Let me tell you about Ethel Merman, a woman who wasn’t just a Broadway powerhouse but a force of nature. Her voice could shake the rafters, and her confidence was as unshakable as they come. Imagine this: if someone had the nerve to tell Ethel she needed diet pills, her granddaughter, Barbara Geary, says she’d probably respond with a hearty, “Kiss my ass!” That’s Ethel for you—no-nonsense and unapologetically herself. Barbara, speaking exclusively to Closer, shares that Ethel’s early years performing in nightclubs gave her the steel nerves that defined her career. As a woman in that era, she had to stand her ground. “She just didn’t take any crap from anybody,” Barbara adds with admiration.
A Tough Exterior, a Tender Heart
Behind Ethel’s tough exterior was a loving grandma that only Barbara and her brother got to experience. “She was happiest when her kids were little,” Barbara reminisces, talking about Ethel’s son, Robert Jr., and Barbara’s late mother, Ethel “Nicole.” Nicole tragically passed away from an accidental overdose in 1967, but Ethel’s love for her family never wavered. Barbara fondly recalls a childhood trip to Saint Martin, where Ethel spent hours helping her search for butterflies, chameleons, and hermit crabs. “And I remember her getting teary-eyed, saying, ‘Your mother used to do that too. I miss watching her do that,’” Barbara shares, painting a picture of a woman who was both larger-than-life and deeply human.
Love and Loss: Ethel's Personal Life
When it comes to love, Barbara believes Ethel’s second husband, Robert Levitt, was the one who truly captured her heart. “He was the father of her only children,” Barbara explains, emphasizing the deep bond they shared. Ethel’s Broadway career skyrocketed during their marriage, with hits like Girl Crazy, Anything Goes, Annie Get Your Gun, and Call Me Madam, which earned her a Tony in 1951 and a Golden Globe for the film version in 1953. But success came at a cost. By the time they divorced in 1952, the strain of Ethel’s rising fame had taken its toll. “It was hard for a man to be with a successful woman back in those days,” Barbara reflects. She believes Ethel regretted the breakup for the rest of her life, a testament to the depth of their connection.
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Dealing with Tragedy Through Work
Ethel threw herself into her work whenever life threw her curveballs, and one of those moments came with the tragic overdose of Judy Garland in 1969. Barbara recalls walking into Ethel’s room to find her deeply saddened. “She just kept saying, ‘Oh, Judy, what were you thinking?’ It was hard,” Barbara says, her voice heavy with emotion. Ethel’s ability to channel her pain into her performances was part of what made her so unforgettable.
But it wasn’t all about work. Barbara cherishes the intimate moments she shared with her grandmother, like their early morning chats in Ethel’s big brass bed. “She would tell me her dirty jokes!” Barbara laughs, remembering those times fondly. And then there were the glamorous outings, like visiting Lucille Ball’s house, where Barbara played in the pool while the adults enjoyed cocktails. These memories paint a picture of Ethel not just as a star, but as a beloved family member.
Legacy and Lessons
When Ethel passed away at 76 in 1984 after battling brain cancer, Broadway paid tribute by dimming its lights in her honor. But for Barbara, Ethel will always be “Grandma.” Ethel left behind a legacy of strength and self-belief, lessons that Barbara carries with her to this day. “To believe in yourself, and that if there’s something that you really want, you can go for it,” Barbara says, echoing the spirit of Ethel’s favorite role, Mama Rose from Gypsy. Ethel didn’t just perform her life; she lived it with every ounce of her being.
