Liza Minnelli hasn’t been seen much in public in recent years, leading tabloids to speculate that her health is worsening. Because of these stories, Liza Minnelli has been in the news for much of her life and career. But the 72-year-old showgirl, the daughter of Judy Garland and the director of An American in Paris, Vincente Minnelli, is stepping back into the spotlight for an evening of songs and conversation with her longtime friend and musical collaborator Michael Feinstein. The event will happen at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Orange County, California, on Saturday.
The same event was supposed to happen in Las Vegas on March 30, but four days before the show, ticket holders got an email saying that the show was being canceled because “Ms. Minnelli is suffering from an extreme viral infection,” which led to even more rumors. On March 30, the same event was supposed to happen in Las Vegas.
So, what happened?
Because Liza had to stay in the hospital for a few days, the show that was supposed to happen in Las Vegas had to be moved. She was guilty because she cared so much about keeping her good name, even more so in recent years when she didn’t show up very often. Even though she tried hard to go, she couldn’t because of other things.
What is the state of her body?
She is doing great now, and you and I are both very excited about the show. This will be her first time doing something that requires her to show up in a casual setting, sing songs on the spot, and answer questions from the audience. We’re both really happy about this chance.
What song does she plan to sing?
She said the other day that she would like to perform her “chair tunes.” She usually has a part in her show where she sits in the director’s chair and acts out pieces by Charles Aznavour, for example. There are songs like “You’ve Let Yourself Go” and “What Makes a Man a Man” in these acting pieces that are based on the lyrics. In addition to some of her most famous songs, also called “chestnuts.”
Have you reached the end of your patience?
We can’t do it because it’s too hard, though. It’s because she’s been doing it for 60 years, and now she’s at a point where she can sit back, relax, and enjoy life. She’s been living in Los Angeles for a few years now, and she’s finally decided to start having fun. She has never gone against what her managers and agents have told her to do, and she is getting tired of it. She hasn’t used drugs in a long time, which has given her time to think about her life. Her goals are different from mine.
Is she happy in Los Angeles, where she is now?
She told me over and over that she would never move back in with her parents. But her life has changed so much that the ghosts that used to scare her are no longer a problem. The way she lived gave me the impression that she was a typical New Yorker from the moment I met her. But she likes how slow things are in Los Angeles, where most of her friends live.
