Bette Midler Biography (1965- )

Bette Midler’s storied career in showbiz continues as ‘The Showgirl Must Go On’ shines in Las Vegas’ Caesars Palace.

Bette Midler: Biography
Bette Midler was born in Honolulu, Hawaii to a seamstress and a house painter. Bette Midler’s family was the only Jewish family in their mostly Samoan neighborhood. Bette Midler began singing at an early age and after winning a few talent shows it was clear what she was born to do. Bette Midler majored in drama at the University of Hawaii and soon landed the role of a seasick extra for the film Hawaii. After earning enough money from her movie gig, Bette Midler shirked education to move to New York City and pursue a career in entertainment.

Bette Midler: Early Career
At the tender age of 20, Bette Midler relocated to New York City and landed her first professional onstage role in an Off-Off Broadway production called Ms. Nefertiti Regrets and Cinderella Revisited.  After a series of Broadway successes, Bette Midler received a special Tony Award for her role in Clams on the Half Shell Revue at the Palace Theatre.

Bette Midler: Musical Success
After Bette Midler was discovered by legendary Atlantic Records President Ahmet Ertugun, soon Bette Midler had recorded and released her first album which hit No. 9 on Billboard’s Top 200 Charts and went platinum to boot. In 1973, Bette Midler won her first Grammy for Best New Artist.

Instead of releasing another live album, Bette Midler joined forces with longtime acquaintance Barry Manilow for a tribute album titled Bette Midler Sings the Peggy Lee Songbook. Bette Midler Sings the Peggy Lee Songbook is a companion to her other Barry Manilow collaboration Bette Midler sings the Rosemary Clooney Songbook which was released in 2003 and turned out to be one of her best-selling albums in 20 years.

Bette Midler: Showgirl Must Go On
Bette Midler is at it again. Bette Midler’s highly anticipated show, “The Showgirl Must Go On” is in typical Bette Midler fashion: over-the-top and breathtaking. Bette Midler is scheduled to perform approximately 100 shows a year at the Coliseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Bette Midler tickets for “The Showgirl Must Go On” will be on sale for shows five nights a week at 7:30 p.m. Bette Midler said, “I’m really looking forward to the show. I’ve been hoarding feathers and fans and sequins and rhinestones for the last 50 years and, hey, I’m ready to throw ‘em all on stage.”

Bette Midler: Tour List
Bette Midler has completed about 18 tours across the span of 30 years. In 2003-04 Bette Midler toured Kiss My Brass to sell out crowds across the United States. Bette Midler later experienced success with Kiss My Brass Down Under in Australia.

• 1970-72: The Continental Baths Tour
• 1972: Cross Country Tour
• 1973: The Divine Miss M Tour
• 1975: Clams on the Half Shell Revue Tour
• 1975-76: The Depression Tour
• 1977-78: An Intimate Evening with Bette Tour
• 1978: The Rose Live In Concert Tour
• 1978: World Tour
• 1979-80: Bette! Divine Madness Tour
• 1980: Divine Madness - Pasadena Tour
• 1982-83: De Tour
• 1993: Experience The Divine Tour
• 1994: Experience The Divine Again! Tour
• 1996: Diva Las Vegas Tour
• 1999-2000: The Divine Miss Millennium Tour
• 2003-04: Kiss My Brass Tour
• 2005: Kiss My Brass Down Under Tour
• 2008-10: The Show Girl Must Go On Tour in Las Vegas

Bette Midler: Greatest Hits

• “Do You Want to Dance” from the Divine Miss M album
• “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” from the Divine Miss M album
• “In the Mood” from the Bette Midler album
• “Strangers in the Night” from the Songs for the New Depression album
• “When a Man Loves a Woman” from The Rose album
• “The Rose” from The Rose album
• “Beast of Burden” from the No Frills album
• “Under the Boardwalk” from the Beaches soundtrack
• “Wind Beneath My Wings” from the Beaches soundtrack
• “From a Distance” from the Some People’s Lives album
• “In My Life” from the For the Boys soundtrack
• “To Deserve You” from the Bette of Roses album
• “My One True Friend” from the Bathhouse Betty album
• “I’m Beautiful” from the Bathhouse Betty album
• “In These Shoes?” from the Bette album
• “White Christmas” from the Sings the Rosemary Clooney Songbook album
• “Fever” from the Sings the Peggy Lee Songbook album