More Than Just an Icon
When you think of Judy Garland, you probably picture the dazzling singer, the unforgettable movie star, or the tragic figure who captured hearts and headlines. But to her children, she was so much more than that. Lorna Luft, Judy’s middle child, puts it perfectly: “Yes, she had her share of struggles, but she wasn’t tragic. Not in the way people like to paint her.” Joey Luft, the youngest, echoes that sentiment. “I remember laughing and having fun with her when it was just the two of us,” he says with a warm smile.
A Different Side of Judy
Behind the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, Judy Garland was a devoted mother who prioritized her family in ways that might surprise her fans. When she was home with her kids—Lorna, Joey, and her eldest, Liza Minnelli—she wasn’t the star of stage and screen. She was simply Mama. Liza, now 75, sets the record straight: “One of the biggest misconceptions about my mom is that she didn’t give me a happy childhood. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Sure, there were ups and downs, but I was incredibly happy.”
From the very beginning, Liza adored spending time with her mother. She remembers Judy as not only “hilariously funny” but also “brilliantly intelligent.” Even though their lives were anything but ordinary—living at New York City’s Plaza Hotel for a while, for example—Judy made sure to keep her kids safe and grounded. “She was fiercely protective and extremely strict,” Liza recalls. And as protective as Judy was of her children, young Liza was equally protective of her mom. When she noticed Judy feeling down, the 5-year-old would tickle her to bring back the laughter.
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The Bond That Grew Stronger
As Liza grew into her teenage years, her bond with her mother deepened. Being the daughter of two Hollywood heavyweights—her father was the renowned director Vincente Minnelli—Liza faced constant change, hopping from school to school and struggling to maintain friendships. But Judy filled that void. “My most cherished memories of my mom are the conversations we had,” Liza reminisces. “As a teenager, I became her best friend and confidante. We would sit for hours, laughing and talking about everything under the sun.”
During these heartfelt exchanges, Judy showed a side of herself that was patient, kind, and endlessly supportive. While Liza recalls that “Mama got upset when fans or reporters asked me questions about her,” she never let that frustration affect their relationship. And when Liza decided to pursue a career in entertainment, following in her mother’s footsteps, Judy was nothing but encouraging. In fact, she even let Liza steal the spotlight as a frequent guest on The Judy Garland Show.
Two Worlds Collide
Performing alongside her mother gave Liza a unique perspective on the duality of Judy Garland’s life. “It was such a strange feeling,” Liza explains. “One moment, I was on stage with my mom, and the next, I was sharing the spotlight with the legendary Judy Garland. One moment, she’d smile at me like any other mom, and the next, she’d transform into this lioness who owned the stage.”
But offstage, Judy was always Mama. And though Liza’s heart broke when her mother passed away in 1969 at the young age of 47 from a barbiturate overdose, she still feels her presence today. “Whenever I need her, she’s there,” Liza says with conviction. “And let me tell you, I call on her a lot.”
