Born into a poor family in Hawaii – before Hawaii was a state – Bette Midler discovered the glamour of entertainment and the arts through books. Every Saturday, she and her sister were dropped off at the Honolulu Public Library, where Midler would look at pictures and read books about opera, ballet, and theater. When she saw a picture of Ethel Barrymore, she wanted to be her. Midler would become one of the most successful, multi-talented performers in history, earning two Academy Award nominations, three Emmys, a Tony, and multiple Grammys and Golden Globe awards.
Midler's professional career began with a small role in the movie Hawaii, earning her enough money to move to New York City in 1965. She got her start in experimental theater and worked in the gay male bathhouse scene, with Barry Manilow as her accompanist. Midler has maintained a loyal following of gay fans throughout her career and used one of nicknames, Bathhouse Bette, as the title of her 1978 album. Her most famous nickname, the Divine Miss M, also comes from her years at the Continental Baths.
Her recording career began with the release of the album, the Divine Miss M, in 1972. The album features several singles that have become Midler classics, including "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" and "Friends," which Midler sings to close out all of her live shows. She won the Best New Artist Grammy award for 1973 and followed it up with an award for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female in 1981 for "The Rose." Her rendition of "The Wind Beneath My Wings" won both Record of the Year and Song of the Year in 1989.
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