I wasn't straining at the bit to become a movie star any more than I had plotted to get out of vaudeville and into Broadway musicals.
I've never suffered stage fright. That fascinates people.
I have plenty of invitations to go places, lots to do. If I'm not working, I go to have my hair taken care of and work at needlepoint.
Any audience that gets a laugh out of me gets it while I'm facing them.
I'll admit - I was honored to be on the cover of Time.
Music, in the past few years... Anything singable or understandable is square.
At one time I smoked, but in 1959 I couldn't think of anything else to give up for Lent so I stopped - and I haven't had a cigarette since.
As far as dramas are concerned, it's considered passe for playwrights to turn out anything the average person can understand.
Mom and Pop were proud of my popularity, but from their point of view, show business was no way to make a living.
There have been people who have tried to take advantage of me. They want to be linked to me just because I'm Ethel Merman.
I have been ambitious to be a somebody from the time I was 5 years old.
Broadway has been very good to me. But then, I've been very good to broadway.
Of my four marriages, the one to Bob Levitt is the only one I don't regret.
Mom claimed that I could carry a tune at 2 or 3 years of age. Maybe she was a little prejudiced.
Who's happy these days?
The slapdash way producers used to assemble a show seems a little unbelievable when we talk about them now.
Once I had all the attention, all I had to do was deliver.
My father taught me to read music and play the piano-but not well, even though people have said that I'm a natural musician.
My career at Warner Brothers consisted of one musical short subject. I was running around in a bear skin. Very chic.
Legend has it that when God created me, he gave me a big distinctive voice, a lot of boldness and no heart.
In my case, things have pretty much been handed to me.
If I feel in need of sleep, I just open a book or turn on the television. Both are better than any sleeping pill.
I've never cooked. I can't do much more in the kitchen than make a cup of tea and some toast.
I've made a wonderful living playing that theatrical character - the professional brassy dame.
I'll pat myself on the back and admit I have talent. Beyond that, I just happened to be in the right place at the right time.
