Mezzo-Soprano (torch singer, pop/musical theatre)
Bette Midler is an American entertainment icon whose uncompromising artistry—spanning Broadway, film, and popular music—has made her one of the most versatile and commanding performers of her generation.
Defining moments and milestones
Bette Midler began her professional career in 1965 with Off-Off-Broadway appearances before joining the Broadway cast of *Fiddler on the Roof* in 1966, where she assumed the role of Tzeitel and remained for three years. She subsequently built a formidable reputation as a recording artist and concert performer, known for her powerful, emotionally nuanced vocals and commanding stage presence, before returning to Broadway in the 1970s with the concert revue *Clams on the Half Shell*. Her career has been defined by an extraordinary range across musical theatre, film, and popular music, culminating in her 2017 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her revival of *Hello, Dolly!*, cementing her status as one of the most accomplished entertainers in American performance history.
Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for *Hello, Dolly!* (2017)
Radford High School, Honolulu (graduated 1963); University of Hawaii at Manoa (drama major, three semesters); Hunter College of the City University of New York
Recordings featuring Bette Midler in the Society index
Additional recordings will appear here as the catalog expands.