Judy Garland

A towering figure of film, theater, and music, Judy Garland became America's sweetheart at the age of 16 as Dorothy, the plucky picture of innocence in The Wizard of Oz. When she trilled the classic film's openhearted anthem of optimism, "Over the Rainbow," she claimed her signature song for life. But as an adult, the winsome willow was a hard-knock heroine who channeled her hurt into heart-rending ballads, becoming the ultimate torch singer. Garland turned that torch into a blazing beacon, smoldering with sultry intensity and heart-meets-sleeve angst; sadness makes the sweetest sound you ever heard on the lonesome lament "The Man That Got Away" and the sorrowful sigh of "But Not For Me."

Judy changes partners in Next Steps.

Judy Garland was the ultimate entertainer, giving every ounce of her troubled soul every time she stepped onto a concert stage, film set, or recording studio. A true star, she never forgot how to put on a happy face and get playful when paired with a stellar string of musical partners. Garland plays it for laughs with legendary song-and-dance man Gene Kelly on "Be a Clown," takes a black-humored look at the foibles of romance with Mickey Rooney on Rodgers & Hart's "I Wish I Were In Love Again," and gets in the holiday spirit with hotshot hoofer Fred Astaire on the sunny theme from Easter Parade.

Judy kills 'em at Carnegie in Deep Cuts.

In 1960, doctors told an ailing Judy Garland that she'd never sing again, but the single-minded siren fought her way back to a world-shaking comeback, captured on the five-GRAMMY® fireball Judy At Carnegie Hall, regarded as one of the greatest live albums ever. From that celebrated stage, Garland claimed undeniable ownership of the rainy-day jazz standard "Stormy Weather," and belted out a big, brassy kiss-off to a wayward lover on "After You've Gone." But after all love's misadventures have been mourned, it's Judy's ability to always "Look for the Silver Lining" that keeps her legions of feverish fans undyingly loyal to her unbreakable spirit.

You might call Judy Garland the Madonna of her day, blazing a big, bold trail across every part of pop culture. Sadly, she was as tortured as she was talented, dealing with depression, drug addiction, and other personal trials for most of her adult life. It's that very struggle through her long, dark night of the soul that made her a heroine to almost anyone who'd endured his or her own hard times. She sang for the sad and lonely when she sank her teeth into a mournful tune like "Why Was I Born?" but she brought hope to the heartbroken when she chased the blues away on "Get Happy" and "When You're Smiling." From woeful wail to against-all-odds optimism, this is where you'll find all the ups and downs of Judy Garland's ear-pleasing emotional rollercoaster ride.