Judy Garland

Judy Garland (born Frances Ethel Gumm) was an American singer and actress who became one of the defining entertainers of Hollywood's golden age. A child performer from a vaudeville family, she rose to stardom as a teenager and achieved lasting fame for her role as Dorothy in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, where her rendition of «Over the Rainbow» became one of the most beloved songs in American popular culture.

Garland's rich, expressive alto voice and emotionally direct delivery made her a defining vocal interpreter of the Great American Songbook, excelling equally at buoyant show tunes and aching ballads. She starred in numerous MGM musicals through the 1940s, including Meet Me in St. Louis, which produced standards like «Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas» and «The Trolley Song», and later delivered a career-redefining dramatic performance in A Star Is Born, featuring «The Man That Got Away».

Beyond film, Garland became renowned for her concert performances, particularly her celebrated Carnegie Hall shows, which showcased her power as a live vocalist. Her life was marked by the pressures of early stardom and personal struggles, yet she remains an enduring icon whose influence spans generations of singers and performers, and she is remembered both for her artistry and as a significant gay icon.