From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Barbra Streisand made an impact.
Barbra Streisand is a highly accomplished American entertainer with a career spanning over six decades. Renowned as a singer, actress, songwriter, producer, and director, she has garnered widespread recognition and numerous accolades, including Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony awards. Her versatility and enduring talent have solidified her status as an icon in the entertainment industry.
In 1937, the popular front musical "Pins and Needles" was originated by the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union.
In 1954, "A Sleepin' Bee", a song written by Harold Arlen and Truman Capote for the musical "House of Flowers", gave Barbra Streisand a major inspiration for her singing career and a new acting goal.
During the summer of 1957, Barbra Streisand gained her first stage experience as a walk-on at the Playhouse, in Malden Bridge, New York, later followed by roles in Picnic and Desk Set.
In January 1959, at the age of 16, Barbra Streisand graduated from Erasmus Hall and set out to pursue roles on the New York City stage, despite her mother's disapproval.
In September 1960, Barbra Streisand had her first professional engagement as the opening act for comedian Phyllis Diller at the Bon Soir nightclub, earning $125 a week.
In early 1960, Barbra Streisand took a job as an usher and auditioned for The Sound of Music. Although she was not selected, she was encouraged to include her singing talent on her résumé.
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 Women Strike for Peace, an anti-nuclear group. This marked an early instance of her involvement in political activism.
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, the musical "I Can Get It for You Wholesale", starring Barbra Streisand, opened at the Shubert Theater and received rave reviews. Streisand's performance was highly praised, leading to a Tony Award nomination and the New York Drama Critic's prize for Best Supporting Actress.
In May 1962, Barbra Streisand appeared on The Garry Moore Show and sang "Happy Days Are Here Again" for the first time, establishing it as her signature song.
In December 1962, Barbra Streisand made her first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. Liberace, who was also performing, became a fan and invited her to perform as his opening act in Las Vegas.
In 1962 and 1963, Barbra Streisand made multiple appearances on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show, becoming a favorite of his audience and himself.
In 1962, Barbra Streisand continued her participation in activities with Women Strike for Peace, an anti-nuclear group, demonstrating her early engagement in political and social causes.
In early 1962, Barbra Streisand participated in the cast recording of "I Can Get It for You Wholesale" and the 25th anniversary studio recording of "Pins and Needles", which originated in 1937.
In 1962 and 1963, Barbra Streisand made multiple appearances on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show, becoming a favorite of his audience and himself.
In 1963, Barbra Streisand released her debut studio album, "The Barbra Streisand Album", which later won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year.
In 1964, Barbra Streisand released the album "People", which contributed to her success and platinum certification.
In 1964, Barbra Streisand starred as Fanny Brice in "Funny Girl" at the Winter Garden Theatre on Broadway, introducing her signature songs "People" and "Don't Rain on My Parade." The musical's success led to her appearance on the cover of Time. Streisand was also nominated for a Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical but lost to Carol Channing.
In 1964, Barbra Streisand was presented the Distinguished Merit Award by Mademoiselle, recognizing her achievements early in her career.
In 1965, Barbra Streisand appeared in her first of four solo television specials, "My Name is Barbra."
In 1965, Barbra Streisand was selected as Miss Ziegfeld, an honor that contributed to her rising profile.
In 1966, Barbra Streisand repeated her success with "Funny Girl" in London's West End at the Prince of Wales Theatre.
In 1967, a biography and concert program explained that Barbra Streisand's unique spelling of her first name was a form of rebellion against advisors suggesting she change her last name. She chose to drop an 'a' from 'Barbara' instead to maintain a connection to her original name while achieving uniqueness.
In July 1968, Barbra Streisand, along with Harry Belafonte and others, performed at the Hollywood Bowl in a fundraising concert. The concert was sponsored by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference to benefit the poor.
From 1965 to 1968, Barbra Streisand appeared in four solo television specials, including the Emmy Award–winning "My Name is Barbra" in 1968.
In 1968, Barbra Streisand starred in the critically acclaimed film "Funny Girl", for which she won the Academy Award for Best Actress.
In 1968, Barbra Streisand won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in "Funny Girl", marking a major milestone in her acting career.
From 1969 to 1972, Barbra Streisand did Las Vegas nightclub performances.
In 1969, Barbra Streisand achieved further fame with the release of the musical film "Hello, Dolly!".
In 1969, Barbra Streisand was awarded the Pied Piper Award by ASCAP and the Prix De L'Academie Charles Cros, adding to her accolades in the music industry.
Starting in 1969, Barbra Streisand began attempting more contemporary material in her music.
In 1970, Barbra Streisand received a Special Tony Award recognizing her significant contributions to Broadway and the theatre.
In 1970, Barbra Streisand received a Special Tony Award, titled "Star of the Decade," acknowledging her significant contributions to Broadway and theater.
In 1970, Barbra Streisand received an honorary "Star of the Decade" Tony Award.
In 1971, Barbra Streisand gained newfound success with the pop and ballad-oriented Richard Perry-produced album "Stoney End." The title track, written by Laura Nyro, was a major hit for Streisand.
From 1969 to 1972, Barbra Streisand did Las Vegas nightclub performances.
In 1972, Barbra Streisand headlined the benefit concert Four for McGovern, organized by Warren Beatty and Lou Adler, to support the presidential campaign of anti-war candidate George McGovern; her concert recording was released as Live Concert at the Forum.
In 1972, Barbra Streisand starred in the screwball comedy film "What's Up, Doc?".
In 1973, Barbra Streisand starred in the romantic drama film "The Way We Were".
In 1974, Barbra Streisand released the album "The Way We Were", adding to her collection of platinum-certified albums.
In 1976, Barbra Streisand was inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame, marking a significant recognition of her contributions to the entertainment industry.
In 1976, Barbra Streisand won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for "Evergreen", making her the first woman to receive this honor. This further solidified her legacy as a multi-talented artist.
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 title Woman of Achievement in the Arts by the Anti-Defamation League.
In 1979, Barbra Streisand released "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)" with Donna Summer, which as of 2010 is reportedly still the most commercially successful duet.
In 1980, Barbra Streisand released her best-selling effort to date, the Barry Gibb-produced "Guilty." The album contained the hits "Woman in Love," "Guilty," and "What Kind of Fool."
In 1980, Barbra Streisand released the album "Guilty", which became one of her platinum-certified albums.
In 1996, Streisand released "I Finally Found Someone" which was her first top 10 hit on the Hot 100 (and first gold single) since 1981.
In 1983, Barbra Streisand released "Yentl", becoming the first woman to write, produce, direct, and star in a major studio film.
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 other industry figures to establish the Hollywood Women's Political Committee (HWPC), an activist group that advocated for liberal causes.
In 1984, Barbra Streisand was awarded the Women in Film Crystal Award for her endurance and excellence in expanding the role of women within the entertainment industry.
In 1985, Barbra Streisand released "The Broadway Album", asserting creative control and returning to her musical-theater roots, which was unexpectedly successful and critically acclaimed. It held the No. 1 Billboard position for three straight weeks and was certified quadruple platinum. The album featured tunes by Rodgers and Hammerstein, George Gershwin, Jerome Kern, and Stephen Sondheim.
In 1986, Barbra Streisand released the live album "One Voice".
In 1986, Life magazine recognized Barbra Streisand as one of "Five Hollywood's Most Powerful Women," highlighting her influence in the entertainment industry.
In 1986, The Streisand Foundation was established, and has since contributed over $16 million through nearly 1,000 grants to national organizations focused on various causes.
In 1986, the Hollywood Women's Political Committee (HWPC), which Streisand co-founded, contributed to the Democratic Party's gaining majority control in the U.S. Senate elections.
In 1988, Barbra Streisand scrapped another album of Broadway songs due to dissatisfaction with the direction of the project. Only "Warm All Over" and a reworked version of "All I Ask of You" were ever released.
In 1991, Barbra Streisand produced and directed the film "The Prince of Tides".
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, "Just for the Record", a compilation spanning her entire career to date, featuring over 70 tracks of live performances, greatest hits, rarities, and previously unreleased material.
In 1992, Barbra Streisand's concert fundraising events helped propel President Bill Clinton into the spotlight and into office.
In 1992, the Hollywood Women's Political Committee (HWPC), co-founded by Streisand, provided funding for Bill Clinton's presidential election, and also helped elect more women senators.
In June 1993, Barbra Streisand released "Back to Broadway." The album debuted at No. 1 on the pop charts.
In September 1993, Barbra Streisand announced her first public concert appearances in 27 years. This announcement followed a 1992 appearance at an APLA benefit, as well as the aforementioned inaugural performance.
In 1994, Barbra Streisand was honored with the Harry Chapin Humanitarian Award from the ASCAP, recognizing her contributions to humanitarian causes.
In the summer of 1994, Barbra Streisand launched a multi-city concert tour after a two-night New Year's event at the MGM Grand Las Vegas. Ticket prices ranged from US$50 to US$1,500, making Streisand the highest-paid concert performer in history at the time.
In 1995, Barbra Streisand spoke at Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government, advocating for arts programs and funding and discussing the role of the artist as a citizen.
In 1996, Barbra Streisand produced and directed the film "The Mirror Has Two Faces".
In 1996, Barbra Streisand released "I Finally Found Someone" as a duet with Bryan Adams, part of the soundtrack of her movie "The Mirror Has Two Faces", which she also directed. The song reached #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was her first significant hit in almost a decade.
In 1996, Barbra Streisand was awarded Filmmaker of the Year Award for lifetime achievement in filmmaking by ShowEast and another Peabody Award, recognizing her continued success in the film industry.
In 1997, Barbra Streisand released "Higher Ground", a collection of songs of a loosely inspirational nature that also featured a duet with Céline Dion. The album debuted at No. 1 on the pop charts.
In 1997, New York magazine acknowledged Barbra Streisand's fashion sense, noting that she embarked on a surreal, chameleonic, personal fashion quest that single-handedly began the retro revolution in the 1960s.
On September 29, 2009, Streisand and Columbia Records released the studio album Love is the Answer, produced by Diana Krall, which registered her biggest weekly sales since 1997.
In 1998, Barbra Streisand received the Christopher Award, adding to her list of accolades for her work in the arts.
In 1998, a Harris Poll reported that Barbra Streisand was the "Most Popular Singer Among Adult Americans of All Ages," indicating her wide appeal.
In 1999, Barbra Streisand was named "Top Female Artist of the Century" by the Recording Industry Association of America, solidifying her status as a major musical icon.
On New Year's Eve in 1999, Barbra Streisand returned to the concert stage. At the end of the millennium, she was the number one female singer in the U.S.
On December 31, 1999, Barbra Streisand's show at MGM Grand Garden Arena became the house record and highest-grossing concert of all time.
In September 2000, Barbra Streisand held two concerts at Madison Square Garden, the shows set house records.
In September 2000, in advance of four concerts (two each in Los Angeles and New York), Barbra Streisand announced that she was retiring from playing public concerts. Her performance of the song "People" was broadcast on the Internet via America Online.
In 2001, Barbra Streisand released "Christmas Memories", a somber collection of holiday songs.
In 2002, Barbra Streisand was inducted into the Goldmine Hall of Fame, honoring her impact on the music industry.
In 2003, Barbra Streisand released "The Movie Album", featuring famous film themes and backed by a large symphony orchestra.
In 2004, Barbra Streisand received the Humanitarian Award from the Human Rights Campaign for her leadership, vision, and activism in the fight for civil liberties, including religion, race, gender equality, freedom of speech, and gay rights.
In 2005, Barbra Streisand released "Guilty Pleasures" (called "Guilty Too" in the UK), a collaboration with Barry Gibb and a sequel to their "Guilty" album.
In February 2006, Barbra Streisand recorded the song "Smile" alongside Tony Bennett at Streisand's Malibu home. The song is included on Bennett's 80th birthday album, Duets.
From June 2006 and June 2007, Forbes listed Streisand as the No. 2-earning female musician with earnings of about $60 million.
In September 2006, Barbra Streisand and Tony Bennett filmed a live performance of the song "Smile" for Tony Bennett: An American Classic, which was directed by Rob Marshall.
On October 9, 2006, Barbra Streisand's show at Madison Square Garden set the third-place record, with the first- and second-place records held by her two shows in September 2000.
On November 20, 2006, Barbra Streisand's 2006 concert tour concluded at Staples Center in Los Angeles. The tour set box office records.
On November 21, 2006, Tony Bennett: An American Classic, which included a duet by Streisand, aired on NBC and was released on DVD the same day.
In 2006, Barbra Streisand donated $1 million to the William J. Clinton Foundation to support former President Bill Clinton's climate change initiative.
In 2006, Barbra Streisand launched her concert tour to raise money and awareness for multiple issues.
In 2006, Barbra Streisand was honored at Oprah Winfrey's white-tie Legends Ball, celebrating her legendary status and contributions.
From June 2006 and June 2007, Forbes listed Streisand as the No. 2-earning female musician with earnings of about $60 million.
In 2007, Barbra Streisand was inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame, celebrating her musical roots and achievements.
In 2007, Barbra Streisand was ranked as the third most generous celebrity in Parade magazine's Giving Back 30 survey, which estimated her donations at $11 million through The Streisand Foundation.
In the summer of 2007, Barbra Streisand gave concerts for the first time in continental Europe.
In February 2008, Forbes listed 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 what would be her 63rd album, with Diana Krall producing.
In 2008, Barbra Streisand supported LGBT rights by backing the "No on 8" campaign in an unsuccessful attempt to defeat California Proposition 8.
On September 26, 2009, Barbra Streisand performed a one-night-only show at the Village Vanguard in New York City's Greenwich Village. This performance was later released on DVD.
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.
In October 2009, Barbra Streisand sold 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 2009, Barbra Streisand was inducted into the Hit Parade Hall of Fame, recognizing her success in popular music.
In 2010, Barbra Streisand was inducted into both the National Museum of American Jewish History and the California Hall of Fame, celebrating her cultural impact and heritage.
In December 2011, Barbra Streisand appeared at a fundraising gala supporting Israel Defense Forces charities.
In 2011, Barbra Streisand was given the Board of Governors Humanitarian Award by Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute for her efforts on behalf of women's heart health and her other philanthropic activities and received 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, celebrating her artistic achievements in the music industry.
In 2012, Barbra Streisand criticized new laws requiring U.S. citizens to produce photo IDs at the polls, stating they were designed to 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. 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, acknowledging her significant contributions to film.
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, as the only female artist to direct, write, produce, and star in the same major studio film, Yentl, along with a Lifetime Achievement Glamour Awards.
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".
In May 2015, Viking Press announced they anticipated publishing Barbra Streisand's long-awaited memoir in 2017, spanning her entire life and career. However, writing was stalled at various stages.
In 2015, The Daily Telegraph ranked Barbra Streisand as one of the 10 top female singer-songwriters of all time, highlighting her songwriting abilities.
In 2016, Barbra Streisand released "Encore: Movie Partners Sing Broadway", continuing her streak of number-one albums on the US Billboard 200 chart across six decades.
In a 2016 interview with Rosie O'Donnell, Barbra Streisand shared a memory of recording songs on tape with her mother at age 13, which she identified as her "first moment of inspiration" as an artist.
In January 2017, Barbra Streisand participated in the Women's March in Los Angeles, introduced by Rufus Wainwright, where she appeared on stage and delivered a speech.
In 2017, Viking Press had anticipated publishing Barbra Streisand's long-awaited memoir, spanning Streisand's entire life and career. However, the autobiography was not yet released.
In June 2020, Barbra Streisand gifted George Floyd's daughter, Gianna Floyd, shares of Disney stock.
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 Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine, to become an ambassador for the UNITED24 platform, focusing on medical aid and helping to raise $240,000 for medical care.
Upon the release of her book "My Name Is Barbra" on November 7, 2023, Barbra Streisand concluded her BBC interview with the sentiment that she wanted "to have more fun" in life.
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