Liza Minnelli's Memoir: "Kids, Wait Till You Hear This One!"
Liza Minnelli, daughter of Judy Garland and Vincent Minnelli, has released a new memoir titled "Kids, Wait Till You Hear This One!" Co-authored with Michael Feinstein, the book offers an intimate look into her life.
The memoir addresses public perceptions about her life, including her relationships, struggles with addiction, and career.
Childhood and Family Dynamics
Minnelli recounts her childhood, describing her mother, Judy Garland, as struggling with drug addiction, which Garland reportedly developed during her time at MGM. Minnelli details feeling responsible for managing her mother's emotions from a young age. She cites a confusing incident at age five that instilled a sense of needing to care for her mother.
This early experience, Minnelli notes, led to a lifelong sensitivity to audible anger.
Relationships and Marriages
Minnelli's first husband, Peter Allen, was gay, a fact she states she discovered during their marriage. They eventually separated despite attempts to sustain the relationship. She was also briefly engaged to childhood friend Desi Arnaz, Jr.
In 1973, Minnelli became engaged to Peter Sellers.
She describes this period as a "nightmare," stating that Sellers's personality would shift, exhibiting behaviors akin to his comedic characters in a negative manner.
This volatile dynamic led her to end the engagement. Following this, she was involved with figures such as Martin Scorsese and Mikhail Baryshnikov.
Career Highlights
In 1989, prompted by Gene Simmons, Minnelli collaborated with the Pet Shop Boys on the album "Results." The album featured the single "Losing My Mind," which reached Number Six in the U.K., marking a shift in her musical style and public image.
Years later, Ron Howard cast Minnelli as Lucille Two in the television series "Arrested Development."
This role contributed significantly to her renewed popularity among a new generation of fans.
Substance Use Disorder
Minnelli details her lifelong battle with substance use disorder (SUD), which began with prescription pills prescribed after her mother's death to cope with stress. She describes addiction as a genetic disease, stating it was inherited from her family.
The memoir openly discusses multiple instances of relapse and rehabilitation, with Minnelli reporting that she is currently 11 years sober.
She attributes her struggles partly to the disease itself, her marriage to David Gest, and chronic physical pain from her long career.
The 2022 Oscars Incident
Minnelli recounts her appearance at the 2022 Academy Awards, where she was invited to present the Best Picture award with Lady Gaga to commemorate the 50th anniversary of her Oscar win for "Cabaret." She had planned to sit in a director's chair on stage due to health considerations.
However, she states that producers, with Lady Gaga's reported support, insisted she use a wheelchair for safety moments before her appearance.
Minnelli states this decision felt like it cast a "shadow" over her career and contributed to her difficulty reading the teleprompter during the presentation.
This event, she explains, prompted her to write her memoir, aiming to "set the record straight" and reclaim her narrative, a goal her mother, Judy Garland, had also intended to pursue.