Streisand: Only Retired for Republicans

By Louise A. Barile

08/20/2002 at 01:00 PM EDT

Barbra Streisand, who gave her last live performance at New York's Madison Square Garden two years ago, has agreed to perform at a $500-a-plate Democratic fund-raiser next month, Time magazine reports. The two-time Oscar-winning actress and singer (and staunch Democrat) has often confessed that she suffers from severe stage fright and hates singing live. Still, Democrats hope the Sept. 29 fund raiser, held at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, will raise as much as $4 million for their party, reports Time. The gala is being organized by House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt, who's leading the Democrats in a push for control of Congress this November. Streisand, 60, is no stranger to stumping for the Democrats. As a friend of the Clinton administration, she supported Al Gore's 2000 bid for the presidency with an appearance at the Shrine Auditorium that raised $5 million. According to USA Today, Barry Manilow also is expected to join Babs for this latest fund-raiser.