Barbara Joan “Barbra” Streisand (/ˈstraɪsænd/; born April 24, 1942) is a highly accomplished American singer and actress. Her illustrious career spans over six decades, during which she has excelled in various facets of entertainment. Streisand holds the distinction of being one of the rare performers to achieve an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony (EGOT) award.
In the early 1960s, Streisand kickstarted her career by captivating audiences in nightclubs and Broadway theaters. Her talent and charisma earned her guest spots on numerous television shows. Columbia Records recognized her potential and signed her, and she cleverly negotiated full artistic control, even accepting lower pay, a practice she upheld throughout her career. Her debut album, “The Barbra Streisand Album” (1963), was an instant hit and received the prestigious Grammy Award for Album of the Year.
Throughout her musical journey, Streisand achieved remarkable success, with 11 albums topping the US Billboard 200 chart – a record for a female artist until 2023. These albums include “People” (1964), “The Way We Were” (1974), “Guilty” (1980), and “The Broadway Album” (1985). Moreover, she secured five number-one singles on the US Billboard Hot 100, including iconic hits like “The Way We Were,” “Evergreen,” and “Woman in Love.”
Later, Streisand ventured into the world of film, earning accolades for her outstanding performances. Notably, her role in “Funny Girl” (1968) earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress. Streisand continued to shine in movies like “Hello, Dolly!” (1969), “What’s Up, Doc?” (1972), and “The Way We Were” (1973). She further showcased her versatility by writing the love theme from “A Star Is Born” (1976), for which she won a second Academy Award, making her the first woman composer to be honored.
Additionally, Streisand broke barriers in the film industry when she wrote, produced, directed, and starred in the critically acclaimed “Yentl” (1983). Her accomplishments with this film, including winning an Oscar for Best Original Score and a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture Musical, solidified her status as a trailblazer. Streisand also received the Golden Globe Award for Best Director, making her the first woman to achieve this honor in 37 years.
Streisand’s talent and popularity extend to the music realm, as she remains one of the best-selling recording artists globally, with over 150 million records sold. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has certified a staggering 68.5 million album units for Streisand in the United States, making her the second highest-certified female artist in the country. Billboard recognizes her as the greatest solo artist on the Billboard 200 chart and the leading female artist in the Adult Contemporary genre of all time.
Throughout her remarkable career, Streisand has accumulated a multitude of prestigious awards and honors, including two Academy Awards, 10 Grammy Awards (including the Lifetime Achievement Award and the Legend Award), five Emmy Awards, four Peabody Awards, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and nine Golden Globes.
Born on April 24, 1942, in Brooklyn, New York City, Streisand comes from a Jewish background. Her parents, Diana Ida (née Rosen) and Emanuel Streisand had a significant impact on her life. Unfortunately, her father passed away at a young age due to complications from an epileptic seizure, leading the family into financial hardship.
Streisand’s mother, a former soprano, worked as a school secretary to support them. Streisand’s upbringing left her feeling like an “outcast,” as her experiences were different from those of her peers. Despite the challenges, Streisand’s artistic spirit emerged early on when she and her mother recorded songs on tape during a visit to the Catskills when she was 13. This experience became a defining moment of inspiration and marked the beginning of her artistic journey.
Streisand has siblings from her mother’s remarriage, including an older brother, Sheldon, and a half-sister, singer Roslyn Kind, born after her mother married Louis Kind in 1950.
Barbra Streisand’s exceptional talent, perseverance, and groundbreaking achievements have left an indelible mark on the entertainment industry, making her a true icon of her time.
