From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Barbra Streisand made an impact.
Barbra Streisand is a highly accomplished American entertainer whose career has spanned over six decades. She excels as a singer, actress, songwriter, producer, and director. Notably, she's the first artist to achieve the coveted EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) award status, signifying her widespread success and recognition across various entertainment mediums.
In 1954 the musical "House of Flowers" premiered, including the song "A Sleepin' Bee", which Barbra Streisand drew inspiration from.
During the summer of 1957, Barbra Streisand landed her first stage experience as a walk-on at the Playhouse in Malden Bridge, New York, followed by roles in "Picnic" and "Desk Set".
In January 1959, at age 16, Barbra Streisand graduated from Erasmus Hall High School and set out to pursue roles on the New York City stage, against her mother's wishes.
In September 1960, Barbra Streisand had her first professional engagement at the Bon Soir nightclub, earning $125 a week as the opening act for comedian Phyllis Diller.
In early 1960, Barbra Streisand worked as an usher at the Lunt-Fontanne Theater for "The Sound of Music." During the play's run, she auditioned for the casting director, marking her first singing audition for a job.
In April 1961, Barbra Streisand made her first television appearance on "The Tonight Show" during an episode hosted by Orson Bean, where she sang Harold Arlen's "A Sleepin' Bee".
In 1961, Barbra Streisand participated in activities with the anti-nuclear group Women Strike for Peace.
Later in 1961, Barbra Streisand became a semi-regular on PM East/PM West, a talk/variety series hosted by Mike Wallace and Joyce Davidson.
On March 22, 1962, Barbra Streisand's show "I Can Get It for You Wholesale" opened at the Shubert Theater, receiving rave reviews. She fell in love with Elliott Gould during rehearsals. She received a Tony Award nomination and New York Drama Critic's prize for Best Supporting Actress.
In May 1962, Barbra Streisand appeared on "The Garry Moore Show", where she sang "Happy Days Are Here Again" for the first time. This sad, slow version became her signature song during this early phase of her career.
In December 1962, Barbra Streisand made her first appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show". Liberace, who was also performing, became an instant fan and invited her to perform as his opening act in Las Vegas.
In 1962, Barbra Streisand appeared on "The Tonight Show" multiple times, becoming a favorite of Johnny Carson and his television audience.
In 1962, Barbra Streisand participated in activities with the anti-nuclear group Women Strike for Peace.
In early 1962, Barbra Streisand participated in the cast recording of "I Can Get It for You Wholesale" and a 25th-anniversary studio recording of "Pins and Needles".
In 1963, Barbra Streisand appeared on "The Tonight Show" multiple times, becoming a favorite of Johnny Carson and his television audience.
In 1963, Barbra Streisand released her debut album "The Barbra Streisand Album" with Columbia Records, which won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year.
In 1964, Barbra Streisand returned to Broadway with an acclaimed performance as Fanny Brice in "Funny Girl" at the Winter Garden Theatre. She was nominated for a Tony Award.
In 1964, Barbra Streisand topped the US Billboard 200 chart with her album 'People'.
In 1964, Barbra Streisand was presented with the Distinguished Merit Award by Mademoiselle.
In 1965, Barbra Streisand debuted her first solo television special as part of a series of four, marking an expansion of her career into television.
In 1965, Barbra Streisand was selected as Miss Ziegfeld.
In 1966, Barbra Streisand reprised her role in 'Funny Girl' at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London's West End, achieving similar success to its original run.
In July 1968, Barbra Streisand, along with Harry Belafonte and others, performed at the Hollywood Bowl in a fundraising concert to benefit the poor, sponsored by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
In 1968, Barbra Streisand received the Israel Freedom Medal, the highest civilian award of Israel.
In 1968, Barbra Streisand starred in the critically acclaimed film "Funny Girl", winning the Academy Award for Best Actress at the 41st Academy Awards.
In 1968, Barbra Streisand won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in "Funny Girl", marking a significant milestone in her acting career.
In 1968, Barbra Streisand's television special, 'My Name is Barbra', won an Emmy Award, recognizing her achievements in television.
From 1969 to 1972, Barbra Streisand had performances in a Las Vegas nightclub.
In 1969, Barbra Streisand began to experiment with more contemporary musical material in her albums, moving away from her earlier medley-filled keepsakes.
In 1969, Barbra Streisand starred in the musical film "Hello, Dolly!", gaining additional fame on the big screen.
In 1969, Barbra Streisand was awarded the Pied Piper Award by ASCAP and the Prix De L'Academie Charles Cros.
In 1970, Barbra Streisand received a Special Tony Award, recognizing her as the "Star of the Decade" for her significant contributions to Broadway and the performing arts.
In 1970, Barbra Streisand received an honorary "Star of the Decade" Tony Award.
In 1970, Barbra Streisand was awarded a Special Tony Award in recognition of her significant contributions to Broadway and the theatre community.
In 1971, Barbra Streisand achieved renewed success with the album 'Stoney End', produced by Richard Perry. The title track, 'Stoney End' written by Laura Nyro, became a major hit.
From 1969 to 1972, Barbra Streisand had performances in a Las Vegas nightclub.
In 1972, Barbra Streisand headlined the benefit concert "Four for McGovern" organized by Warren Beatty and Lou Adler in support of anti-war candidate George McGovern's presidential campaign; her performance was later released as the "Live Concert at the Forum" album.
In 1972, Barbra Streisand starred in the screwball comedy "What's Up, Doc?", which added to her fame.
In 1973, Barbra Streisand starred in the romantic drama "The Way We Were".
In 1974, Barbra Streisand topped the US Billboard 200 chart with her album "The Way We Were".
In 1976, Barbra Streisand received the Academy Award for Best Original Song for "Evergreen", becoming the first woman to receive the award. The song was part of the soundtrack of the movie "A Star Is Born".
In 1976, Barbra Streisand was inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame, solidifying her status as a major figure in the entertainment industry.
In 1976, Barbra Streisand won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for writing the love theme from "A Star Is Born", becoming the first woman to be honored as a composer.
In 1978, Barbra Streisand was awarded the Crystal Apple by her hometown City of New York, and Woman of Achievement in the Arts by the Anti-Defamation League.
In 1979, Barbra Streisand released "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)" a duet with Donna Summer. By 2010, it remained the most commercially successful duet.
In 1980, Barbra Streisand released 'Guilty', produced by Barry Gibb. It became her best-selling album to date and featured the hits "Woman in Love", "Guilty", and "What Kind of Fool".
In 1981, it was Barbra Streisand's last time in almost a decade to have a top 10 hit on the Hot 100 until 1996.
In 1983, with the release of "Yentl", Streisand became the first woman to write, produce, direct, and star in a major studio film. The film won an Oscar for Best Original Score and a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture Musical. Streisand also received the Golden Globe Award for Best Director.
In 1984, Barbra Streisand donated the Emanuel Streisand Building for Jewish Studies to the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in memory of her father, an educator and scholar.
In 1984, Barbra Streisand joined Jane Fonda and others to found the Hollywood Women's Political Committee (HWPC), an activist group supporting liberal causes.
In 1984, Barbra Streisand was awarded the Women in Film Crystal Award for outstanding women who have expanded the role of women within the entertainment industry through their endurance and excellence.
In 1985, Barbra Streisand released 'The Broadway Album', marking a return to her musical-theater roots. The album held the No. 1 Billboard position for three weeks and was certified quadruple platinum.
In 1986, Barbra Streisand established The Streisand Foundation, which has contributed over $16 million through nearly 1,000 grants to organizations focused on environment, voter education, civil liberties, women's issues, and nuclear disarmament.
In 1986, Barbra Streisand released the live album 'One Voice', continuing her musical endeavors after the success of 'The Broadway Album'.
In 1986, Barbra Streisand was recognized by Life magazine as one of "Five Hollywood's Most Powerful Women", highlighting her influence and impact in the film industry.
In 1986, the Hollywood Women's Political Committee, which Barbra Streisand helped found, contributed to the Democratic Party taking majority control in the U.S. Senate elections.
In 1988, Barbra Streisand scrapped another album of Broadway songs after being unhappy with the direction of the project, despite recording several cuts for it.
In 1991, Barbra Streisand received Breakthrough Awards for "making films that portray women with serious complexity" at the Women, Men and Media symposium.
In 1991, Barbra Streisand released a four-disc box set titled 'Just for the Record', a compilation spanning her entire career and featuring live performances, greatest hits, rarities, and unreleased material.
In 1991, Streisand produced and directed the film "The Prince of Tides".
In 1992, Barbra Streisand was given the Commitment to Life Award by AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA), the Bill of Rights Award by the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, and the Dorothy Arzner Special Recognition by Women in Film, and the Golden Plate by the Academy of Achievement.
In 1992, Barbra Streisand's concert fundraising events helped propel Bill Clinton into the spotlight and into office, showcasing her involvement in political events.
In 1992, the Hollywood Women's Political Committee helped fund Bill Clinton's presidential election.
In June 1993, Barbra Streisand released 'Back to Broadway', which debuted at No. 1 on the pop charts, though it received mixed reviews compared to its predecessor.
In September 1993, Barbra Streisand announced her first public concert appearances in 27 years, excluding her Las Vegas nightclub performances from 1969 to 1972, marking a significant return to live performances.
In 1994, Barbra Streisand was honored with the Harry Chapin Humanitarian Award from ASCAP.
In the summer of 1994, Barbra Streisand embarked on a multi-city tour, following her New Year's event at the MGM Grand Las Vegas, with tickets selling out in under an hour.
In 1995, Barbra Streisand received the Peabody Award, and was accorded an Honorary Doctorate in Arts and Humanities by Brandeis University.
In 1995, Barbra Streisand spoke at Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government about the role of the artist as citizen, advocating for arts programs and funding.
In 1996, Barbra Streisand released "I Finally Found Someone" as a duet with Bryan Adams. It reached #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was her first significant hit in almost a decade.
In 1996, Barbra Streisand was awarded the Filmmaker of the Year Award for "lifetime achievement in filmmaking" by ShowEast and the Peabody Award.
In 1996, Streisand produced and directed the film "The Mirror Has Two Faces".
Barbra Streisand's album 'Love is the Answer' from 2009 registered her biggest weekly sales since 1997.
In 1997, Barbra Streisand released 'Higher Ground', a collection of songs of an inspirational nature that featured a duet with Céline Dion. The album debuted at No. 1 on the pop charts.
In 1998, Barbra Streisand received the Christopher Award.
In 1998, the Harris Poll identified Barbra Streisand as the "Most Popular Singer Among Adult Americans of All Ages", showcasing her widespread appeal and enduring popularity.
In 1999, Barbra Streisand returned to the concert stage on New Year's Eve, selling out the show in a few hours. By the end of the millennium, she was recognized as the number one female singer in the U.S.
In 1999, Barbra Streisand was named "Top Female Artist of the Century" by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), cementing her legacy as one of the most successful and influential female artists of the 20th century.
On December 31, 1999, Barbra Streisand's show at MGM Grand Garden Arena set the house record and was the highest-grossing concert of all time.
In September 2000, Barbra Streisand had two shows at Madison Square Garden.
In September 2000, ahead of four concerts in Los Angeles and New York, Barbra Streisand announced her retirement from playing public concerts.
In 2000, President Bill Clinton presented Barbra Streisand with the National Medal of Arts, the highest honor specifically given for achievement in the arts.
In 2001, Barbra Streisand received the Library of Congress Living Legend, AFI Life Achievement Award, Liberty and Justice Award from Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, and the Gracie Allen Award, and First Annual Jewish Image Awards.
In 2001, Barbra Streisand released 'Christmas Memories', a collection of holiday songs.
In 2003, Barbra Streisand released 'The Movie Album', featuring famous film themes.
In 2004, Barbra Streisand received a Humanitarian Award from the Human Rights Campaign for her work in civil liberties, including LGBTQ+ rights.
In 2005, Barbra Streisand released 'Guilty Pleasures' (called 'Guilty Too' in the UK), in collaboration with Barry Gibb, as a sequel to their album 'Guilty'.
In February 2006, Barbra Streisand recorded the song "Smile" with Tony Bennett at her Malibu home, marking a collaboration between the two artists.
June 2006 marks the start of the period for which Forbes listed Barbra Streisand as the No. 2-earning female musician until June 2007.
In September 2006, Barbra Streisand and Tony Bennett filmed a live performance of their song "Smile" for the special 'Tony Bennett: An American Classic', directed by Rob Marshall.
On October 9, 2006, Barbra Streisand's show at Madison Square Garden set the third-place record, with her shows in September 2000 holding the first- and second-place records.
On November 20, 2006, Barbra Streisand concluded her 2006 concert tour at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, which had begun on October 4. The tour set box office records and featured Il Divo as special guests.
On November 21, 2006, the 'Tony Bennett: An American Classic' special, featuring Barbra Streisand's duet with Tony Bennett, aired on NBC and was released on DVD.
Barbra Streisand's 2006 North American tour in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
In 2006, Barbra Streisand donated $1 million to the William J. Clinton Foundation in support of former President Bill Clinton's climate change initiative.
In 2006, a collection of performances culled from different stops on Barbra Streisand's tour, 'Live in Concert 2006', debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard 200.
June 2007 marks the end of the period for which Forbes listed Barbra Streisand as the No. 2-earning female musician since June 2006.
In 2007, Barbra Streisand was presented with the Legion of Honour by French President Nicolas Sarkozy and received Kennedy Center Honors from President George W. Bush.
In the summer of 2007, Barbra Streisand performed concerts for the first time in continental Europe. The tour included Zürich, Vienna, Paris, Berlin, Stockholm, Manchester, Celbridge, and London.
In February 2008, Forbes listed Barbra Streisand as the No. 2-earning female musician between June 2006 and June 2007, with earnings of about $60 million.
On November 17, 2008, Barbra Streisand returned to the studio to begin recording her 63rd album, with Diana Krall producing it.
In 2008, Barbra Streisand supported the "No on 8" campaign in an unsuccessful attempt to defeat California Proposition 8, demonstrating her support for LGBT rights.
On September 26, 2009, Barbra Streisand performed a one-night-only show at the Village Vanguard in New York City's Greenwich Village.
On September 29, 2009, Barbra Streisand and Columbia Records released the studio album 'Love is the Answer', produced by Diana Krall.
On October 2, 2009, Barbra Streisand made her British television performance debut with an interview on 'Friday Night with Jonathan Ross' to promote the album 'Love is the Answer'.
In October 2009, Barbra Streisand auctioned 526 items from her art and furniture collection at Julien's Auctions, with all proceeds benefiting her foundation; items included a costume from Funny Lady and a vintage dental cabinet.
In 2009, Barbra Streisand gifted $5 million to endow the Barbra Streisand Women's Cardiovascular Research and Education Program at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center's Women's Heart Center.
In December 2011, Barbra Streisand appeared at a fundraising gala for Israel Defense Forces charities.
In 2011, Barbra Streisand received the Board of Governors Humanitarian Award for her efforts on behalf of women's heart health by Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute and the L'Oréal Paris Legend Award in 18th Elle Magazine Women in Hollywood.
In 2011, Barbra Streisand was honored as MusiCares Person of the Year by the Grammy Foundation, acknowledging her artistic achievements and philanthropic efforts in the music industry.
In 2012, Barbra Streisand criticized new laws requiring photo IDs at the poll, claiming they deprive elderly and minority citizens of their right to vote.
In 2012, Barbra Streisand raised $22 million to support her women's cardiovascular center, bringing her personal contribution to $10 million, and the program was officially named the Barbra Streisand Women's Heart Center.
In 2012, Barbra Streisand received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Women Film Critics Circle.
In 2013, Barbra Streisand was accorded an Honorary Doctorate of Philosophy by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and received the Charlie Chaplin Award for Lifetime Achievement by the Film Society of Lincoln Center.
In 2014, Barbra Streisand was featured on one of eight different New York Magazine covers celebrating the magazine's "100 Years, 100 Songs, 100 Nights: A Century of Pop Music in New York" and received the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) Board of Governors Award and the Sherry Lansing Leadership Award at The Hollywood Reporter's annual Women in Entertainment Breakfast.
In November 2015, President Barack Obama announced that Barbra Streisand would receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award of the United States.
In a 2016 interview with Rosie O'Donnell, Barbra Streisand recalled recording songs on tape with her mother at age 13, calling it her "first moment of inspiration" as an artist.
In June 2020, Barbra Streisand gifted George Floyd's daughter, Gianna Floyd, Disney shares.
In 2020, Barbra Streisand continued her voter rights advocacy by tweeting a link to VoteRiders, a nonprofit that assists citizens with obtaining voter ID.
On September 22, 2022, Barbra Streisand was invited by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to become an ambassador for the UNITED24 platform, focusing on Medical Aid, and she helped raise $240,000 for medical care.
In November 2023, Barbra Streisand praised President Joe Biden, saying "I like Biden. I think he has done a good job. I think he is compassionate, smart, supports the right things."
In 2023, Barbra Streisand held the record for a woman topping the US Billboard 200 chart with 11 albums.
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