Editing Barbra Streisand (section)

== Career ==
=== Beginnings ===
[[File:Barbra Streisand 1962.jpg|thumb|Streisand, c. 1962]]
Living on her own at 16, Streisand took various menial jobs to have some income. During one period, she lacked a permanent address, and found herself sleeping at the home of friends or anywhere else she could set up the army cot she carried around. When desperate, she returned to her mother's flat in Brooklyn for a home-cooked meal. However, her mother was horrified by her daughter's "gypsy-like lifestyle", wrote biographer [[Karen Swenson]], and again begged her to give up trying to get into show business,<ref name="Nickens" />{{rp|6}} but Streisand took her mother's pleadings as even more reason to keep trying: "My desires were strengthened by wanting to prove to my mother that I ''could'' be a star."<ref name="Nickens" />{{rp|6}}

Streisand took a job as an usher at the Lunt-Fontanne Theater for ''The Sound of Music'' early in 1960. During the run of the play, she heard that the casting director was auditioning for more singers, and it marked the first time she sang in pursuit of a job.<ref name="Nickens" />{{rp|6}} Although the director felt she was not right for the part, he encouraged her to begin including her talent as a singer on her résumé when looking for other work.<ref name="Nickens" />{{rp|6}}

Streisand asked her boyfriend, [[Barry Dennen]], to tape her singing, copies of which she could then give out to possible employers. Dennen found a guitarist to accompany her:.<ref name="Nickens" />{{rp|6}}

{{blockquote|We spent the afternoon taping, and the moment I heard the first playback I went insane ... This nutty little kook had one of the most breathtaking voices I'd ever heard ... when she was finished and I turned off the machine, I needed a long moment before I dared look up at her.}}

Dennen grew enthusiastic and he convinced her to enter a talent contest at the Lion, a [[Homosexuality|gay]] nightclub in Manhattan's [[Greenwich Village]]. She performed two songs, after which there was a "stunned silence" from the audience, followed by "thunderous applause" when she was pronounced the winner.<ref name="Nickens" />{{rp|7}} She was invited back and sang at the club for several weeks.<ref name="the lion">{{cite web |date=July 1, 1960 |title=The Lion |url=http://barbra-archives.com/live/60s/lion_streisand.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707212334/http://barbra-archives.com/live/60s/lion_streisand.html |archive-date=July 7, 2011 |access-date=August 17, 2011 |publisher=Barbra-archives.com}}</ref> During this time, disliking her name,<ref>{{cite web |date=June 17, 1962 |title=Successful, Yes—Famous, No (Interview) |url=http://barbra-archives.com/bjs_library/60s/62_successful_yes.html |publisher=Barbra Streisand Archives}}</ref> she changed it from "Barbara" to "Barbra".<ref name="the lion" />
In early days of her career, Streisand was repeatedly told she was too ugly to be a star and was advised to get a [[nose job]]; which she declined to do.<ref name="control" />

==== Nightclub shows ====
Streisand was next asked to audition at the Bon Soir nightclub, after which she was signed up at $125 a week. It became her first professional engagement in September 1960, where she was the opening act for comedian [[Phyllis Diller]]. She recalls it was the first time she had been in that kind of upscale environment: "I'd never been in a nightclub until I sang in one."<ref name="Nickens" />{{rp|7}}

Dennen now wanted to expose Streisand to his vast record collection of female singers, including [[Billie Holiday]], [[Mabel Mercer]], [[Ethel Waters]], and [[Édith Piaf]]. Streisand realized she could still become an actress by first gaining recognition as a singer.<ref name="Nickens" />{{rp|7}} From his collection she drew the song that best defined her mission in singing: ''[[A Sleepin' Bee]]'', with music by [[Harold Arlen]] and lyrics by [[Truman Capote]] for the 1954 musical ''[[House of Flowers (musical)|House of Flowers]]''. "The lyrics to that song gave me the three acts of a play that I longed for as an actress," Streisand said. "And Harold was one of those writers who could write these magnificent melodies. That gave me what I needed."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Farber |first=Jim |date=October 24, 2022 |title=Barbra Streisand: 'It's the funniest thing to me that people still can't get my name wright' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2022/oct/23/barbra-streisand-interview-bon-soir-new-album |access-date=October 25, 2022 |journal=The Guardian}}</ref> According to biographer Christopher Nickens, hearing other great female singers benefited her style, as she began creating different emotional characters when performing, which gave her singing a greater range.

Streisand improved her stage presence when speaking to the audience between songs. She discovered that her Brooklyn-bred style of humor was received favorably.<ref name="Nickens" />{{rp|8}} During the next six months appearing at the club, some began comparing her singing voice to famous names such as [[Judy Garland]], [[Lena Horne]] and [[Fanny Brice]]. Her conversational ability to charm an audience with spontaneous humor during performances became more sophisticated and professional.<ref name="Nickens" />{{rp|8}} Theater critic [[Leonard Harris (actor)|Leonard Harris]] wrote: "She's twenty; by the time she's thirty she will have rewritten the record books."<ref name="Nickens" />{{rp|9}}

{{quote box
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| quote = Her name is Barbra Streisand. She is 20 years old, she has a three-octave promiscuity of range, she packs more personal dynamic power than anybody I can recall since [[Libby Holman]] or [[Helen Morgan (singer)|Helen Morgan]]. She can sing as loud as [[Ethel Merman]] and as persuasively as [[Lena Horne|Lena]] or [[Ella Fitzgerald|Ella]], or as brassy as a [[Sophie Tucker]] ... and only Barbra Streisand can turn "[[Cry Me a River (1953 song)|Cry Me a River]]" into something comparable to [[Enrico Caruso]] having his first bash at [[Pagliacci]]. When Streisand cries you a river, you got a river, Sam ... and she will be around 50 years from now if good songs are still written to be sung by good singers.
| source = —Syndicated columnist [[Robert Ruark]],<br />on her 1963 performances at the Blue Angel.<ref>Ruark, Robert. "The Blue's Angel", ''Pasadena Independent'', January 18, 1963, p. 9</ref><ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/2TA6LQmP0ec Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20080612015732/http://www.youtube.com:80/watch?v=2TA6LQmP0ec Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web |date=March 27, 2006 |title=Barbra Streisand – Cry Me A River |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TA6LQmP0ec |access-date=November 3, 2018 |via=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
}}

==== Early theatre roles and Broadway debut ====
Streisand accepted her first role on the New York stage in ''Another Evening with Harry Stoones'', a satirical comedy play in which she acted and sang two solos. The show received terrible reviews and closed the next day. With the help of her new personal manager, [[Martin Erlichman]], she had successful shows in Detroit and St. Louis. Erlichman then booked her at an even more upscale nightclub in [[Manhattan]], the Blue Angel, where she became a bigger hit during the period from 1961 to 1962. Streisand once told [[Jimmy Fallon]], with whom she sang a duet,<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEa_deCZaNA "Jimmy Fallon and Barbra Streisand"], fair use clip {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312122355/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEa_deCZaNA|date=March 12, 2016}}</ref> on the ''[[The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon|Tonight Show]]'', that Erlichman was a "fantastic manager" and still managed her career after 50 years.<ref>video: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vY_LpxYuGg4&t=4m Barbra Streisand on the ''Tonight Show'', 2014]. fair use clip</ref>

While appearing at the Blue Angel, theater director and playwright [[Arthur Laurents]] asked her to audition for a new musical comedy he was directing, ''[[I Can Get It for You Wholesale]]''. She got the part of secretary to the lead actor businessman, played by then unknown [[Elliott Gould]].<ref name="Nickens" />{{rp|9}} They fell in love during rehearsals and eventually moved into a small apartment together. The show opened on March 22, 1962, at the [[Shubert Theatre (Broadway)|Shubert Theater]], and received rave reviews. Her performance "stopped the show cold", wrote Nickens.<ref name="Nickens" />{{rp|9}}<ref name="Nickens" />{{rp|10}} [[Groucho Marx]], while hosting the ''Tonight Show'', told her that 20 was an "extremely young age to be a success on Broadway".<ref>video: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoAX-pgMHZI Barbra Streisand on ''The Tonight Show''], hosted by Groucho Marx, August 21, 1962 – fair use clip</ref> Streisand received a [[Tony Award]] nomination and New York Drama Critic's prize for Best Supporting Actress.<ref>video: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bQ62sL8JtU Barbra Streisand on the ''Tonight Show'', hosted by Johnny Carson], October 4, 1962 – fair use clip</ref> The show was recorded and made into an album.<ref name="Nickens" />{{rp|10}}

==== Early television appearances ====
[[File:Barbra Streisand - 1966.jpg|thumb|left|Streisand in 1966]]
Streisand's first television appearance was on ''[[The Tonight Show]]'', then credited to its regular host, [[Jack Paar]]. She was seen during an April 1961 episode on which [[Orson Bean]] substituted for Paar. She sang [[Harold Arlen]]'s "[[A Sleepin' Bee]]".<ref>{{cite news |last=Tommasini |first=Anthony |date=September 27, 2009 |title=Streisand's Fine Instrument and Classic Instinct |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/27/arts/music/27tomm.html |access-date=April 26, 2010 |work=The New York Times}}</ref> During her appearance, [[Phyllis Diller]], also a guest on the show, called her "one of the great singing talents in the world."<ref>video: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DXvLD-pxms Barbra Streisand on the Jack Paar Show, 1961] – fair use clip</ref>

Later in 1961, before she was cast in ''Another Evening With Harry Stoones'', Streisand became a semi-regular on ''[[PM East/PM West]]'', a talk/variety series hosted by [[Mike Wallace]] and [[Joyce Davidson]].<ref name="barbra-archives1">{{cite web |title='P.M. East P.M. West' at |url=http://barbra-archives.com/tv/60s/pm_east_streisand.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707212349/http://barbra-archives.com/tv/60s/pm_east_streisand.html |archive-date=July 7, 2011 |access-date=August 17, 2011 |publisher=Barbra-archives.com}}</ref> Some of Streisand's ''PM East'' segments survive as audio recordings, and still photos survive, but moving images do not.

In early 1962, she went into the Columbia Records studio for the cast recording of ''I Can Get It for You Wholesale''. Also that spring, she participated in a 25th anniversary studio recording of ''[[Pins and Needles]],'' the classic [[popular front]] musical originated in 1937 by the [[International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union]]. Reviews of both albums highlighted Streisand's performances.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mann |first=William J. |url=https://archive.org/details/hellogorgeousbec0000mann_c6n6/page/213 |title=Hello Gorgeous: Becoming Barbra Streisand |publisher=Houghton Mifflin Harcourt |year=2012 |isbn=978-0-547-36892-4 |location=Boston and New York |pages=[https://archive.org/details/hellogorgeousbec0000mann_c6n6/page/213 213–214, 245]}}</ref>

In May 1962, Streisand appeared on ''[[The Garry Moore Show]]'', where she sang "Happy Days Are Here Again" for the first time. Her sad, slow version of the 1930s upbeat Democratic Party theme song became her [[signature song]] during this early phase of her career.<ref name="Nickens" />{{rp|10}}

[[Johnny Carson]] had her on the ''Tonight Show'' half a dozen times in 1962 and 1963, and she became a favorite of his television audience and himself personally. He described her as an "exciting new singer".<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAS8BDDV8uM Barbra Streisand on Johnny Carson's ''Tonight Show'', 1962] – fair use clip</ref> During one show, she joked with Groucho Marx, who liked her style of humor.<ref name="Nickens" />{{rp|10}}

{{quote box
| quote = She did three or four songs, and she was beyond brilliant – so amazing.
| source = —[[Elliott Gould]], about their first play together in 1961<ref>{{cite web |date=May 12, 2016 |title=Elliott Gould on His Past Marriage to Barbra Streisand – "We Still Love Each Other" |url=http://www.closerweekly.com/posts/elliott-gould-barbra-streisand-marriage-101979 |access-date=November 3, 2018 |website=Closerweekly.com}}</ref>
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In December 1962, Streisand made the first of a number of appearances on ''[[The Ed Sullivan Show]]''. She was later a cohost on ''[[The Mike Douglas Show]]'', and also made an impact on a number of [[Bob Hope]] specials. Performing with her on ''The Ed Sullivan Show'' was [[Liberace]], who became an instant fan of the young singer. Liberace invited her to [[Las Vegas]] to perform as his opening act at the [[Riviera (hotel and casino)|Riviera Hotel]]. He is credited with introducing Streisand to audiences on the West Coast.<ref>Thomas, Bob, (1987) "Liberace, The True Story." (London, Weidenfeld and Nicolson).</ref> The following September, during her ongoing shows at [[Harrah's Lake Tahoe|Harrah's Hotel]] in Lake Tahoe, she and [[Elliott Gould]] took time off to get married in [[Carson City, Nevada]]. With her career and popularity rising so quickly, she saw her marriage to Gould as a "stabilizing influence".<ref name="Nickens" />{{rp|11}}

==== First albums ====
When she was 21, Streisand signed a contract with [[Columbia Records]] that gave her full creative control, in exchange for less money.

Lieberson relented and agreed to sign her. Nearly three decades later, Streisand said:<ref>Barbra Streisand. ''Just for the Record...'' Columbia C4K 44111, 1991, [[liner notes]].</ref><ref name="control" />

{{Blockquote|text=The most important thing about that first contract – actually, the thing we held out for – was a unique clause giving me the right to choose my own material. It was the only thing I really cared about. I still received lots of pressure from the label to include some pop hits on my first album, but I held out for the songs that really meant something to me.}}

She took advantage of this several times during her career.<ref name="control" />

Columbia wanted to call her first album, in early 1963, ''Sweet and Saucy Streisand''; Streisand used her control to insist that it was called ''[[The Barbra Streisand Album]]'', saying "if you saw me on TV, you could just go [to the record shop] and ask for the Barbra Streisand album. It's common sense".<ref name="control" /> It reached the top 10 on the ''Billboard'' chart and won three [[Grammy Award]]s.<ref name="Nickens" />{{rp|11}} The album made her the best-selling female vocalist in the country.<ref name="Nickens" />{{rp|11}} That summer she also released ''[[The Second Barbra Streisand Album]]'', which established her as the "most exciting new personality since [[Elvis Presley]]."<ref name="Nickens" />{{rp|11}} She ended that breakthrough year of 1963 by performing one-night concerts in Indianapolis, San Jose, Chicago, Sacramento, and Los Angeles.<ref name="Nickens" />{{rp|11}}

==== Return to the stage ====
Streisand returned to Broadway in 1964 with an acclaimed performance as entertainer [[Fanny Brice]] in ''[[Funny Girl (musical)|Funny Girl]]'' at the [[Winter Garden Theatre]]. The show introduced two of her signature songs, "People" and "[[Don't Rain on My Parade]]." Because of the musical's overnight success, she appeared on the cover of ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]''. In 1964, Streisand was nominated for a [[Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical]] but lost to [[Carol Channing]] in ''[[Hello, Dolly! (musical)|Hello, Dolly]]!'' Streisand received an honorary "Star of the Decade" Tony Award in 1970.<ref>{{cite news |date=June 19, 2009 |title=Tony Awards Drop Competitive Special Event Category |url=http://goldderby.latimes.com/awards_goldderby/2009/06/tony-awards-retire-competitive-special-theatrical-event-category.html |access-date=February 3, 2014 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref>

In 1966, Streisand repeated her success with ''Funny Girl'' in London's West End at the [[Prince of Wales Theatre]]. From 1965 to 1968 she appeared in her first four solo television specials, including the [[Emmy Award]]–winning ''[[My Name Is Barbra (TV program)|My Name is Barbra]]''.

=== Stardom ===

==== Singing ====
Streisand has recorded 50 studio albums, almost all with [[Columbia Records]]. Her early works in the 1960s (her debut ''[[The Barbra Streisand Album]]'', ''[[The Second Barbra Streisand Album]]'', ''[[The Third Album (Barbra Streisand album)|The Third Album]]'', ''[[My Name Is Barbra]]'', etc.) are considered classic renditions of theatre and cabaret standards, including her pensive version of the normally uptempo "[[Happy Days Are Here Again]]". She performed this in a duet with Judy Garland on ''[[The Judy Garland Show]]''. Garland referred to her on the air as one of the last great [[belting (music)|belters]]. They also sang "[[There's No Business Like Show Business]]", with [[Ethel Merman]] joining them.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7AViKc52P0 Barbra Streisand, Judy Garland, and Ethel Merman on "The Judy Garland Show"], 1963</ref>

[[File:Barbra Streisand singing- 1969.jpg|thumb|left|On ''[[The Ed Sullivan Show]]'' in 1969.]]
Beginning with ''My Name Is Barbra'', her early albums were often medley-filled keepsakes of her television specials. Starting in 1969, she began attempting more contemporary material, but like many talented singers of the day, she found herself out of her element with rock. Her vocal talents prevailed, and she gained newfound success with the pop and ballad-oriented [[Richard Perry]]-produced album ''[[Stoney End (Barbra Streisand album)|Stoney End]]'' in 1971. The [[Stoney End (song)|title track]], written by [[Laura Nyro]], was a major hit for Streisand.

During the 1970s, she was also highly prominent on the pop charts, with Top 10 recordings such as "[[The Way We Were (song)|The Way We Were]]" (US No. 1); "[[Evergreen (Love Theme from A Star Is Born)]]" (US No. 1); "[[No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)]]" (1979, with [[Donna Summer]]), which {{as of|2010|lc=y}} is reportedly still the most commercially successful duet, (US No. 1); "[[You Don't Bring Me Flowers]]" (with [[Neil Diamond]]) (US No. 1); and "The Main Event" (US No. 3), some of which came from soundtrack recordings of her films. As the 1970s ended, Streisand was named the most successful female singer in the U.S. — only [[Elvis Presley]] and [[The Beatles]] had sold more albums.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.riaa.com/news/newsletter/press1999/111099.asp |title=The American Recording Industry Announces its Artists of the Century |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070514091340/http://www.riaa.com/news/newsletter/press1999/111099.asp |date=November 10, 2009 |archive-date=May 14, 2007 |publisher=Recording Industry Association of America |url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1980, she released her best-selling effort to date, the [[Barry Gibb]]-produced ''[[Guilty (Barbra Streisand album)|Guilty]]''. The album contained the hits "[[Woman in Love]]" (which spent several weeks on top of the pop charts in the fall of 1980), "[[Guilty (Barbra Streisand and Barry Gibb song)|Guilty]]", and "[[What Kind of Fool]]".

After years of largely ignoring Broadway and traditional pop music in favor of more contemporary material, Streisand returned to her musical-theater roots. Columbia Records objected that the songs she wanted to sing were not pop songs, but Streisand asserted the full creative control her contract gave her—'I've always had the right to sing what I want'<ref name="control" />—with 1985's ''[[The Broadway Album]]'', which was unexpectedly successful, holding the coveted No. 1 Billboard position for three straight weeks and being certified quadruple platinum. The album featured tunes by [[Rodgers and Hammerstein]], [[George Gershwin]], [[Jerome Kern]], and [[Stephen Sondheim]], who was persuaded to rework some of his songs especially for this recording. ''The Broadway Album'' was met with acclaim, including a Grammy nomination for album of the year, and handed Streisand her eighth Grammy as Best Female Vocalist. After releasing the live album ''[[One Voice (Barbra Streisand album)|One Voice]]'' in 1986, Streisand was set to release another album of Broadway songs in 1988. She recorded several cuts for the album under the direction of [[Rupert Holmes]], including "[[On My Own (Les Misérables)|On My Own]]" (from ''[[Les Misérables (musical)|Les Misérables]]''), a medley of "How Are Things in Glocca Morra?", and "Heather on the Hill" (from ''[[Finian's Rainbow]]'' and ''[[Brigadoon]]'', respectively), "[[All I Ask of You]]" (from ''[[The Phantom of the Opera (1986 musical)|The Phantom of the Opera]]''), "Warm All Over" (from ''[[The Most Happy Fella]]''), and an unusual solo version of "[[Make Our Garden Grow]]" (from ''[[Candide (operetta)|Candide]]''). Streisand was not happy with the direction of the project and it was scrapped. Only "Warm All Over" and a reworked, lite FM-friendly version of "All I Ask of You" were ever released, the latter appearing on Streisand's 1988 effort, ''[[Till I Loved You (album)|Till I Loved You]]''. At the beginning of the 1990s, Streisand started focusing on her film directorial efforts and became almost inactive in the recording studio. In 1991, a four-disc box set, ''Just for the Record'', was released. A compilation spanning Streisand's entire career to date, it featured over 70 tracks of live performances, greatest hits, rarities, and previously unreleased material.

[[File:Barbra Streisand Allan Warren.jpg|thumb|Streisand taping her TV Special ''Barbra Streisand ... and other Musical Instruments'' in 1973.]]
The following year, Streisand's concert fundraising events helped propel President [[Bill Clinton]] into the spotlight and into office.<ref>{{cite web |last=Newfield |first=Jack |date=November 1996 |title=Diva Democracy |url=http://barbra-archives.com/bjs_library/90s/george_1996.html |access-date=August 17, 2011 |work=George |publisher=Barbra-archives.com}}</ref> Streisand later introduced Clinton at his inauguration in 1993. Streisand's music career, however, was largely on hold. A 1992 appearance at an APLA benefit, as well as the aforementioned inaugural performance, hinted that Streisand was becoming more receptive to the idea of live performances. A tour was suggested, though Streisand would not immediately commit to it, citing her well-known stage fright as well as security concerns. During this time, Streisand finally returned to the recording studio and released ''[[Back to Broadway]]'' in June 1993. The album was not as universally lauded as its predecessor, but it did debut at No. 1 on the pop charts (a rare feat for an artist of Streisand's age, especially given that it relegated [[Janet Jackson]]'s ''[[Janet (album)|Janet]]'' to the No. 2 spot). One of the album's highlights was a medley of "[[I Have A Love/One Hand, One Heart|I Have A Love" / "One Hand, One Heart]]", a duet with [[Johnny Mathis]], who Streisand said is one of her favorite singers.<ref>{{cite book |last=Waldman |first=Allison J. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-KkkPwXeGZkC&pg=PA14 |title=The Barbra Streisand Scrapbook |publisher=[[Citadel Press]] |year=2001 |isbn=0-8065-2218-6 |page=14 |access-date=December 13, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Nudd |first1=Tim |last2=Wihlborg |first2=Ulrica |date=April 26, 2012 |title=Barbra Streisand Celebrates 70th Birthday with John Travolta & Celeb Pals |url=https://people.com/tag/barbra-streisand/ |access-date=December 13, 2012 |work=People}}</ref>

In 1993, ''The New York Times'' music critic [[Stephen Holden]] wrote that Streisand "enjoys a cultural status that only one other American entertainer, Frank Sinatra, has achieved in the last half century".<ref>{{cite news |last=Holden |first=Stephen |date=June 27, 1993 |title=Barbra Streisand Mixes Star Power And High Concept |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/06/27/arts/recordings-view-barbra-streisand-mixes-star-power-and-high-concept.html |access-date=August 17, 2011 |work=The New York Times}}</ref> In September 1993, Streisand announced her first public concert appearances in 27 years (discounting her Las Vegas nightclub performances between 1969 and 1972). What began as a two-night New Year's event at the [[MGM Grand Las Vegas]] led to a multi-city tour in the summer of 1994. Tickets for the tour sold out in under an hour. Streisand also appeared on the covers of major magazines in anticipation of what ''Time magazine'' named "The Music Event of the Century". The tour was one of the biggest all-media merchandise parlays in history. Ticket prices ranged from US$50 to US$1,500, making Streisand the highest-paid concert performer in history at the time. ''[[The Concert (Barbra Streisand album)|Barbra Streisand: The Concert]]'' went on to be the top-grossing concert of the year and earned five [[Emmy Awards]] and the [[Peabody Award]], while the taped broadcast on [[HBO]] was the highest-rated concert special in HBO's 30-year history. Following the tour's conclusion, Streisand once again kept a low profile musically, instead focusing her efforts on acting and directing duties as well as a burgeoning romance with actor [[James Brolin]].

In 1996, Streisand released "[[I Finally Found Someone]]" as a duet with Canadian singer and songwriter [[Bryan Adams]]. The song was nominated for an Oscar, as it was part of the soundtrack of Streisand's self-directed movie ''[[The Mirror Has Two Faces]]''. It reached #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was her first significant hit in almost a decade and her first top 10 hit on the Hot 100 (and first gold single) since 1981.

In 1997, she finally returned to the recording studio, releasing ''[[Higher Ground (Barbra Streisand album)|Higher Ground]]'', a collection of songs of a loosely inspirational nature that also featured a duet with [[Céline Dion]]. The album received generally favorable reviews and once again debuted at No. 1 on the pop charts. Following her marriage to Brolin in 1998, Streisand recorded ''[[A Love Like Ours]]'' the following year. Reviews were mixed, with many critics complaining about the somewhat syrupy sentiments and overly lush arrangements; however, it did produce a modest hit for Streisand in the country-tinged "If You Ever Leave Me", a duet with [[Vince Gill]].

On New Year's Eve 1999, Streisand returned to the concert stage, selling out in the first few hours, eight months before her return.<ref>{{cite web |title=Biography |url=http://www.barbrastreisand.com/us/biography |access-date=December 13, 2012 |publisher=barbrastreisand.com}}</ref> At the end of the millennium, she was the number one female singer in the U.S., with at least two No. 1 albums in each decade since she began performing. A two-disc live album, ''[[Timeless: Live in Concert]]'', was released in 2000. Streisand performed versions of the ''Timeless'' concert in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia, in early 2000. In advance of four concerts (two each in Los Angeles and New York) in September 2000, Streisand announced that she was retiring from playing public concerts. Her performance of the song "[[People (1964 song)|People]]" was broadcast on the Internet via America Online.

Streisand's subsequent albums included ''[[Christmas Memories]]'' (2001), a somewhat somber collection of holiday songs, and ''[[The Movie Album (Barbra Streisand album)|The Movie Album]]'' (2003), featuring famous film themes and backed by a large symphony orchestra. ''[[Guilty Pleasures (Barbra Streisand album)|Guilty Pleasures]]'' (called ''Guilty Too'' in the UK), a collaboration with Barry Gibb and a sequel to their ''Guilty'', was released worldwide in 2005.

[[File:Barbra-streisand07 (cropped).jpg|alt=|thumb|Streisand performing in July 2007 at [[The O2 Arena]] in London.]]

In February 2006, Streisand recorded the song "Smile" alongside [[Tony Bennett]] at Streisand's [[Malibu, California|Malibu]] home. The song is included on Bennett's 80th birthday album, ''[[Duets (Barbra Streisand album)|Duets]]''. In September 2006, the pair filmed a live performance of the song for ''Tony Bennett: An American Classic'', directed by [[Rob Marshall]]. The special aired on NBC on November 21, 2006, and was released on DVD the same day. Streisand's duet with Bennett opened the special.

That same year, Streisand announced her intent to tour again, in an effort to raise money and awareness for multiple issues. After four days of rehearsal at the [[Sovereign Bank Arena]] in [[Trenton, New Jersey]], the [[Streisand (concert tour)|2006 Streisand concert tour]] began on October 4 at the [[Wachovia Center]] in [[Philadelphia]], continued with a featured stop in [[Sunrise, Florida]], and concluded at Staples Center in Los Angeles on November 20, 2006. Special guests [[Il Divo]] were interwoven throughout the show. Streisand's 20-concert tour set box office records. At the age of 64, she grossed $92,457,062 and set house gross records in 14 of the 16 arenas played on the tour. She set the third-place record for her show of October 9, 2006, at Madison Square Garden, the first- and second-place records, of which are held by her two shows in September 2000. She set the second-place record at [[MGM Grand Garden Arena]], with her December 31, 1999, show being the house record and highest-grossing concert of all time. This led many people to openly criticize Streisand for [[price gouging]], as many tickets sold for upwards of $1,000.<ref>{{cite news |last=Tierney |first=John |date=June 26, 1994 |title=The Big City; Scalping, Fair and Square |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/06/26/magazine/the-big-city-scalping-fair-and-square.html |access-date=December 4, 2013 |work=The New York Times}}</ref>

A collection of performances culled from different stops on this tour, ''[[Live in Concert 2006]]'', debuted at No. 7 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]], making it Streisand's 29th Top 10 album.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=July 7, 2007 |title=Chart Beat Chat |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1052029/chart-beat-chat |access-date=July 26, 2012 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> In the summer of 2007, Streisand gave concerts for the first time in continental Europe. The first concert took place in [[Zürich]] (June 18), then Vienna (June 22), Paris (June 26), Berlin (June 30), [[Stockholm]] (July 4, canceled), [[Manchester]] (July 10), and [[Celbridge]], near [[Dublin]] (July 14), followed by three concerts in London (July 18, 22 and 25), the only European city where Streisand had performed before 2007. Tickets for the London dates cost between £100.00 and £1,500.00, and for Ireland, between €118 and €500. The Ireland date was marred by issues with serious parking and seating problems, leading to the event's being dubbed a fiasco by ''[[Hot Press]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Streisand fiasco: Fear and loathing in Castletown House |url=http://www.hotpress.com/features/reports/The-Streisand-fiasco--Fear-and-loathing-in-Castletown-House/3926410.html |access-date=December 4, 2013 |work=Hot Press}}</ref> The tour included a 58-piece orchestra.

In February 2008, ''[[Forbes]]'' listed Streisand as the No. 2-earning female musician between June 2006 and June 2007, with earnings of about $60&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite news |last=Pomerantz |first=Dorothy |title=In Pictures: The Top-Earning Women In Music |url=https://www.forbes.com/2008/01/28/music-madonna-hollywood-biz-cz_dp_0129musicwomen_slide_3.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081027232611/http://www.forbes.com/2008/01/28/music-madonna-hollywood-biz-cz_dp_0129musicwomen_slide_3.html |archive-date=October 27, 2008 |access-date=November 2, 2008 |work=Forbes}}</ref> On November 17, 2008, Streisand returned to the studio to begin recording what would be her 63rd album<ref name="wash">Marks, Peter (December 7, 2008). [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/05/AR2008120500947.html "Kennedy Center Honoree Barbra Streisand."] ''[[The Washington Post]].'' Retrieved December 10, 2008.</ref> and it was announced that [[Diana Krall]] was producing the album.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gardner |first=Elysa |date=April 10, 2009 |title=For Diana Krall, quiet time is a rare thing |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2009-04-09-krall-quiet-nights_N.htm |access-date=August 17, 2011 |work=USA Today}}</ref> Streisand is one of the recipients of the 2008 Kennedy Center Honors.<ref>Frey, Jennifer. (December 8, 2008). [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/07/AR2008120702715.html "A Night Filled With Extra Stars."] ''The Washington Post''. Retrieved December 10, 2008.</ref> On December 7, 2008, she visited the White House as part of the ceremonies.<ref name="wash" />

On April 25, 2009, [[CBS]] aired Streisand's latest television special, ''Streisand: Live in Concert'', highlighting the featured stop from her 2006 North American tour in [[Fort Lauderdale]], Florida. On September 26, 2009, Streisand performed a one-night-only show at the [[Village Vanguard]] in New York City's Greenwich Village.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sisario |first=Ben |date=September 28, 2009 |title=Lucky Streisand Fans Were A-Listers for a Night |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/28/arts/music/28stre.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130113194207/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/28/arts/music/28stre.html |archive-date=January 13, 2013 |access-date=April 26, 2010 |work=The New York Times}}</ref> This performance was later released on DVD as ''[[One Night Only: Barbra Streisand and Quartet at The Village Vanguard]].'' On September 29, 2009, Streisand and Columbia Records released the studio album ''[[Love Is the Answer (album)|Love is the Answer]]'', produced by Diana Krall.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.barbrastreisand.com/ca/home?page=news&n_id=1258 |title=Barbra Streisand official site |date=June 22, 2009 |publisher=Barbrastreisand.com |access-date=August 17, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111001041844/http://www.barbrastreisand.com/ca/home?page=news&n_id=1258 |archive-date=October 1, 2011}}</ref> On October 2, 2009, Streisand made her British television performance debut with an interview on ''[[Friday Night with Jonathan Ross]]'' to promote the album. This album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and registered her biggest weekly sales since 1997, making Streisand the only artist in history to achieve No. 1 albums in five different decades.

On February 1, 2010, Streisand joined over 80 other artists in recording a new version of the 1985 charity single "[[We Are the World]]". [[Quincy Jones]] and [[Lionel Richie]] planned to release the new version to mark the 25th anniversary of its original recording. These plans changed, however, in view of the devastating earthquake that hit [[Haiti]] on January 12, 2010, and on February 12, the song, now called "[[We Are the World 25 for Haiti]]", made its debut as a charity single to support relief aid for the island nation.

Streisand was honored as [[MusiCares Person of the Year]] on February 11, 2011, two days prior to the 53rd Annual [[Grammy Awards]].<ref>{{cite news |date=January 10, 2011 |title=Barbra Streisand Named 2011 MusiCares Person of the Year |url=http://www.grammy.org/musicares/news/barbra-streisand-named-2011-musicares-person-of-year |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170626193632/https://www.grammy.org/musicares/news/barbra-streisand-named-2011-musicares-person-of-year |archive-date=June 26, 2017 |access-date=September 13, 2012 |publisher=grammy.org}}</ref> That same year, Streisand sang "[[Somewhere (song)|Somewhere]]" from the Broadway musical ''[[West Side Story]]'', with [[child prodigy]] [[Jackie Evancho]], on Evancho's album ''[[Dream with Me]]''.<ref>{{cite web |date=June 17, 2011 |title=Jackie Explains Duet |url=http://barbratimeless.com/2009jackie.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130121002637/http://barbratimeless.com/2009jackie.htm |archive-date=January 21, 2013 |access-date=September 13, 2012 |publisher=barbratimeless.com}}</ref>

On October 11, 2012, Streisand gave a three-hour concert performance before a crowd of 18,000 as part of the ongoing inaugural events of [[Barclays Center]] (and part of her current ''Barbra Live'' tour) in Brooklyn (her first-ever public performance in her home borough). Streisand was joined onstage by trumpeter [[Chris Botti]], Italian operatic trio [[Il Volo]], and her son, [[Jason Gould]]. The concert included musical tributes by Streisand to Donna Summer and [[Marvin Hamlisch]], both of whom had died earlier in 2012. Confirmed attendees included [[Barbara Walters]], [[Jimmy Fallon]], [[Sting (musician)|Sting]], [[Katie Couric]], [[Woody Allen]], [[Michael Douglas]], and New York City mayor [[Michael Bloomberg]], as well as designers [[Calvin Klein]], [[Donna Karan]], [[Ralph Lauren]], and [[Michael Kors]].<ref>{{cite news |author=Gardner, Elysa |date=October 12, 2012 |title=Her name is Barbra, and Brooklyn is her town |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2012/10/11/barbra-streisand-brooklyn-concert/1628669/ |access-date=October 12, 2012 |newspaper=[[USA Today]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Fekadu, Mesfin |date=October 12, 2012 |title=Barbra Streisand Is a Proud Brooklynite at Concert |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/entertainment/articles/2012/10/12/barbra-streisand-is-a-proud-brooklynite-at-concert |access-date=October 12, 2012 |newspaper=Associated Press (via [[U.S. News & World Report]])}}</ref> In June 2013, she gave two concerts in [[Bloomfield Stadium]], [[Tel Aviv]].

Streisand is one of many singers who use [[teleprompter]]s during their live performances. Streisand has defended her choice in using teleprompters to display lyrics and, sometimes, banter.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=September 25, 2009 |title=Barbra Streisand &#124; Streisand's Stagefright Prompted By Forgotten Lyrics |url=http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/story/streisands-stagefright-prompted-by-forgotten-lyrics_1117130 |access-date=August 17, 2011 |magazine=Contactmusic}}</ref>

In September 2014,<ref>{{cite web |title=Barbra Streisand sings with Elvis on new album |url=http://www.musicweek.com/news/read/barbra-streisand-sings-with-elvis-on-new-album/059352 |access-date=November 8, 2014 |work=Music Week}}</ref> she released ''[[Partners (Barbra Streisand album)|Partners]]'', a new album of duets that features collaborations with Elvis Presley, [[Andrea Bocelli]], [[Stevie Wonder]], Lionel Richie, [[Billy Joel]], [[Babyface (musician)|Babyface]], [[Michael Bublé]], [[Josh Groban]], [[John Mayer]], [[John Legend]], [[Blake Shelton]], and Jason Gould. This album topped the ''Billboard'' 200, with sales of 196,000 copies in the first week, making Streisand the only recording artist to have a number-one album in each of the last six decades.<ref>[http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/6259282/barbra-streisand-no-1-partners "Barbra Streisand Makes History at No. 1 on ''Billboard'' 200 Chart"]. ''Billboard'' Chart Beat. September 23, 2014.</ref> It was also certified gold in November 2014 and platinum in January 2015, thus becoming Streisand's 52nd gold and 31st Platinum album, more than any other female artist in history.<ref>{{cite web |date=November 7, 2014 |title=Gay icon Barbra Streisand makes more history with latest album |url=http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/gay-icon-barbra-streisand-makes-more-history-latest-album071114#sthash.kqPUWSbU.dpuf |access-date=November 8, 2014 |work=Gay Star News}}</ref>

In May 2016, Streisand announced the upcoming album ''[[Encore: Movie Partners Sing Broadway]]'', to be released in August following a nine-city concert tour, ''[[Barbra: The Music, The Mem'ries, The Magic]]'', including performances in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, and a return to her hometown of Brooklyn.<ref>{{cite web |title=Breaking News: Barbra Streisand is Headed Back on 9-City Tour; Plus Reveals Third Broadway Album |url=http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Breaking-News-Barbra-Streisand-is-Headed-Back-on-9-City-Tour-Plus-Reveals-Third-Broadway-Album-20160516 |access-date=May 16, 2016 |work=broaDwayWorldNews}}</ref> In June 2018, Streisand confirmed she was working on the new studio album ''[[Walls (Barbra Streisand album)|Walls]]'',<ref>{{cite web |last=Sheehan |first=Paul |date=June 21, 2018 |title=Barbra Streisand interview: Emmys and new Netflix concert special |url=https://www.goldderby.com/article/2018/barbra-streisand-interview-netflix-emmy-news/ |access-date=September 27, 2018 |work=[[Gold Derby]]}}</ref> released November 2, 2018, just prior to the U.S. midterm election. The album's lead single, "[[Don't Lie to Me]]", was written as a criticism of America's political climate amid the [[First presidency of Donald Trump|presidency of Donald Trump]],<ref name="billboard-9-27">{{cite magazine |title=Barbra Streisand Talks New Album ''Walls'' and its Trump-Dissing single "Don't Lie to Me" |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/8477132/barbra-streisand-new-album-walls-interview |access-date=September 28, 2018 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]}}</ref><ref name="huffpost-9-27">{{cite web |date=September 27, 2018 |title=Barbra Streisand's New Song "Don't Lie to Me" Is a Pointed Trump Dig |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/barbra-streisand-dont-lie-to-me-donald-trump_us_5bacfe92e4b0425e3c2128c0 |access-date=September 28, 2018 |work=[[HuffPost]]}}</ref> while the title track alludes to Trump's frequent calls for a [[Mexico–United States border wall|wall at the Mexico border]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Haberman |first=Maggie |date=October 30, 2018 |title=Barbra Streisand Can't Get Trump Out of Her Head. So She Sang About Him. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/30/arts/music/barbra-streisand-walls-trump.html |access-date=October 30, 2018 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>

Streisand released the single "Love Will Survive", from the television series ''[[The Tattooist of Auschwitz (TV series)|The Tattooist of Auschwitz]]'', on April 25, 2024.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Legaspi |first=Althea |date=April 17, 2024 |title=Barbra Streisand to Release 'Love Will Survive,' Her First-Ever Song for a TV Series |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/barbra-streisand-announces-love-will-survive-song-the-tattooist-of-auschwitz-1235005996/ |access-date=April 26, 2024 |magazine=Rolling Stone}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=McCormick |first=Neil |date=April 25, 2024 |title=Barbra Streisand, Love Will Survive, review: an astonishing confrontation of anti-Semitism |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/barbra-streisand-love-will-survive-tattooist-of-auschwitz/ |access-date=April 26, 2024 |website=The Telegraph}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Dailey |first=Hannah |date=April 25, 2024 |title=Barbra Streisand's New Single 'Love Will Survive' for 'Tattooist of Auschwitz' Is Here: Stream It Now |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/barbra-streisand-new-single-love-will-survive-listen-1235666054/ |access-date=April 26, 2024 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref>

==== Acting ====
[[File:Streisand - Dolly signed.jpg|thumb|Streisand in ''[[Hello, Dolly! (film)|Hello, Dolly!]]'' (1969).]]
Streisand's first film was a reprise of her Broadway hit ''[[Funny Girl (film)|Funny Girl]]'' (1968), an artistic and commercial success directed by Hollywood veteran [[William Wyler]]. She won the 1968 [[Academy Award for Best Actress]] for the role,<ref>{{cite web |title=Funny Girl (1968) |url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/25128/funny-girl#articles-reviews |access-date=September 13, 2012 |work=[[Turner Classic Movies|tcm]]}}</ref> sharing it with [[Katharine Hepburn]] (''[[The Lion in Winter (1968 film)|The Lion in Winter]]''), the only time there has been a tie in this [[Academy Awards|Oscar]] category.<ref>{{cite book |last=Heinemann |first=Sue |url=https://archive.org/details/timelinesofameri00hein/page/362 |title=Timelines of American Women's History |publisher=Perigee Trade |year=1996 |isbn=978-0-399-51986-4 |page=[https://archive.org/details/timelinesofameri00hein/page/362 362]}}</ref> Her next two movies were also based on musicals—[[Jerry Herman]]'s ''[[Hello, Dolly! (film)|Hello, Dolly!]]'', directed by [[Gene Kelly]] (1969); and [[Alan Jay Lerner]]'s and [[Burton Lane]]'s ''[[On a Clear Day You Can See Forever (film)|On a Clear Day You Can See Forever]]'', directed by [[Vincente Minnelli]] (1970)—while her fourth film was based on the Broadway play ''[[The Owl and the Pussycat (film)|The Owl and the Pussycat]]'' (1970).

During the 1970s, Streisand starred in several [[screwball comedies]], including ''[[What's Up, Doc? (1972 film)|What's Up, Doc?]]'' (1972) and ''[[The Main Event (1979 film)|The Main Event]]'' (1979), both co-starring [[Ryan O'Neal]], and ''[[For Pete's Sake (film)|For Pete's Sake]]'' (1974) with [[Michael Sarrazin]]. One of her most famous roles during this period was in the drama ''[[The Way We Were]]'' (1973) with [[Robert Redford]], for which she received an [[Academy Award]] nomination as Best Actress. She earned her second Academy Award for [[Academy Award for Best Original Song|Best Original Song]] (with lyricist [[Paul Williams (songwriter)|Paul Williams]]) for the song "[[Evergreen (Love Theme from A Star Is Born)|Evergreen]]", from ''[[A Star Is Born (1976 film)|A Star Is Born]]'' in 1976,<ref>{{cite web |last=Ruhlmann |first=William |title=A Star Is Born |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/a-star-is-born-mw0000196532 |access-date=September 13, 2012 |website=AllMusic}}</ref> in which she also starred.

Along with [[Paul Newman]], [[Sidney Poitier]], and later [[Steve McQueen]], Streisand formed [[First Artists Production Company]] in 1969 so that actors could secure properties and develop movie projects for themselves. Streisand's initial outing with First Artists was ''[[Up the Sandbox]]'' (1972).<ref>{{cite web |title=Looking at First Artists |url=http://barbratimeless.com/2009firstartists.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100113170554/http://www.barbratimeless.com/2009firstartists.htm |archive-date=January 13, 2010 |access-date=September 13, 2012 |website=Barbratimes.com}}</ref>

From 1969 to 1980, Streisand appeared in [[Top Ten Money Making Stars Poll]], the annual motion picture exhibitors poll of Top 10 Box Office attractions a total of 10 times,<ref>{{cite news |date=April 14, 2005 |title=Top Ten Money Making Stars |url=http://www.quigleypublishing.com/MPalmanac/Top10/Top10_lists.html |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141221063625/http://www.quigleypublishing.com/MPalmanac/Top10/Top10_lists.html |archive-date=December 21, 2014 |access-date=August 17, 2011 |publisher=Quigley Publishing Company}}</ref> often as the only woman on the list. After the commercially disappointing ''[[All Night Long (1981 film)|All Night Long]]'' in 1981, Streisand's film output decreased considerably. She has acted in only eight films since.

{{quote box
| quote = I'm impressed with her choosing ''Yentl''; it was extraordinary. But for some reason, Hollywood turned against her ... there was a lack of sympathy toward her ... Christ, she could have played ''[[Cleopatra (1963 film)|Cleopatra]]'' better than [[Liz Taylor]], with her enormous power and the subtlety of her singing ... She is one of the great actresses and she hasn't been well used.
| source = —Director [[John Huston]], ''Playboy'' interview, 1985<ref>Grobel, Lawrence. "Playboy Interview with John Huston," ''Playboy'' magazine, September 1985</ref>
| align = left
| width = 25em
| bgcolor = Cornsilk
}}

Streisand produced a number of her own films, setting up Barwood Films in 1972. ''[[Yentl (film)|Yentl]]'' (1983) was turned down by every Hollywood studio at least once when she proposed both directing and starring in the film, until Orion Pictures took on the project and gave the film a budget of $14&nbsp;million.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Spada |first=James |date=December 1983 |title=Streisand's 15-Year Quest to Make 'Yentl' |journal=Billboard (Archive: 1963–2000) |volume=95 |pages=BS8, BS10 |id={{ProQuest| }} }}</ref> For ''Yentl'' (1983), she was producer, director, and star, an experience she repeated for ''[[The Prince of Tides]]'' (1991) and ''[[The Mirror Has Two Faces]]'' (1996). There was controversy when ''Yentl'' received five Academy Award nominations but none for the major categories of Best Picture, Actress, or Director.<ref>[http://www.filmsite.org/aa83.html ''1983 Academy Awards Winners and History'']. Filmsite.com.</ref> ''The Prince of Tides'' received even more Oscar nominations, including Best Picture and Best Screenplay, although not for director. Upon completion of the film, its screenwriter, [[Pat Conroy]], who also authored the novel, called Streisand "a goddess who walks upon the earth."<ref name="Nickens" />{{rp|xii}}

Streisand also co-scripted ''Yentl'' (with [[Jack Rosenthal]]), something for which she is not always given credit.<ref>{{cite web |title=Yentl (1983) |url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086619/reference |website=IMDb}}</ref> According to ''[[The New York Times]]'' editor [[Andrew Rosenthal]], in an interview with Allan Wolper, "The one thing that makes Barbra Streisand crazy is when nobody gives her the credit for having written ''Yentl''."<ref>{{cite web |title=Listen to On-Demand audio |url=http://wbgo-web.streamguys.net/audio/onDemand.php?podcastID=688 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110425152920/http://wbgo-web.streamguys.net/audio/onDemand.php?podcastID=688 |archive-date=April 25, 2011 |access-date=September 11, 2009 |work=streamguys.net}}</ref>

After an eight-year hiatus of screen roles, Streisand returned to film acting for the comedy ''[[Meet the Fockers]]'' (2004, a sequel to ''[[Meet the Parents]]''), playing opposite [[Dustin Hoffman]], [[Ben Stiller]], [[Blythe Danner]], and [[Robert De Niro]].

[[File:Streisand - Clear Day 1970.JPG|thumb|Streisand in ''[[On a Clear Day You Can See Forever (film)|On a Clear Day You Can See Forever]]'' (1970).]]
In 2005, Streisand's Barwood Films, Gary Smith, and Sonny Murray purchased the rights to [[Simon Mawer]]'s book ''Mendel's Dwarf''.<ref>{{cite news |date=April 14, 2005 |title=Streisand buys 'Dwarf' |url=https://variety.com/article/VR1117921148.html |access-date=August 17, 2011 |work=Variety}}{{dead link|date=November 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> In December 2008, she stated that she was considering directing an adaptation of [[Larry Kramer]]'s play ''[[The Normal Heart]]'', a project she has worked on since the mid-1990s.<ref>{{cite news |last=Witchel |first=Alex |date=January 12, 1995 |title=AT HOME WITH: Larry Kramer; When a Roaring Lion Learns to Purr |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/01/12/garden/at-home-with-larry-kramer-when-a-roaring-lion-learns-to-purr.html |access-date=August 17, 2011 |work=The New York Times}}</ref>

Streisand reprised the role of Roz Focker in ''[[Little Fockers]]'' (2010, alongside Dustin Hoffman), the third film from the ''Meet the Parents'' trilogy.

Paramount Pictures gave the green light to begin shooting the [[road trip]] comedy ''My Mother's Curse'' in early 2011, with [[Seth Rogen]] playing Streisand's character's son. [[Anne Fletcher]] directed the project, with a script by [[Dan Fogelman]], produced by [[Lorne Michaels]], [[John Goldwyn]], and [[Evan Goldberg]]. Executive producers included Streisand, Rogen, Fogelman, and [[David Ellison]], whose [[Skydance Productions]] co-financed the [[road movie]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Belloni |first=Matthew |date=January 28, 2011 |title=Exclusive: Barbra Streisand, Seth Rogen to Star in 'My Mother's Curse' for Paramount |url=https://hollywoodreporter.com/news/barbra-streisand-seth-rogen-star-94217 |access-date=July 26, 2012 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref> Shooting began in spring 2011 and wrapped in July; the film's title was eventually altered to ''[[The Guilt Trip (film)|The Guilt Trip]]'', and the movie was released in December 2012.

Plans emerged in 2015 for Streisand to direct a feature biopic about the 18th-century Russian empress [[Catherine the Great]], based on the top 2014 Black List script produced by [[Gil Netter]],<ref>{{cite news |date=December 3, 2015 |title=Barbra Streisand Directing 'Catherine the Great' Movie |url=https://variety.com/2015/film/news/barbra-streisand-catherine-the-great-movie-1201653005/ |access-date=December 10, 2015 |work=Variety Media}}</ref> with [[Keira Knightley]] starring.<ref>{{cite news |date=February 17, 2016 |title=Keira Knightley Circling Catherine the Great Biopic |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/keira-knightley-circling-catherine-great-867127 |access-date=May 31, 2020 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref>  Streisand was also set to star in a film adaptation of the musical ''[[Gypsy (musical)|Gypsy]]''{{spaced ndash}} featuring music by [[Jules Styne]], book by [[Arthur Laurents]], and lyrics by [[Stephen Sondheim]]{{spaced ndash}} with [[Richard LaGravenese]] attached to the project as screenwriter.<ref>Perlman, Jake (August 1, 2014). [https://ew.com/article/2014/08/01/gypsy-film-barbra-streisand "The 'Gypsy' Film with Barbra Streisand Might Still Be Happening After All"]. ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''. Retrieved June 16, 2015.</ref> Streisand was in advanced negotiations to star and produce the film in April 2016, to be directed by [[Barry Levinson]] and distributed by [[STX Entertainment]].<ref>{{cite news |date=April 11, 2016 |title=Barbra Streisand, Barry Levinson Reviving 'Gypsy' for STX Entertainment|url=https://variety.com/2016/film/news/barbra-streisand-gypsy-barry-levinson-1201750655/ |access-date=April 11, 2016 |work=Variety}}</ref> Two months later, the film's script had been completed and production was scheduled to begin in early 2017.<ref>{{cite news |date=July 14, 2016 |title=Barbra Streisand Gypsy Film Script Complete and Aiming for 2017 Start |url=http://www.playbill.com/article/barbra-streisand-gypsy-film-script-complete-and-aiming-for-2017-start |access-date=July 14, 2016 |work=Playbill}}</ref> Streisand reportedly exited the project,<ref>{{cite web |last=Fleming |first=Mike Jr. |date=February 6, 2019 |title='Marvelous Mrs. Maisel's Amy Sherman-Palladino Revives 'Gypsy' At New Regency |url=https://deadline.com/2019/02/gypsy-amy-sherman-palladino-the-marvelous-mrs-maisel-revival-new-regency-1202551539/ |access-date=December 29, 2022 |work=Deadline}}</ref> and both [[Development hell|failed to move into production]].