An authoritative portrait of the iconic Broadway star traces her Queens childhood through her sensational three-decade career, offering insight into her larger-than-life personality, her relationships with fellow celebrities, and her secret struggles with loneliness and vulnerability. Reprint.

Kellow, Brian

Penguin Publishing Group

Ladybird Books Ltd

Penguin Books Ltd

United Kingdom and Ireland, United Kingdom

Penguin Random House LLC, [N.p.], 2007

Illustrated, 2008

New York, 2007

New York, 2008

A biography equal to the outsized personality of one of Broadway's best-loved starsFrom her breakout rendition of George Gershwin's "I Got Rhythm" in 1930 to her triumphant performance as Gypsy's Mama Rose in 1959, Ethel Merman defined Broadway stardom for two generations of music lovers. Merman's singing voice—brassy, penetrating, and undeniably American—has transcended genre and era to become a cultural icon. As an entertainer she burned with unstoppable energy. Offstage she was the original diva, a woman who knew what she wanted and brooked no interference. Her spats and frequently off-color zingers have become part of theater lore.In this entertaining and authoritative biography, Brian Kellow traces Merman's life from her childhood in Queens, New York, through her three decades at the peak of Broadway celebrity. In an era dominated by outsized personalities and egos, none was more vibrant and powerful than Merman's, yet beneath the tough-dame image was an enormously vulnerable and often lonely woman. Kellow's book, which includes recollections from more than 120 of Merman's friends, colleagues, and family members, stands as the definitive biography and an affectionate portrait of an unforgettable star. Fans of Broadway history and of the great Ethel Merman will find Kellow's biography an irresistible read.

“Kellow's chronology is dishy and seamless; he understands the dynamics of the theater world and makes you feel the exhilaration of an evolving hit and the frustrations inherent in working with a performer like Merman.”—The New York Times Book Review “[Kellow] has painted a vivid portrait of a Broadway diva who shone brighter and sang louder than anyone else.”—The Washington Post BookWorldMore than twenty years after her death, Ethel Merman continues to set the standard for American musical theater. The stories about the supremely talented, famously strong-willed, fearsomely blunt, and terrifyingly exacting woman are stuff of legend. But who was Ethel Agnes Zimmermann, really? Brian Kellow's definitive biography of the great Merman is superb, and the first account to examine both the artist and the woman with as much critical rigor as empathy. Through dozens of interviews with her colleagues, friends, and family members, Kellow (author of Can I Go Now?: The Life of Sue Mengers, Hollywood's First Superagent) traces the arc of her life and her thirty-year singing career to reveal many surprising facts about Broadway's biggest star.

A biography equal to the outsized personality of one of Broadway's best-loved stars. From her breakout rendition of "I Got Rhythm" in 1930 to her triumphant performance as Gypsy's Mama Rose in 1959, Ethel Merman defined Broadway stardom for two generations of music lovers. Merman's singing voice--brassy, penetrating, and undeniably American--has transcended genre and era to become a cultural icon. As an entertainer she burned with unstoppable energy; offstage she was the original diva, a woman who knew what she wanted and brooked no interference. Her spats and zingers have become part of theater lore. In an era dominated by outsized personalities and egos, none was more vibrant and powerful than Merman's, yet beneath the tough-dame image was an enormously vulnerable and often lonely woman. Kellow's book, which includes recollections from Merman's friends, colleagues, and family members, stands as the definitive biography and an affectionate portrait of an unforgettable star.--From publisher description

<p>More than twenty years after her death, Ethel Merman continues to set the standard for American musical theater. The stories about the supremely talented, famously strong-willed, fearsomely blunt, and terrifyingly exacting woman are stuff of legend. But who was Ethel Agnes Zimmermann, really? Brian Kellow’s definitive biography of the great Merman is superb, and the first account to examine both the artist and the woman with as much critical rigor as empathy. Through dozens of interviews with her colleagues, friends, and family members, Kellow traces the arc of her life and her thirty-year singing career to reveal many surprising facts about Broadway’s biggest star.</p>

2025-10-05