American Masters

Gather around, I got a story to tell (board clicking) (fancy jazz music) - [Oprah] Tony's, a Grammy, an Emmy, even an Oscar, she's done it all.

(cameras flashing) - [Man] She has achieved that rare status where only a first name is necessary.

The one and only Liza.

I gotcha Uh huh huh You thought I didn't see you now didn't ya - [Narrator] Born to Hollywood royalty.

- [Announcer] Vincente Minnelli.

- [Host] Superstar, Judy Garland.

- [Liza] I thought, mama, she's never gonna pass.

- [Host] Her fight was to find who she was.

She didn't want be a mother.

- Her mother's passing was a catalyst.

- A period of incubation.

- [Narrator] She found friends and mentors who helped her.

- [Woman] He gave her an entire sense of self.

- [Narrator] There was so much expected of her.

- [Man] She had the thing that you can't teach.

- She blossomed.

(audience cheering) - Everybody wanted to be with Liza, everybody wanted her at their parties.

(camera flashing) - She's hot, she's sexy, she's weird.

- [Man] And she had that fierceness and so much vulnerability.

- [Man] How you doing?

- Terrific.

- [Man] Hmm?

- Fine.

(camera flashing) I feel wonderful about love.

- Excuse me.

- [Liza] Because I wanted it to be like it was in the songs.

- [Woman] That last husband of hers, I was at the wedding.

Oh my God.

- [Reporter] Legendary actress and singer, Liza Minnelli, has checked into rehab.

- [Man] I was very worried.

- [Liza] How lucky I was to have gone through all of the bad stuff that I've gone through because it prepared me for the rest of my life.

(triumphant music) - [Bruce] If the public sees Liza as a barrel of sequins and glamour, they've got her wrong.

- [Man] She wanted to consume the fullness of life.

I don't think she has any regrets.

(triumphant music fading out) (logo sparkling)