Christine Baranski brings intelligence, energy, and impeccable timing to her narration of this tell-all memoir. She gets Mary Rodgers’s flighty, self-referential tone and intensively candid style. Mary is the daughter of Richard Rodgers, the renowned co-creator of hit Broadway musicals such as THE SOUND OF MUSIC, and an icy decorator mother who “loved but didn’t like” her. She wrote one successful musical, ONCE UPON A MATTRESS; hundreds of songs; and the kids’ book FREAKY FRIDAY. She also worked with Leonard Bernstein and had a lifelong friendship with Stephen Sondheim. The mother of six and philanthropist is proudly sexually liberated and an admitted snob in addition to being witty, self-effacing, and a fine storyteller. Coauthor Jesse Green delivers the audiobook’s notes and supplies commentary and an insightful epilogue.
Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2023
Duration: 15 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781669661740
Publisher: Spiegel & Grau by Spotify Audiobooks
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Minnelli tells her story her way, one-on-one, in a wonderful performance.
For this memoir, Minnelli worked with her best friend, Michael Feinstein, to offer an extraordinary glimpse into her life both in front of and behind the camera. At 80, Minnelli performs her own audiobook in high style. The content is candid, funny, and revealing, if slightly sanitized. It’s all here—Minnelli’s collaborations with songwriters Kander and Ebb and her many marriages and affairs, triumphs, disasters, substance use, and, most recently, 11 years of sobriety. The only drawback when listening is that it’s not always clear when the narrative is moving on to a new theme.
Minnelli tells her story her way, one-on-one, in a wonderful performance.Pub Date: March 10, 2026
Duration: 9 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668653418
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: March 16, 2026
Gibbs’ life is an inspiration, a reminder that as long as you’re alive, “If you believe it, you can...
More than the beloved TV star of The Jeffersons and 227, Gibbs in her memoir reveals a woman who broke ground for Black artists, becoming a force to be reckoned with in the very white theatrical industry. A delightful opening greeting from Gibbs provides the prelude to an engaging listening experience. After a heartfelt introduction by Regina King, Gibbs introduces each chapter in a voice that is authentic, strong, and full of humor. The bulk of Gibbs’ moving story is delivered in a whispery, emotion-filled voice by Tisha Campbell. Campbell offers unforgettable portraits of this ageless icon’s rocky childhood, struggles with marital abuse, bravery, and eventual success.
Gibbs’ life is an inspiration, a reminder that as long as you’re alive, “If you believe it, you can achieve it.”Pub Date: Feb. 24, 2026
Duration: 8 hrs, 35 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063356665
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: March 3, 2026
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