"There’s something magical about children," said Judy Garland. "They have this uncanny ability to make you believe in yourself again. It's not just because of who they are—it's the way they see you." These words resonate deeply with anyone who has experienced the transformative power of a child’s unconditional love.
It’s been over five decades since Judy Garland's untimely passing, but her legacy lives on through her daughter, Liza Minnelli. Now 78, Liza speaks openly about the profound connection she shared with her mother. "As I grew up, our relationship became incredibly close," she reflects. "She wasn’t just my mom; she was my best friend and confidante. We laughed, cried, and talked for hours—sometimes face-to-face, sometimes over the phone. No matter where life took us, we always stayed connected."
Born into the spotlight as the child of The Wizard of Oz star Judy Garland and acclaimed director Vincente Minnelli, Liza entered the world with fame already attached to her name. According to the new documentary, Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story, even her birth was a star-studded affair. "The third person to hold her after she was born was none other than Frank Sinatra," reveals director Bruce David Klein in an exclusive interview with Closer. "She came from two of the most talented people of the 20th century—Judy Garland and Vincente Minnelli. Her early years were filled with legendary figures like Gene Kelly, who taught her how to tap-dance."
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For Liza, some of her happiest childhood memories revolve around performing for her parents. "When I was around 11 years old, my mom would sing 'Swanee,' and I’d dance to it," she recalls fondly. "It was like watching a little piece of magic come alive. She got such joy out of seeing me perform—it made her so happy, and that happiness was contagious. Those moments meant everything to me."
A Bond Forged Through Love and Challenges
In 1959, Judy Garland found herself hospitalized with acute hepatitis, marking the beginning of a long battle with health issues exacerbated by years of prescription drug use. "As teenagers, Mickey Rooney and I were given pills to keep us going when we were exhausted," Judy confided to biographer Paul Donnelley. "They’d knock us out with sleeping pills, then wake us up hours later to give us stimulants so we could work nonstop. It became a way of life for us." Despite the hardships, Liza remained unaware of her mother's struggles for much of her childhood, only observing Judy's unwavering commitment to her performances. "No matter how she felt, she always managed to rise to the occasion," says Liza. "She had drive, guts, ambition, resilience, and an incredible sense of humor. I like to think she passed those qualities down to me."
By the time Liza's half-siblings, Lorna and Joey, joined the family during Judy's marriage to Sid Luft, Liza had naturally taken on the role of confidante and helper. "It was almost as if Liza had become the mom and Judy the child," recalls Mike Selsman, who worked as Judy's press agent in the 1960s. "It was sweet to watch, but also a little unsettling." The dynamic forced Liza to mature quickly. "Liza would often help her mother get to bed and try to discourage her from taking pills," an insider explains. "Meanwhile, Judy would tell her that they only had each other to rely on. That’s an enormous responsibility for someone so young." Though Judy longed to be the best mother she could be, her own struggles often prevented her from fully meeting that goal. "If only she could have given as much care as she did love," says Anne Edwards, author of Judy Garland: A Biography.
Despite the challenges, children often possess a remarkable resilience. For Liza, the ups and downs of her upbringing became part of her reality. "There were no quiet, peaceful moments," she admits. "It was either extreme love or extreme conflict, rivers of money or no money at all, seeing my mother constantly or not seeing her for weeks at a time. But through it all, we found ways to connect."
Liza Finds Her Own Spotlight
Choosing to follow in her parents’ footsteps was a decision Liza made entirely on her own. "My mother never gave me advice," she said in 1968. "She trusted me to find my own path, and that meant a lot to me." Despite witnessing the
