Barbra Streisand made history by becoming the first performer to achieve an EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony). Streisand began her career in the early 1960s, gaining fame with her debut album, The Barbra Streisand Album, which won a Grammy Award. She has topped the US Billboard 200 with 11 albums and the Hot 100 with five singles. Join us in this slideshow as we take a deep dive into her transformative impact on multiple industries.
Streisand transitioned to film, winning an Academy Award for Best Actress for Funny Girl. She later became the first woman to write, produce, direct, and star in a major studio film with Yentl.
With over 150 million records sold worldwide, she is one of the best-selling artists of all time and has received numerous accolades, including ten Grammy Awards and two Academy Awards.
Early Independence: At 16, Streisand lived on her own, taking various menial jobs and often sleeping at friends’ homes or carrying an army cot to set up wherever she could.
First Performance: She got her first singing job while working as an usher at the Lunt-Fontanne Theater for The Sound of Music, where she was encouraged to include singing on her résumé.
Name Change: Early in her career, she changed her name from “Barbara” to “Barbra,” reflecting her desire to create a unique identity.
First Professional Engagement: She signed her first professional engagement at the Bon Soir nightclub in 1960, where she opened for comedian Phyllis Diller.
Broadway Breakthrough: Streisand received critical acclaim for her role in I Can Get It for You Wholesale, earning a Tony Award nomination and becoming a significant figure on Broadway at just 20 years old.
Television Appearances: Her television debut was on The Tonight Show in 1961, where she sang “A Sleepin’ Bee,” gaining recognition from prominent figures like Phyllis Diller.
Signature Song: Streisand’s slow rendition of “Happy Days Are Here Again” became her signature song, first performed on The Garry Moore Show in May 1962.
Influence of Record Collection: Her boyfriend, Barry Dennen, introduced her to a vast collection of female singers, which significantly influenced her singing style and helped her develop emotional depth in her performances.
Musical Film Success: Her first four films were adaptations of musicals, including Hello, Dolly! (1969) and On a Clear Day You Can See Forever (1970).
Screwball Comedies: In the 1970s, she starred in several successful screwball comedies, including What’s Up, Doc? (1972) and The Main Event (1979).
Academy Award for Song: Streisand won her second Academy Award for Best Original Song for “Evergreen” from A Star Is Born (1976), in which she also starred.
Top Box Office Star: From 1969 to 1980, Streisand appeared in the Top Ten Money Making Stars Poll ten times, often as the only woman on the list.
Return to Acting: After an eight-year hiatus from film acting, Streisand returned in Meet the Fockers (2004), reprising her role from Meet the Parents.
Through her career, Streisand has been married twice. Her first husband was actor Elliott Gould, whom she married in 1963 and divorced in 1971; they have one son, Jason Gould. She had notable relationships with several high-profile figures, including Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, hairdresser Jon Peters, and tennis champion Andre Agassi.
Streisand’s second husband is actor James Brolin, whom she married in 1998. They do not have children together, but Brolin has three children from previous marriages. Streisand is also a dog lover and famously had her beloved dog Samantha cloned.