Bette Midler reveals Bette Davis was ‘not pleased’ to learn she was named after her: ‘I was a little bit hurt’
Bette Midler recalled an awkward moment from the past involving the late screen icon Bette Davis.
In the latest episode of Hoda Kotb‘S Making room podcast, the 78-year-old Beaches star recounted her attendance at Elizabeth Taylor’s 60th birthday party in 1986, which Davis also attended.
“My mother named me after Bette Davis, and Bette Davis didn’t like it,” Midler told Kotb.
Midler had just given birth to her second child at the time and had pulled together her party look without a glam team — a move that Davis “offended.”
“I had just had my baby. And I was invited, and I was, like, so exhausted. And at that time, there was no hair and makeup,” the Hocus Pocus star explained.
Bette Midler recalled an awkward past moment involving the late screen icon Bette Davis; seen in 2024
In the latest episode of Hoda Kotb’s Making Space podcast, the Beaches star, 78, recalls attending Elizabeth Taylor’s 60th birthday party in 1986, which Davis was also in attendance; Davis can be seen in 1968
“You didn’t know anything about hair or makeup. You just did your hair, put on a dress and went.”
Midler went on to say that Davis was “very offended” that she attended the event without dressing up.
She also said that the All About Eve star, who was 78 at the time, was chatting with Bob Dylan throughout the party, which made Midler nervous.
Midler and the All Along the Watchtower lead singer collaborated on the 1976 duet Buckets of Rain.
“So I can’t imagine what he said to her,” she told Hoda.
“Anyway, I was a little hurt,” Midler said of the memory.
Midler also shared that her sisters Judy and Susan are also named after actresses Judy Garland and Susan Hayward.
And I was Bette Davis. Although, I pronounced it as bet [and] “She pronounced it Betty,” she said.
“My mom named me after Bette Davis, which Bette Davis didn’t like to hear,” Midler told Kotb; seen in 2023
Midler went on to say that Davis was “very offended” that she attended the event without dressing up; Davis seen in 1988
“You didn’t know anything about hair or makeup. You just did your hair, put on a dress and went,” Midler explained; seen in 2019
The Divine Miss M, who has had an equally successful and decorated career as her namesake, has jumped into the meme-making fray following JD Vance’s comment about ‘childless cat ladies’
The divine Miss M, who has had an equally successful and decorated career as her namesake, has found herself in the meme fray over JD Vance’s comment about “childless cat ladies.”
The First Wives Club star shared a photo of Taylor Swift on the cover of Time Magazine with her beloved cat Benjamin Button slung over her shoulder to X (formerly Twitter).
“Cat ladies, stay back and stand your ground,” she captioned the photo.
“Hurry up and GO, #ChildlessCatLadies!” she captioned the post.