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Happy Birthday to Bette Midler!
She is still so very divine!
Bette Midler, one of the most delicious performers to ever come into out lives, is 64 years young today. It was nearly 40 years ago that she got her start in gay bathhouses with Barry Manilow at the piano.
Since then, she’s won all kinds of Grammys, had all kinds of hair colors, made all kinds of movies both good (The Rose, For the Boys, First Wives Club) and bad (Jinxed, Drowning Mona, Scenes from a Mall) and been outrageous and refined.
Here are some photos of Bette, through the years:
Comments
(All comments are reviewed before being published, and I review submissions several times per day.)
Capita says:
Sorry but I heard Ms Middler say, back when Canada or Massachusetts legalized gay marriage, that she thought she was against it, that she had to ask her gay friends. Some people say she’s changed her mind but I haven’t heard it from her. And hasn’t “paid for her sin” like Our Kathy who expressed similar views but changed her mind and has done a lot since. Anyway, she’s always kind of dismissed her gay following; she’s never been as bad as Barbra but not as welcoming as others. I used to think she just didn’t want to be what’s the word? pigeonholed, caged, encased? Anyway, after that I stopped buying her records, not that she has had many. I also stopped buying BS records but it was due to that awful collaboration with the BeeGees guy after all she hasn’t disowned Jason, has she?
Lori Kane says:
I opened Bette Midler’s “The Showgirl Must Go On” in Vegas…
And I can tell you she knows exactly who her fan-base is n highlights “her Gays, Jews n High-rollers”!
C’mon people! Why spend your energy saying less-than-kind words about artists we love!!??
Jeff says:
While I can appreciate the comment made by Capita, truthfully, if you go back and view Bette’s appearance on Larry King, you’ll see and hear exactly what she meant. Instead of hearing it second hand, passed down from others.
During her interview in the March 4th, 2008 issue of the Advcate she is much more clear about how she feels and she was able to express herself much more precisely. As she mentions, the issue of “gay marriage” is evolving and we’ve grown considerably in our thinking since she was first asked the question. And I think instead of looking at her in a negative way, we need to remind ourselves of everything she’s given us throughout the years. She hasn’t dismissed her gay following but rather she embraces everyone . . . gay or straight. I don’t believe she’s makes a distinction between one or the other. There is a reason why she is NOW called the “People’s Diva.” She is thoughtful of everyone.
If you need a quick brush up on where she stands, visit her website ( which is being redesigned after her Vegas show ) There is an extremely heartfelt message right there on the opening page. If you think she has forgotten those who are gay, or in any way different, then please read those two paragraphs.
Personally, I prefer Bette Midler’s stance on “everything” because it’s always extremely insightful, and she tells it like is! Which I can’t say the same for “Our Kathy” who’s every other word is “gay, gay, gay, gay, gay.” I don’t understand the overuse of the word, or the continual bringing up of the gay community – almost as if, it’s used solely to get your attention. “People are people” and we need to stop labeling one another and when “YOUR Kathy” stands up and says that she’s for everyone – and stops labeling them accordingly, then I might respect her more.
I have followed Miss Midler for over thirty years, I’ve met her, and I’ve flown to the other side of the world to see her ( when she performed in Australia in 2005 ) and I’ve seen her many many times throughout the years and no one will ever come close to capturing the human spirit and my heart as much as she.
I too, WISH HER WONDERFUL and BLESSED BIRTHDAY!
Jeff
Columbus, Nebraska