Grace Moore facts for kids

Grace Moore in the 1930s

Grace Moore (born December 5, 1898 – died January 26, 1947) was a famous American opera singer and actress. She was known for her beautiful voice and was often called the "Tennessee Nightingale." Grace Moore helped make opera popular by starring in movies that many people watched. She was even nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in the film One Night of Love.

Sadly, Grace Moore died in a plane crash when she was 48 years old. She wrote a book about her life called You're Only Human Once. Later, in 1953, a movie about her life, So This Is Love, was released.

Grace Moore's Early Life

Grace Moore was born Mary Willie Grace Moore in a small community called Slabtown, Tennessee. Her family moved to Knoxville when she was two. Grace later said she didn't like city life much back then. After a few years, her family moved again to Jellico, Tennessee, where she grew up.

After high school, Grace studied music for a short time at Ward-Belmont College. Then, she moved to Washington, D.C., and later New York City to continue her singing lessons. She started her career by singing in nightclubs in New York to help pay for her classes.

Grace Moore's Career Highlights

Singing on Stage

Grace Moore monument in Jellico, Tennessee.

Grace Moore first appeared on Broadway in 1920 in a musical called Hitchy-Koo. She also performed in Irving Berlin's Music Box Revues in 1922 and 1923. In one show, when she sang "An Orange Grove in California," the theater even released orange blossom perfume!

In 1932, she was in a short-lived operetta (a light opera) on Broadway called The DuBarry.

Opera Performances

After studying music in France, Grace Moore made her first opera performance at the famous Metropolitan Opera in New York City. This was on February 7, 1928. She sang the part of Mimì in Giacomo Puccini's opera La bohème. She performed this same role in Paris and London.

During her sixteen years with the Metropolitan Opera, she sang in many Italian and French operas. Her favorite opera was Louise, and many people thought it was her best role.

In the 1930s and 1940s, Grace Moore gave concerts all over the United States and Europe. She sang opera songs and other tunes in many languages. During World War II, she helped the USO by entertaining American soldiers overseas.

Grace Moore in Movies

Historical marker noting Moore's birthplace in Del Rio, Tennessee

Grace Moore was drawn to Hollywood when "talking pictures" (movies with sound) became popular. Her first movie role was in 1930 as Jenny Lind in A Lady's Morals. Later that year, she starred with another opera singer, Lawrence Tibbett, in New Moon.

After a few years, Grace Moore returned to Hollywood. She made six films for Columbia Pictures. In 1934, she starred in One Night of Love, where she played a small-town girl who dreamed of singing opera. This role earned her an Academy Award for Best Actress nomination.

Grace Moore became so popular that she was able to get equal billing with famous actors like Maurice Chevalier. This was a big deal because Chevalier had always been the only star listed at the top.

In the movie When You're in Love (1937), she had a funny scene where she sang a jazz song called "Minnie the Moocher". She also sang a duet from the opera Madama Butterfly in the 1937 film I'll Take Romance.

Her last movie was Louise (1939). It was a shorter version of the opera of the same name. The original composer of the opera, Gustave Charpentier, even helped with the movie!

Grace Moore's Awards and Honors

Grace Moore received many awards for her talent.

• In 1935, she won a gold medal for making movies better.
• In 1936, the King of Denmark gave her a special medal called 'Ingenito et Arti'.
• In 1937, she was made an honorary colonel in her home state of Tennessee.
• In 1939, France honored her with the Légion d'honneur, a very high award.
• She also served on the jury for the Peabody Awards, which recognize excellence in radio and television.

Grace Moore's Personal Life

Grace Moore married Valentín Parera, a Spanish movie actor, in 1931. They did not have any children. They had homes in Hollywood, France, and Connecticut.

Grace Moore's Death

Grace Moore died in a plane crash near Copenhagen Airport on January 26, 1947. She was 48 years old. Twenty-one other people also died in the crash, including the crown prince of Sweden. Grace Moore is buried in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Grace Moore's Filmography

See also

In Spanish: Grace Moore para niños