The Night Everything Changed: Rosemary Clooney's Meltdown in Reno
Picture this: it’s mid-1968 in Reno, Nevada. Rosemary Clooney, the legendary singer with a voice that could melt hearts, is on stage. But something is off. Instead of delivering her signature charm, she’s ranting uncontrollably into the microphone. Then, she storms off, leaving her band to play her hit song “Come On-a My House” to an empty stage. Rosemary later admitted, “I was like a hand grenade with the pin pulled—nobody could approach me.” That night, she drove from Reno to Lake Tahoe in the wrong lane, daring oncoming traffic to end her life. It was a desperate cry for help, a moment that would define the struggles she faced in her personal and professional life.
From Rising Star to Hollywood Sensation
Let’s rewind less than two decades earlier. Back then, Rosemary was a rising star with a warm, expressive voice that captivated audiences. Her hits like “Tenderly,” “Half as Much,” “Botch-a-Me,” and “Mambo Italiano” made her a household name. She wasn’t just a recording star; she was a movie star too, starring in beloved films like White Christmas alongside Bing Crosby in 1954. At the height of her career, Rosemary seemed unstoppable. But beneath the glitz and glamour, the pressures of showbiz, a troubled marriage, and her battles with alcohol and prescription drugs were taking their toll.
A Career Derailed, But Not Defeated
Changing musical tastes and her public meltdown nearly derailed her career. But here’s the thing about Rosemary—she wasn’t one to give up easily. As Ken Crossland, coauthor of Late Life Jazz: The Life and Career of Rosemary Clooney, puts it, “She showed if you had resilience and a strong natural gift, you could overcome some enormous obstacles.” And that’s exactly what she did. Her triumph wasn’t just about surviving; it was about thriving against all odds.
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The Early Years: Heartbreak and Perseverance
Rosemary’s journey wasn’t easy from the start. Born in Kentucky, she lost her younger brother Andy in a tragic swimming accident during childhood. Her parents struggled—her father battled alcoholism, and her mother eventually abandoned the family. Rosemary and her three siblings were largely raised by their grandparents. It was a tough upbringing, but it shaped her resilience and determination to succeed.
A Voice That Stood Out in a Crowd
Rosemary began singing professionally with her sister, Betty, as a teenager. By 1946, she was making her first solo recordings, earning comparisons to the legendary Ella Fitzgerald. Before long, she landed a contract with Columbia Records. In 1951, Mitch Miller, her mentor at the record company, convinced her to record “Come On-a My House,” a song she initially disliked. “My first impression was, what a cheap way to get people’s attention,” she said. But the novelty song, performed with an Italian accent, became a No. 1 hit. It wasn’t just about the song—it was about her ability to adapt and grow as an artist.
A Rollercoaster of Fame and Family
The next few years were a whirlwind of recording sessions, concerts, and film sets. In 1953, at the age of 25, Rosemary married actor José Ferrer, who was 16 years her senior. They had five children in just five years, but the marriage was fraught with tension. “He was a womanizer who treated Rosemary quite badly,” says Crossland. By the 1960s, Rosemary was battling addiction to sleeping pills and alcohol, and her behavior grew increasingly erratic. She and José separated, reunited briefly, and ultimately divorced in 1967. Two years later, while standing with her children waiting to greet Robert F. Kennedy, tragedy struck. Kennedy was assassinated, and Rosemary’s mental health spiraled further. She was eventually institutionalized, describing herself as a “violent case in a violent ward.”
A Second Coming: The Rebirth of Rosemary Clooney
In 1975, her old friend and White Christmas co-star Bing Crosby invited her to join his 50th-anniversary concert. Rosemary, who had been performing small gigs at suburban Holiday Inns, was initially terrified. Crosby encouraged her, saying, “Just remember that they are on your side.” Watching from the wings, he saw her confidence return. Over the next 27 years, Rosemary recorded some of the finest music of her career. As Crossland notes, “She reinvented herself as a jazz singer, releasing nearly 20 albums that are absolutely outstanding. It was a tremendous second coming.”
Love and Legacy: Finding Happiness Late in Life
Rosemary found love again in the 1970s when she reunited with dancer Dante DiPaolo. The two had dated in the 1950s but hadn’t seen each other in 20 years. Dante moved in with Rosemary, became her road manager, and eventually her husband. They remained together until Rosemary’s passing in 2002 at the age of 74. Her nephew, George Clooney, who worked as her driver early in his career, remembers her fondly. “She taught me by example of the mistakes not to make because she made all of them,” he says. “She didn’t become less of a singer, but she became less of a star. You learn [that fame] has very little to do with you.”
