Showtune Sunday: See Carol Channing and Pearl Bailey team up and belt out a few tunes!

Last week I was at an event where both my friend Harlan Boll and his longtime client Carol Channing were among those being honored.

I was seated not very far away from where Miss Channing was sitting and I was just astonished by the vigor of this woman who is about to be 90! She gave a funny and moving speech and sung for us and was a delight.

She was, of course, the original Dolly Levi in the first Broadway production of Hello Dolly and she won a Tony Award for her performance. While Miss Channing spent more time in the role than anyone else (including two revivals and a national tour), she was not the only Dolly on stage.

Pearl Bailey headlined a national tour of an all-black version of the musical that was so successful that it made it to Broadway and played to sold out houses.

Broadway’s two most famous Dollys teamed up for a television special and here is one of their medleys:

Bonus Video: Miss Channing singing Before the Parade Passes By at the Tony Awards: