Bootleg Betty
Who were some of Bette’s favorite songwriters?
By Mister D
March 23, 2026
Who are some of Bette’s favorite songwriters?
Bette Midler has never released a single definitive ranked list of her “favorite songmakers” (songwriters/composers), but her interviews, tributes, song choices, covers, and public statements over the decades reveal a clear pattern of admiration for certain ones. She often highlights those whose work blends emotional depth, storytelling, wit, vulnerability, and originality—qualities that align with her own theatrical, interpretive style.
Here are some of the most consistently praised or frequently embraced ones:
John Prine: One of the most explicit shout-outs from Bette. She’s called him “one of my favorite writers,” praising his songs as “pure Proustian existentialism” and “Midwestern mind trips to the nth degree.” She covered classics like “Hello in There” (a haunting, sentimental favorite she performed on TV specials and shows like The Tonight Show in the ’70s) and introduced many fans to his work early on. Prine’s narrative folk style clearly resonated deeply with her.
Tom Waits: As we’ve discussed, this is a strong, personal favorite through action and history. They were friends starting in the mid-1970s (with Bette once saying her idea of a good time in LA was grabbing Fatburgers with him), had an intermittent romantic connection, and collaborated on the duet “I Never Talk to Strangers” (1977’s Foreign Affairs, also on her Broken Blossom). She repeatedly covered his material—”Martha” (a raw, emotional standout on Saturday Night Live in 1979), “Shiver Me Timbers,” “Broken Bicycles” (in her 1983 Art or Bust special), and “Rainbow Sleeves” (in Divine Madness outtakes). His gritty, poetic, bohemian storytelling and barroom noir vibe complement her flair perfectly, and fans note she brings extra heart to his songs.
Laura Nyro: Bette has gotten visibly emotional in tributes, calling her “a complete original” and “an ornament on the Earth” in a moving remembrance (e.g., at a 2012 event honoring Nyro). Nyro’s soulful, introspective, piano-driven songwriting influenced Bette’s ballad choices and emotional delivery.
Bob Dylan: She’s interpreted his work with depth (e.g., a powerful “I Shall Be Released” in Divine Madness), and his poetic, folk-rooted lyrics fit her love for storytellers who evoke big feelings.
Others she’s shown a strong affinity for through covers, performances, or comments:
*The Andrews Sisters (and their swing-era collaborators): Huge idols for her boogie-woogie and retro numbers like “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.”
- Classic Tin Pan Alley figures like Johnny Mercer, Harold Arlen (e.g., “Come Rain or Come Shine”), and Great American Songbook composers.
- Contemporary hits she championed: Amanda McBroom (“The Rose”), Julie Gold (“From a Distance”), Marshall Crenshaw (“Favorite Waste of Time”).
- In 2012, she received the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame, celebrating her gift for elevating songs. Her tastes lean toward authentic voices—whether folk poets like Prine and Waits, soulful originals like Nyro, or theatrical standards—over flashy pop.
