Lorna Luft, the daughter of Hollywood legend Judy Garland, has expressed her profound appreciation for a moving tribute performed by Wicked stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo honouring her late mother.
Emotional Homage to an Icon
The heartfelt tribute occurred during the Peacock special Wicked: One Wonderful Night, where Grande, 32, and Erivo, 38, recreated a famous 1963 duet between Garland and Barbra Streisand. This performance originally aired on Garland's CBS variety show, a mere six years before Garland's tragic death from a barbiturate overdose at age 47.
Speaking to TMZ, the 72-year-old Luft shared her deep gratitude when artists choose to perform her mother's work. "I love those two and they're incredibly talented," Luft stated, praising the modern stars' selection.
A Legacy Connecting Generations
The original 1963 medley combined Get Happy—a song Garland featured in the 1950 film Summer Stock—with Streisand's cover of Happy Days Are Here Again. This historical performance was poignantly detailed in Streisand's recent memoir, My Name Is Barbra, where she recalled Garland's visible nervousness and how she tightly held Streisand's hand throughout the number.
Luft emphasised the foundational role her mother's work plays in the Wicked universe. "We are grateful for Wicked, but we always have to know if it wasn't for The Wizard Of Oz, there wouldn't be Wicked," she remarked, acknowledging the 1939 classic film's enduring influence on the Broadway musical and its upcoming two-part film adaptation.
Continuing Family Appreciation
This isn't the first time Luft has publicly supported the Wicked project. Last year, following the release of the first film, she took to social media with enthusiastic praise, describing the movie as "astounding, epic, brilliant, touching and honest." She specifically commended Grande and Erivo's "magnificent" and "jaw-dropping" vocal performances.
While Luft, herself a singer who frequently performs her mother's repertoire, has been vocal in her support, her elder sister Liza Minnelli has remained publicly quiet regarding the Wicked films. Minnelli is reportedly focusing on her upcoming memoir, which may eventually reveal her perspective on the project.
The connection between Garland's iconic work and modern adaptations continues to resonate deeply with her family and fans, ensuring the legendary performer's legacy endures through new interpretations and heartfelt tributes.
