The pair gave an impromptu version of Just In Time from the musical Bells Are Ringing, with Great American Songbook star Michael Feinstein on piano. Dame Joan, 87, wrote on Face-book: “Never thought I’d be duetting with the fabulous Liza Minnelli accompanied by the superb Michael Feinstein. #partytime #gettingbackontrack.” Michael, 64, revealed the session was able to take place as all the guests had had Covid jabs.
Sharing videos on Instagram, he wrote: “Grateful for vaccines that allowed a small group of us to celebrate with this special lady on her special day. She told us that she was turning 12, not 75.”
Adding to a video of her solo rendition of George Gershwin’s Embraceable You, the All That Jazz singer told fans of her joy at having a virtual birthday party.
She said: “I want to thank all of my fans. The biggest birthday present I ever had was all of you. Thank you for supporting me. Thank you for coming to see me.
“I remember all of it. I’m so blown away that so many of you took the time to celebrate my birthday.
“I’m telling you I’ve never had a birthday like this.
“And it’s because of YOU! Thank you!”
Last weekend’s Love Letter to Liza: A 75th Birthday Tribute Celebration, included performances from Lily Tomlin, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Chita Rivera and Harry Connick Jr.
Liza – the daughter of actress Judy Garland and director Vincente Minnelli – has won an Oscar, two Grammys, four Tonys and an Emmy but, in poor health, rarely performs in public now.
She has said: “I am ageless. Truly. I never think about age.”
In her mid-sixties, after battling a lifetime of addictions, she had said: “Half the time I feel like I’m 12. And the rest of the time, I feel like I’m 80.
“So I guess I’m somewhere in between.”