Wissenswertes

A frequent escort in 1952 was CBS star Robert Q. Lewis. In later years, he would joke that his greatest regret was that he introduced Rosie to José Ferrer.

She is George Clooney's aunt.

Rosemary started out with her sister, Betty Clooney (1931-1976), as a singing duo on radio and in bands before going solo. When Betty died of a brain aneurysm at age 45, Rosmary spearheaded a living memorial to her sister with the Betty Clooney Center in Long Beach, California, for brain-injured young adults. She performed annually to raise funds for this foundation.

At the height of her fame, she would make and send out records singing carols and wishing happy holidays to people instead of Christmas cards.

Performing once on the same bill with singer/pianist Michael Feinstein at the Hollywood Bowl, they both appeared highly nervous before setting foot on stage. Expecting Rosie to give him words of strength and encouragement, she instead told him, "Don't think this ever gets any easier."

Inducted into the Cincinnati Jazz Hall of Fame in 2015 (inaugural class).

Frequently performed; in both music and film; with members of her extended family. She started her career as a double act with sister Betty Clooney. She also recorded duets with husband José Ferrer, including a guest appearance on her television show in which they sang "Love and Marriage." During her concert tours in the 1970s, her son Miguel Ferrer played drums. In the 1980s, she gave performances with daughter-in-law Debby Boone, wife of her middle son Gabriel Ferrer. She and Miguel also both made guest appearances on Emergency Room: Die Notaufnahme (1994), though never opposite each other or George Clooney. In her final screen appearance, she and Miguel played a mother-and-son when she made a guest appearance on LateLine (1998).

Rosemary hated the derivative Armenian folk song "Come On-a My House" and originally resisted recording the song she considered "dumb" with lyrics that "sounded more like a drunken chant than an historic folk art form." Within weeks of her finally relenting, she found herself with one of the biggest-selling hits in the country, selling more than a million copies. It still did not endear her to the song, however, and she usually tried to squirm out of singing it at her concerts and nightclub appearances when requested.

Buried at St. Patrick's Cemetery near her mother and grandmother in Maysville, Ky.

On October 1st, 2005, her Augusta, Kentucky home was partially transformed into the Rosemary Clooney Museum. Current owner/part-time resident Heather Renee French Henry (Miss America 2000) spearheaded the creation of the museum which amasses a large amount of memorabilia from Clooney's film, television and recording career. A re-creation of her red and white gown from Weiße Weihnachten (1954) was painstakingly assembled by Henry and her mother by watching the film frame by frame (the original dress is M.I.A.). Some of her other original costumes are on display at the museum. The opening ceremony was attended by Nick Clooney, Rick Dees and Dante DiPaolo, among others, while her recording of "Bless This House" was played.

Had five children with José Ferrer. Their first child, Miguel José Ferrer (aka Miguel Ferrer) was born on February 7, 1955. He was followed by Maria Providencia Ferrer on August 9, 1956, Gabriel Vicente Ferrer (aka Gabriel Ferrer) on August 1, 1957, Monsita Teresa Ferrer (aka Monsita Ferrer) on October 13, 1958, and Rafael Francisco Ferrer (aka Rafael Ferrer) on March 23, 1960.

The Maysville, Kentucky street where her parents lived when she was born was renamed in her honor.

Her brother, veteran television newscaster Nick Clooney, gave a eulogy at the end of the hour-long traditional Catholic funeral mass. Actor George Clooney, Nick's son, sat with more than three dozen family members and was one of 10 pallbearers. Also in the crowd were singer Debby Boone, Clooney's daughter-in-law; actors Al Pacino and Beverly D'Angelo; and Maysville native and former Miss America Heather Renee French, the wife of Kentucky Lt. Gov. Steve Henry.

When Rosemary married Dante DiPaolo in 1997, her nephew George Clooney, according to rumor, did not attend, as he "did not wish to steal away the spotlight" on his aunt's special day.

Performed annually at "Rosemary Clooney Music Festival" in her hometown of Maysville, Kentucky.

Mother-in-law of singer Debby Boone and Terry Botwick.

She was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 6325 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.

Older sister of actor and AMC host Nick Clooney and singer Betty Clooney.

Received a casting call from J. Arthur Rank to star in Die blaue Lagune (1949) but the radio station where she was under contract, WLW refused to loan her to Rank.

Was a liberal to progressive Democrat.

Winner of the MAC Award.

She was the daughter of Marie Frances (Guilfoyle) and Andrew Joseph Clooney. She was of Irish, as well as German and English, descent.

Former mother-in-law of actress Leilani Sarelle.

Sister-in-law of Nina Clooney.

Singer