Barbra Sings Her Heart Out For Women's Health
Barbra Streisand serenaded former President Bill Clinton in a private performance at her Malibu home last night during a fundraiser for women's heart health.
Guests paid up to $100,000 per couple to attend the event, which was held to raise money for the Barbra Streisand Women's Heart Center at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Among the celebrity guests were Streisand's husband James Brolin, her stepson Josh Brolin and wife Diane Lane, comedian Martin Short and fashion designer Donna Karan.
RELATED: Barbra Streisand to Appear on Glee: 'Not if I Can Help It'
The iconic singer/actress personally donated $10 million to create the new research and treatment facility, which focuses specifically on ways to prevent and treat heart disease in women.
Streisand pointed out that even though heart disease kills more women each year than all cancers combined, almost all previous research has been limited to men. "Even in scientific research, women are still treated as second-class citizens and to me, that's just unacceptable."
RELATED: Barbra Streisand to Perform at Grammy Awards
Singer Josh Groban also attended the event and performed before Streisand took the stage to sing four songs, including the Oscar- and Grammy-winning hit Evergreen, which she dedicated to Clinton.
The former president -- who has suffered serious heart problems of his own -- said the issue of heart health is important for both sexes and should be elevated above politics. "Our country has always believed in being not only a laboratory of democracy but a laboratory of science and advancement, and you can't do that with a straight face and leave women out," he stated.