapat Ka Bang Mahalin and by the Film Academy of the Philippines for Sa Hirap at Ginhawa. In 1986, Cuneta’s string of hit movies continued as she stars on three big blockbuster movies: Nakagapos Na Puso (with Lorna Tolentino), Captain Barbell (where she played a cameo role as Darna) and Sana’y Wala Nang Wakas (with Cherie Gil and Dina Bonnevie), the latter crowning her once again as 1986’s Box Office Queen of RP Movies.

While filming her first feature film Dear Heart (1981), Cuneta began dating her on-screen partner Gabby Concepcion and the two continued co-starring in films like P.S. I Love You (1981) and Dapat Ka Bang Mahalin? (lit. Shall You Be Loved?) (1984). The two married on September 23, 1984 at the Manila Cathedral. Former Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos was among the sponsors. The couple had one child, actress KC Concepcion, born in April 1985. Three years later, in August 1987, Cuneta and Concepcion legally separated, citing irreconcilable differences and bigamy, as Concepcion had already married prior to his marriage with Cuneta. Their marriage was annulled in 1993.

While filming her first feature film Dear Heart (1981), Cuneta began dating her on-screen partner Gabby Concepcion and the two continued co-starring in films like P.S. I Love You (1981) and Dapat Ka Bang Mahalin? (1984). The two married on September 23, 1984 at the Manila Cathedral. Then-President Ferdinand Marcos was among the sponsors. The couple had one child, actress KC Concepcion, born in April 1985. In August 1987, Cuneta and Concepcion legally separated, citing irreconcilable differences and bigamy, as Concepcion had already married prior to his marriage with Cuneta. Their marriage was annulled in 1993.

In 1985, a pet project of the late Mina Aragon-del Rosario, Bituing Walang Ningning was made into a film by Viva Films starring Cuneta, Christopher de Leon and Cherie Gil. Cuneta was then pregnant with KC Concepcion, her first born with Concepcion. The film was released on Valentine’s Day, 1985, and was a box office success, crowning Cuneta once again as 1985’s Box Office Queen of RP Movies and “Bida sa Takilya”, the latter given at the 1986 FAMAS Awards. The moniker “Megastar” was also given to her by the press during that year because of her continuous success in the box office.

Her first solo musical-variety show, The Sharon Cuneta Show, also premiered in September 1986 on IBC, which also went on to be one of the longest running musical-variety shows in Philippine television.

Cuneta also worked with National Artist for Film, Lino Brocka, for the first time via the film Pasan Ko Ang Daigdig. The film did not fare well at the box office; however, it has earned Cuneta another Best Actress nomination from FAMAS. In 1988, Cuneta only did two films, Jack ‘n Jill Sa Amerika and Buy One, Take One, both receiving lukewarm response from the public. Cuneta’s variety show was moved from IBC to ABS-CBN on March 6, 1988.

“Sharon is the first Filipina artist to sell out at the Los Angeles Shrine Auditorium, first in 1988 and again at her latest June 11th, 2005 concert. Her poster is enshrined in The Shrine’s Hall of Fame next to stars Michael Jackson, Barbra Streisand and the Ballet Folklorico de Mexico. She created a traffic jam in the ’90s that puzzled the former Mayor of Los Angeles Tom Bradley. After hearing of her success, the mayor attended the concert and awarded Sharon with an Honorary Key to the City of Los Angeles, says Artistopia.com

“The Sharon Cuneta Show” Also known as TSCS, the Sunday night musical variety show had a two-year run in another network before moving to ABS-CBN on March 6, 1988. It ran until June 15, 1997 and was awarded as Best Musical Variety Show by the PMPC Star Awards for Television in 1993. Sharon Cuneta was also lauded for being the Best Female TV Host by the same award-giving body in 1990 and, consecutively, from 1993 to 1996. TSCS was directed by Bert de Leon.

Cuneta continued touring abroad with “The Sharon Cuneta US Concert Tour ’88” and was given a Plaque of Welcome and Appreciation from Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley at her show at the Los Angeles Shrine Auditorium. In 1989, Cuneta worked with Lino Brocka once again in two movies, 3 Mukha Ng Pag-ibig and Babangon Ako’t Dudurugin Kita, the latter giving her another Best Actress nomination from FAMAS and the Film Academy of the Philippines.

Cuneta’s reign as box-office queen even made stronger when she did films with popular action stars like Fernando Poe Jr. (Kahit Konting Pagtingin-1990) Robin Padilla ,(Maging Sino Ka Man-1991), Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla Jr. (Pangako Sa ‘Yo-1992), Rudy Fernandez (Kung Kailangan Mo Ako-1993) to name a few. All those movies were certified blockbusters, that though she was already elevated to Hall of Fame as Box-Office Queen in 1990, she was crowned again in 1991 through 1993 because of the success of her movies.

Cuneta also reconciled with estranged husband, Gabby Concepcion, in three more films, Bakit Ikaw Pa Rin? (1990), Una Kang Naging Akin (1991) and Tayong Dalawa (1992), the latter giving her a grandslam Best Actress nomination from PMPC Star Awards for Movies, FAMAS, Film Academy of the Philippines and Gawad Urian. Cuneta won a Platinum award in 1992, Double Platinum award in 1991 and 1992, and Triple Platinum award in 1992.

In 1992, Cuneta reunited with former flame, Richard Gomez in the film Ngayon at Kailanman and in 1994 with Kapantay Ay Langit.

In December 1993, Cuneta first met with Atty. Francis Pangilinan, a radio personality.

After Cuneta and Concepcion’s marriage was annulled, Cuneta met politician Francis Pangilinan at her brother’s wedding. The two began dating in 1994 and married on April 28, 1996. In 1997, Cuneta, her daughter KC, and Pangilinan moved to Boston, where Cuneta completed her major in business while her husband finished his post-graduate studies at Harvard University. Together, Cuneta and Pangilinan have two daughters and one adopted son.

After Cuneta and Concepcion’s marriage was annulled, Cuneta met politician Francis Pangilinan at her brother’s wedding. The two began dating in 1994 and married on April 28, 1996. In 1997, Cuneta, her daughter KC, and Pangilinan moved to Boston, where Cuneta completed her major in business while her husband finished his post-graduate studies at Harvard University. Pangilinan has since adopted KC. Aside from KC, Cuneta and Pangilinan have two daughters and one adopted son.

For the first time, in 1996, Cuneta made a film outside her mother studio Viva Films via the film Madrasta from Star Cinema. This film garnered her Best Actress Awards from all major award-giving bodies in the Philippines, hence a Grandslam win for her outstanding performance in the film. Cuneta became one of the few actresses (along with Vilma Santos, Nora Aunor, and Lorna Tolentino) to be given a grand slam best actress award in Philippine Cinema.

In 2000, Cuneta filmed Minsan Minahal Kita alongside Richard Gomez, which earned P10 million on its opening day.

Sharon Cuneta was an “Ulirang Ina” and a Hallmark Channel Woman Achiever awardee in 2001.

In 2002, she was one of the youngest honorees in the “Patnubay ng Sining at Kalinangan (for Cinema)”, given by the City of Manila.

2004 was quite an extraordinary year for Sharon Cuneta. She was named one of the “Philippines’ 15 Best Actresses of All Time” by the Directors’ Guild of the Philippines, Inc. (DGPI)

In December 2004, Sharon Cuneta was the first in her category (“Arts/Movies”) to be awarded the highly prestigious TOYM or “The Outstanding Young Men” award, presented to her by then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Sharon Cuneta was also listed by Asia Inc. Magazine (Asian Business Asian Views) in its 2004 issue as one of the “50 Movers and Shakers in Asia.” Cuneta was one of only four Filipinos who made it to the Honor Roll.

On January 6, 2006, Cuneta returned to television from her maternity leave with a 40th birthday celebration on ABS-CBN’s Ang Pagbabalik Ng Bituin (The Return of the Star). The following month, she came back to her musical talk show, Sharon. After a long rest from filmmaking, she made another film, Caregiver, in 2008, which, according to ABS-CBN, is their most expensive film. In this film, Cuneta played the role of a school teacher working abroad as a caregiver. The film was the fifth highest-grossing film of 2008.

Cuneta is the first recipient of the Myx Magna Award in 2006 as a music icon with an exemplary contribution to Philippine music.

In 2007, the “Sharon” show won Best Entertainment Program by the Catholic Mass Media Awards as well as being “Highly Commended” in the Asian TV Awards.

In 2009, Cuneta starred in BFF: Best Friends Forever with Ai-Ai delas Alas and for the first time in her 30 years, a film with Regal Entertainment via Mano Po 6 (which later on gave her another Best Actress citation at the 2009 Metro Manila Film Festival). On January 12, 2010, coinciding with her annual birthday show, her self-titled magazine Sharon at Home.

“Sharon” on ABS-CBN won for “Best Celebrity Talk Show” from the Gawad Tanglaw Awards in 2009.

Her long-running musical talk show, Sharon, ended on October 3, 2010 and was replaced by a talent show (which she also hosted), Star Power with singers Christian Bautista and Erik Santos as her co-hosts. After Star Power, Cuneta hosted the Philippine franchise of the popular US reality show, The Biggest Loser Pinoy Edition on May 30, 2011, which she co-hosted.

On November 22, 2011, Cuneta left ABS-CBN, her home network of 23 years, and signed a five-year contract with TV5. The contract was rumored to be worth one billion pesos, according to celebrity tweets in microblogging site Twitter, which is the biggest talent fee ever of any local artist in the Philippine showbiz history.

In 2012, Cuneta started her first talk show under her new network, Sharon: Kasama Mo, Kapatid. The show ran for eight months.

In September 2013, Cuneta became a co-host of musical variety talk show The Mega and the Songwriter alongside Ogie Alcasid. Cuneta’s comedy series, Madam chairman, premiered on October 14. It was her first TV series in 35 years. It revolves around a barangay chairwoman and her struggles in dividing her role as a mother and as a public official.

In September 2014, Cuneta announced through Facebook and Twitter that she had pre-terminated her five-year contract with TV5 and was a freelancer. In March 2015, she signed a contract with ABS-CBN, marking her return to her home network of 23 years, saying: “It is overwhelmingly wonderful! There’s really no place like home. I don’t belong to anywhere else, and now I’m back home, safe and sound.” Upon returning, she also announced that her first project in the channel would be as a judge in Your Face Sounds Familiar. In an interview on May 2, 2016 on TV Patrol, she stated that she will serve as one of the three coaches (judges) for the third season of The Voice Kids, replacing Sarah Geronimo who earlier this year confirmed her departure from the show. She also became one of the coaches for the first season of The Voice Teens.

She was the recipient of the OPM Lifetime Achievement Award at the MOR Pinoy Music Awards in 2015.

On April 26, 2015, Cuneta received the Dolphy Lifetime Achievement Award at the 6th Golden Screen Awards.

In 2017, Sharon Cuneta was elevated to the Makabata Hall of Fame of the ANAK TV Awards for being voted as Makabata Stars for seven years.

In 2018, she received the History Maker Award 2018 from A+E Networks Asia which honors extraordinary Filipinos who have had a significant impact on the nation’s life and culture.

Cuneta was the first recipient of the VIVA Icon Award at the Viva Convention in 2019 for her invaluable contribution to television, film, recording and concerts.