Quote: "She asked me to come perform in London with her, but I declined. I felt I wasn't ready, I was too young. But Mama didn't take no for an answer. She went ahead and announced the concert to the press. When I saw the announcement... I knew there was no turning back." Late entertainer Judy Garland gave her then-teenage daughter Liza Minnelli little choice about joining her onstage at her classic London Palladium show in England back in 1965. Minnelli recalls the way she was roped into the gig in the new 50th anniversary liner notes for the remastered vinyl reissue of Judy Garland and Liza Minnelli Live at the London Palladium.
Fact: Actress Whoopi Goldberg honoured The Wizard of Oz in her own way at the Oscars on Sunday (02Mar14) by donning her own version of ruby red slippers - glittery red stilleto heels. The Ghost star helped to mark the film's 75th anniversary by leading a round of applause for Judy Garland's children Liza Minnelli, Lorna Luft and Joey Luft, before introducing Pink to the stage to perform the film's beloved theme Somewhere Over the Rainbow.
Fact: Judy Garland's kids are reportedly planning a family reunion at the Oscars on Sunday (02Mar14) to celebrate the 75th anniversary of their mother's classic film The Wizard of Oz. Liza Minnelli, Lorna Luft and Joey Luft will hit the stage at the 86th Academy Awards, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Fact: Judy Garland's song Ding Dong the Witch is Dead, made famous in The Wizard of Oz, has rocketed up the charts on digital retailers iTunes and Amazon in the U.K. as scores of Britons celebrated the death of divisive former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher on Monday (08Apr13). Elvis Costello's Tramp the Dirt Down, a direct criticism of the former Conservative leader, also entered the top 100 downloads on iTunes.
Quote: "She's been great... (She sings) Over The Rainbow, Somewhere Over The Rainbow, it's great." Sir Elton John reveals Lady GaGa loves to sing the classic Judy Garland song to her godson Zachary.
Quote: "I did see the Wizard of Oz in a big theatre. It frightened me. It was like my mother was a little girl and these monkeys flew away with her. I didn't like it, it was spooky." Liza Minnelli hated watching her mum Judy Garland onscreen in the 1939 classic.
Quote: "I'm terrified and I'm insanely honoured... I can't wait to get started." Anne Hathaway on playing Judy Garland onstage and on film.
Quote: "I was a really toe-tappin', tap-dancin' gay toddler. I daydreamed about being in THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT with Judy Garland or a swimming routine with ESTHER WILLIAMS." Singer Rufus Wainwright can trace his gay roots right back to his days as a youngster.
Quote: "I mean, I'm hardly what you'd call a natural performer, a Judy Garland or a Barbra Streisand. To my eyes, awkward is how I look in every music video I've ever made." Singer/songwriter Norah Jones admits she needs more time to hone her screen presence.
Fact: Singer Rufus Wainwright will perform Judy Garland's 1961 album CARNEGIE HALL in its entirety at a London gig in February (07)
Fact: The eagerly-awaited Judy Garland postage stamp will be unveiled at a star-studded extravaganza at New York City's Carnegie Hall this Saturday (11JUN06).
Fact: <p>Australian supermodel Elle Macpherson has signed on to become the new face of Blackglama fur for a reported $500,000 (GBP277,800). Past Blackglama girls have included Judy Garland, Elizabeth Taylor, Marlene Dietrich, Audrey Hepburn and Cher. </p>