About an hour into her debut performance at Joe’s Pub, Betty Buckley delivered the heartfelt ballad "Memory" from "Cats," a song that has earned her devoted admirers — including, as she recently discovered, a prominent fan in the White House.
At 77, Buckley, who often shares critiques of the current administration on social media, chose not to mention the president during her powerful interpretation of "Memory," which ignited enthusiastic applause and cheers from the audience. She also refrained from mentioning him at the song’s conclusion.
Instead, she transitioned to Paul Simon’s "American Tune," highlighting lyrics such as "I don’t have a friend who feels at ease" and "I wonder what’s gone wrong," describing the song as especially fitting for the unsettling and unusual times we are experiencing.
The past few months have been unexpected for Buckley, who had long been aware of the former president’s admiration for "Memory." However, she only recently learned that her 1982 Broadway rendition made her his preferred Grizabella — the once-glamorous feline whose poignant plea for acceptance forms the emotional centerpiece of the musical.
This insight came after the former president, speaking in March at a meeting of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts board, reminisced about attending her performance in "Cats." He recalled the audience’s enthusiastic reaction and wondered aloud if Betty Buckley was still alive, praising her voice as the finest among many celebrated stars.
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