When I think of Maria Callas, I think of that famous photo; her face contorted in anger as some hapless US Marshal delivers a summons and she rips him a new one. Her tragic personal life was as dramatic as the Puccini and Bellini heroines she gave voice to. Callas was the ultimate incandescent diva, her vanilla contemporaries long since fading from history.
As a state-house Gizzy kid in 1981, one of the first LPs I owned was by Billie Holiday. Kim Carnes had the biggest song in the world, but her star was eclipsed by a woman who had died at the hands of drugs and booze 22 years earlier.
By crikey, women have to over-deliver to be remembered! In 100 years, no one will recall Christina Aguilera, while Britney Spears will forever be remembered, but not for selling more than 100 million records or becoming the youngest solo artist to debut at No 1 on the Billboard 200 … but for publicly shaving her head during a rebellious outburst.
So, a big thank you to Dolly Parton for being the exception to the exception to the rule. Her sad passing reminds me that not every diva remembered is a hot mess. When Dolly died, no one had a bad word to say about her. She will always be remembered as an icon of love, talent and authenticity. RIP Dolly, I hope you’re up there swapping stories with Edith, Maria, Patsy, Judy and Billie, over biscuits and gravy.
Jackie Clarke performs ten characters and the voices of five legendary singers – Judy Garland, Patsy Cline, Edith Piaf, Billie Holiday and Maria Callas – in Songs for Nobodies by Figment Productions at Q Theatre from October 28 to November 1. qtheatre.co.nz