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Bette Midler 'Still Waiting' on Ryan Murphy's Call for GLEE Guest Role

By: Dec. 17, 2012
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Following Ryan Murphy's very-public announcement that he'd asked the acclaimed Bette Midler to guest on GLEE - it appears the series showrunner hasn't followed through.

"I don't know. (Ryan Murphy) never called me," Middler told Access Hollywood at Friday's press conference for her new movie with Billy Crystal, PARENTAL GUIDANCE. "He mentioned it, but... I'm still waiting for the call. But, it's fine!"

In a post on Twitter, Murphy revealed he had asked the legendary actress to guest star on the show at an event honoring Michael Kors. "I just asked the incredible Bette Midler to be on Glee in front of 1,000 people. I hope she says yes!"

He later announced, "Bette said yes! Amazing. I am plotting... who should she play?"

It seems that perhaps he Tweeted too soon.

Originally, Midler suggested that she might want to portray the grandmother of Lea Michele's character Rachel Berry. In a series of posts, she shared, "So many fantastic people ... Wonderful speeches. Big thanks to everyone who kept me from falling off those heels!! And from the stage, Ryan Murphy invited me to guest on Glee! I should get out more!! Ok... I have one vote for Rachel's grandmother... hmmmm. I'm thinking, I'm thinking!!"

On Friday, however, she said she'd like to play a character reminiscent of Jane Lynch's Sue Sylvester.

"I love her. She's hilarious," Bette said of Jane. "Maybe I could play her evil sister!"

Midler would join previous big-name guest stars including Olivia Newton-John, Josh Groban, Jeff Goldblum, Britney Spears and Gwyneth Paltrow on the FOX musical drama.

Bette Midler produced the recent Broadway musical "Priscilla Queen of the Desert.' She made her Broadway debut playing Tzeitel in Fiddler on the Roof. Thereafter, she began singing in clubs around town including at the famed Continental Baths where she developed the trademark act that would make her one of the most renowned talents of a generation--bawdy humor, revealing costumes and a distinctive voice made for an act that was poignant, tacky and altogether fabulous. Her performances of songs like Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, Delta Dawn, and Superstar were unforgettable and caused audiences to fall in love with the self-anointed "Divine Miss M." Bette's first album, The Divine Miss M, hit #9 on Billboard's Top 200 Chart and went platinum. In 1973, she won her first Grammy for Best New Artist. After successfully touring the world, she returned to Broadway in the Tony winning, Clams On The Halfshell.

Midler's first starring role in the feature film, The Rose, garnered two Golden Globe Awards, a Grammy for the film's title song and a best actress Oscar nomination. Additional films include Down and Out in Beverly Hills, Ruthless People, Outrageous Fortune, Big Business and her most popular movie, Beaches. Forty years, four Grammys, four Golden Globes, three Emmys, a Tony Award and tons of record-breaking performances since she hit the scene, the "Divine Miss M" is still going strong.



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