Entertainment

Streisand Makes First Late-Night Appearance In 50 Years

Barbra Streisand had not done an interview on a late-night show since 1963. Monday night, she went on "The Tonight Show."

Streisand Makes First Late-Night Appearance In 50 Years
NBC / 'The Tonight Show'
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Monday night, Barbra Streisand returned to ‘The Tonight Show’ for the first time in more than 50 years. And she delivered — with a duet.

“Love me tender, love me sweet.”

“My king.”

“You have made my life complete, do you hear me?”

“Yeah.”

Yes, Jimmy Fallon stood in for the King, and did a pretty darn good job, thank you very much.

Streisand’s appearance was to promote her new duets album, Partners, which features tracks with Elvis recordings.

And, save for a brief cameo on the ‘Late Show’ in 1994, Streisand hasn’t been on any late-night talk show since 1963.

It seemed like no time had gone by though. As The Hollywood Reporter put it, Streisand “sounded as sensational as ever.”

Can we also talk about how amazing the 72-year-old looked? On Instagram — yes, Babs has an Instagram — she said she got some “last touches” backstage ... hardly needed.

Billboard drove home just how big a deal this is: ‘The Tonight Show’ cleared its slate for Monday; Streisand was the only guest and the only performer. And there was plenty to consider...

Streisand has spoken before about her stage fright, which has kept her from performing in the past: “I’m very shy, in a way.”

And days before the appearance, The Washington Post had wondered how the show might handle Streisand’s famous preference for her left side.

This may have been part of it: Fallon said she should take his anchor desk because she’d never be back on the show again. But, the position also put her in the profile.

Ultimately, Streisand told Fallon she prefers a quiet life with her husband, James Brolin — out of the limelight.