The Resilience of Babs: How Barbra Streisand Turned Scorn into a Legacy of Gold and Generosity
Barbra Streisand has never done anything quietly. From her meteoric rise on Broadway to her dominance of Hollywood, she has broken every mold set for a female star. Yet, beneath the legendary EGOT status is a journey of remarkable resilience—a life forged in Brooklyn poverty, overcoming ridicule for her unique appearance, and building a multi-faceted empire that is now quietly channeling millions toward healing the world.
The Standard Set: “It Had to Be You”
Streisand’s career is defined by timeless collaborations and interpretations of classic standards. In 2014, she partnered with the modern master of the Great American Songbook, Michael Bublé, for the duet “It Had to Be You.”
The track, a lush, romantic take on the 1924 standard, demonstrated Streisand’s enduring vocal dexterity and her uncanny ability to harmonize with contemporary talent. It was featured on her record-breaking album, Partners.
- Chart History Made: Partners debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart on October 4, 2014, when Streisand was 72 years old.
- A Six-Decade Record: The success of Partners made her the only artist in history to have a number-one album in six consecutive decades (starting with People in 1964).
From Brooklyn Scorn to Multi-Faceted Icon
The path to such unparalleled success was paved with immense personal struggle. Barbra Joan Streisand grew up in relative poverty in Brooklyn, New York. As she began her career, she was ridiculed for her unconventional appearance, particularly her nose, with her mother even discouraging her from pursuing acting, urging her to take up typing instead. Barbra refused to conform, rejecting suggestions to change her distinctive features.
Her defiance—her refusal to alter her image or be contained by a single medium—turned her into a true powerhouse:
| Role/Work | Year | Achievement |
| Fanny Brice in Funny Girl (Actress) | 1968 | Won the Academy Award for Best Actress (tied with Katharine Hepburn). |
| “Evergreen” (Composer) | 1977 | Won the Academy Award for Best Original Song (making her the first woman honored as a composer). |
| Yentl (Director) | 1983 | Won the Golden Globe Award for Best Director—the first woman to win the award. |
The Blow Your Mind Part: Quiet Philanthropic Power
What truly sets Streisand apart in her later life is the colossal, often understated, scale of her philanthropy, powered by her conviction in using her massive wealth for societal good.
- Women’s Health Advocacy: Streisand personally donated $10 million and helped raise over $22 million for the establishment of the Barbra Streisand Women’s Heart Center at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Her advocacy highlights that heart disease is often misunderstood and misdiagnosed in women, pouring millions of dollars into gender-specific research and education.
- Environment and Democracy: Through The Barbra Streisand Foundation (established in 1986), she consistently provides substantial grants to organizations dedicated to preserving the environment and protecting civil liberties. In 2023, she received the prestigious Genesis Prize ($1 million award) and committed her prize money to four causes: fighting climate change, women’s health equity, combating disinformation, and aiding Ukrainian refugees.
The Secret of Longevity: Self-Production at 80+
Even as she approached and surpassed the age of 80 (born April 24, 1942), Streisand has refused to slow her artistic output. The biggest surprise of her later career is her sustained artistic control, maintaining creative dominance with a secret power move: self-production.
The release of her latest album, the duets collection The Secret of Life: Partners, Volume Two (released June 27, 2025), was Executive Produced by Streisand herself (alongside Jay Landers). This level of hands-on involvement, even in her ninth decade, allows her to continue collaborating with current stars like Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, Hozier, and Mariah Carey & Ariana Grande—a testament to her unmatched, enduring vision.
