Liza Minnelli’s new memoir, Kids, Wait Till You Hear This One! (Grand Central Publishing), invites readers into her living room. Written in collaboration with longtime friend Michael Feinstein, the book captures Minnelli’s voice as if she’s chatting with a close pal. Across 400 pages, the 79-year-old star reflects on her childhood with Judy Garland, her career-defining role in Cabaret, and her battle with addiction.
Complicated Bond With Judy Garland
Minnelli recounts her thorny relationship with her mother, who struggled with substance abuse and depression. She describes becoming Garland’s caretaker at just 13, swapping pills for aspirin to prevent overdoses and shielding her younger siblings from volatile moods. Despite Garland’s attempts to derail her career, Minnelli writes with affection about her mother’s legacy. “My beautiful mother is still here with me. We talk to each other every day. And we laugh like hell,” she shares.
Hollywood Romances and Marriages
The memoir dives into Minnelli’s whirlwind love life, including marriages to Peter Allen, Jack Haley Jr., Mark Gero, and David Gest. She candidly recalls affairs with Bob Fosse, Martin Scorsese, Desi Arnaz Jr., and Peter Sellers. Her final marriage to Gest left her feeling “disgusted” and “humiliated,” vowing never to marry again.
Oscars Controversy With Lady Gaga
Minnelli also reveals tension with Lady Gaga during the 2022 Oscars. Producers insisted she use a wheelchair onstage, despite her preference for a director’s chair. Minnelli felt “sabotaged” and humiliated, writing that Gaga’s seemingly supportive gesture masked the fact that she had pressured her into the situation.
Addiction and Sobriety
Minnelli opens up about her decades-long struggle with addiction, which she calls a “genetic inheritance” from Garland. After collapsing in 2003 and battling encephalitis, she entered rehab in 2015. Now 11 years sober, she writes: “I haven’t ‘beaten’ addiction. Nobody does if it’s in the blood. But for the first time, I’ve fought it to a draw. One day at a time. And baby, there’s no going back.”
A Life in Showbiz
From Hollywood parties to Broadway triumphs, Minnelli’s memoir is filled with wit, candor, and resilience. It’s both a celebration of her extraordinary career and a raw account of the struggles behind the spotlight.
