Boodles BonBon
BonBon Short Video: Bette Midler – Tenterfield Saddler
By Boodles BonBon
May 22, 2026
This performance is from the 1993 Peter Allen Tribute Concert at UCLA, where Bette sang “I Could Marry the Rain” and “Tenterfield Saddler.”
During “Tenterfield Saddler,” Bette:
Finishes strong, with the emotional punch the song demands.
Loses her place in the lyrics briefly — a classic moment for a song she didn’t perform regularly.
Laughs it off, makes a face, and ad?libs her way back into the verse.
Wins the audience back instantly, because she’s Bette Midler and self?deprecation is her superpower.
Even though the “mistake” is small, it’s beloved because:
It’s become a fan?favorite bootleg moment, preserved in the Bootleg Betty archive.
It shows her affection for Peter Allen. She’s performing material deeply tied to his life and legacy.
It’s peak Divine Miss M energy — turning a flub into a performance beat.
It humanizes a notoriously polished performer.
