Eartha Kitt
“A purring, panther-like voice and a fearless spirit that refused to be tamed.”
In 1953, Eartha Kitt recorded 'C'est si bon' and the sly Christmas novelty 'Santa Baby,' showcasing the purring, feline delivery that made her an international sensation. Orson Welles had already dubbed her 'the most exciting woman in the world,' and the records turned that praise into stardom.
From Cotton Fields to Cabaret
Born Eartha Mae Keith in rural South Carolina in 1927, she endured a harsh, impoverished childhood. A scholarship to the Katherine Dunham dance company carried her to New York and then Europe.
An International Star
Parisian nightclubs and Broadway's New Faces made her a multilingual cabaret sensation. Her purring voice and exotic glamour produced hits like Santa Baby and C'est si bon.
Outspoken and Resilient
Her 1968 anti-war comments at the White House nearly ended her US career, but she rebuilt it abroad and on stage. She enjoyed a late renaissance in disco, theater, and animated films.
Career Timeline
- 1927Born in South Carolina. Harlem second.
- 1953Santa Baby.
- 1968The White House lunch. The bookings thin.
- 2008Dies on Christmas Day at eighty-one.
Biggest Hits
- Her 1968 anti-Vietnam War remarks at a White House luncheon stalled her US career for years.
- She replaced Julie Newmar as Catwoman in Batman's final season in 1967.
The Moment You Remember
At a 1968 White House luncheon, when asked about the nation's youth, Eartha Kitt spoke plainly against the Vietnam War. The room fell silent. It was a moment of conviction that cost her dearly at home, yet it remains a defining image of an artist's courage.
Portrait: Boris Carmi (Meitar Collection / National Library of Israel) · CC BY 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons