I work as often as I want and yet I'm free as a bird.

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.

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.

At a flea market I always head for the junk jewelry table first.

I was lucky enough to have the songs in my first show written by George and Ira Gershwin. Then Cole Porter wrote five shows for me.

As far as dramas are concerned, it's considered passe for playwrights to turn out anything the average person can understand.