Remembering Judy Garland: A Mother's Love and Influence

Picture this: London’s Palladium in 1964. The spotlight is blazing, and the crowd is buzzing with anticipation. Liza Minnelli, just 18 years old at the time, takes the stage alongside her iconic mother, Judy Garland. Nerves are running high, but as Liza shares, "You know, other people think of her as Judy Garland, but my mom was my mom. If I got frightened, I’d look at her, and she would somehow know, and she would calm me down. Just by her look." It’s that kind of quiet strength and unconditional love that defined their bond.

Fast forward to June 10, and we would have celebrated the centennial birthday of the legendary Wizard of Oz star. Her children, Liza Minnelli, Lorna Luft, and Joey Luft, invite the world to join them in honoring the life of a woman who graced the world with her immense talent, sharp wit, and boundless heart.

A Mother’s Unwavering Support

Liza, now 76, recalls her mother with nothing but admiration. "I thought she was perfect. Every little thing she did — perfect," she says. But it wasn’t just about the glitz and glamour of the stage. At home, Judy was the life of the family, a merry and playful presence who loved to sing with her children and taught them the importance of finding joy in life. "I remember having a lot of fun with her when we were alone together," Joey, 67, reminisces. His father, Sid Luft, was Judy’s third husband, and their home was filled with laughter and music.

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Lorna, 69, echoes this sentiment. "She had a great sense of humor. She was very, very smart and very witty. That was her survival guide," she says. "That is what has been my lifeline to ‘find the funny.’ She would ‘find the funny’ in every situation." In a world that often seemed harsh and unforgiving, Judy’s ability to laugh in the face of adversity was a gift she passed down to her children.

Life on the Road: A Family Adventure

In the later years of her life, Judy Garland was constantly on tour, traveling the world and performing for audiences who adored her. By this time, Liza was already carving out her own path, but Lorna and Joey were right by their mother’s side. "We were a little bit like gypsies. We lived in London, Paris, New York. We lived wherever she was making a film," Lorna recalls. "It was hard. But she made everything into a game. She was very aware of our feelings. When we moved around, it always became a game and an adventure."

Through all the challenges, Judy remained steadfast in her commitment to her children. Despite her own struggles with unhappy marriages, financial difficulties, and a prescription drug dependency that tragically cut her life short in 1969, she never lost sight of what truly mattered. As Joey remembers, "She’d always say, 'It’s for my children.'"

Lessons from a Legend

Even in the face of personal struggles, Judy Garland refused to feel sorry for herself. Instead, she found ways to teach her children valuable life lessons. Lorna recalls a peculiar book she once discovered in her mother’s office. "It was a big red-leather book that had gold trimming. There were awful things in it — newspaper clippings of tornados and storms. I said to her, 'Mom, what is this?'" Lorna remembers. "She said, 'Oh, that’s my tragedy book. When you think you have problems, look at what happened to these people.'"

More than anything, Judy instilled in her children a deep sense of empathy and consideration for others. "She taught us values. She thought the most important thing is to be kind to another human being," Lorna says. "She said, 'Never think that you are better than another person. You must treat everyone on an equal basis and accept that people are different.'"

Judy Garland may have left this world far too soon, but her legacy lives on through her children and the countless fans whose lives she touched. As Liza, Lorna, and Joey reflect on their mother’s life, they invite us all to celebrate her enduring spirit and the love she shared with the world.