When you think of the remarkable talent that is Barbra Streisand, what do you think of? Her acting? Her music? Or other things, such as her directing? The fact is, Barbra Streisand has done it all. Born on April 24, 1942, in Brooklyn, New York, Streisand’s early years were spend performing in nightclubs and on Broadway in the early part of the 1960s.
Streisand appeared as a guest on several TV shows before she was offered a record deal with Columbia Records. The star accepted the offer, but on one condition: that she retain full artistic control. She was even willing to accept lower pay in exchange, a habit she continued throughout her career.
Barbra Streisand’s Music Recording Career
Barbra Streisand’s debut album, “The Barbra Streisand Album,” was released in 1963 to wide critical acclaim. The album won the Grammy Award for Album of the year. But that album was just the beginning.
During her long career as a recording artist, Barbra Streisand had 11 albums hit the top of the U.S. Billboard 200 chart. Moreover, five of her hits have been number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100. In her career, Streisand has won a whopping 10 Grammy Awards.
Barbra Streisand’s Film Career
Once she established her recording success in the 1960s, Barbra Streisand turned her eyes to Hollywood, where she experienced equally phenomenal success. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her starring role in “Funny Girl” in 1968.
Barbra Streisand and EGOT Status
In her career spanning more than six decades, Barbra Streisand has managed to achieve the much-coveted EGOT status. EGOT is an acronym for entertainers who have earned an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony. Streisand is one of only 21 people in history to ever achieve this status.
All of Streisand’s awards include two Academy Awards, 10 Grammy Awards, five Emmy Awards, four Peabody Awards, nine Golden Globes, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Barbra Streisand’s Success with “Yentl”
When she made “Yentl” in 1993, Streisand made history once again as the first woman to write, produce, direct, and star in a film that was made by a major studio. Also, “Yentl” was a huge critical success. It won a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture Musical and an Academy Award for Best Score.
For “Yentl,” Streisand won the Golden Globe Award for Best Director, making her the first woman to ever win that award.
Barbra Streisand: “The Way We Were” and “A Star Is Born”
For all of her success, Barbra Streisand is perhaps best known for such movies as “A Star Is Born” and “The Way We Were.”
What Barbra Streisand Thought of Beyoncé’s “The Way We Were” Performance
To celebrate Barbra Streisand’s Kennedy Center Honors, Beyoncé performed “The Way We Were” for Streisand.
In an interview, Streisand said that the first time Beyoncé performed it wasn’t her best, so she asked her to do it again. The second time was perfection. Watch Beyoncé singing “The Way We Were” to Barbra Streisand below.
Queen Bey and Barbra Streisand. It doesn’t get much better than this.
