Growing up in Brooklyn, New York, Barbra Streisand dreamed of performing. She was born on April 24, 1942. She grew up without much money after her father died when she was just fifteen months old. But her voice was extraordinary. By age 18, she was singing in small clubs in New York City. She quickly stood out because of her powerful voice and bold personality. Streisand became famous for her singing, but she did not stop there. She acted in movies and won an Academy Award for her role in Funny Girl. She also became one of the first women in Hollywood to direct major movies. She is one of the few entertainers who has won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award. That combination is so rare it has a nickname: an EGOT. With over 150 million albums sold worldwide, Streisand is one of the best-selling recording artists of all time.