When it comes to Americana, there's nothing quite as idyllic as a Kansas farm girl and some ruby slippers. Judy Garland became a cinematic icon starring in 1939's The Wizard of Oz, establishing her image in the public's imagination for generations to come. And though "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" is undoubtedly a classic of its era, Garland left behind a legacy as an impressive entertainer, appearing on stage and in film throughout the '30s and '40s.

Judy Garland was born Frances Ethel Gumm in Grand Rapids, MN, and from an early age had a knack for performing. As the daughter of two vaudeville performers, she was literally born into the business, singing "Jingle Bells" at the age of two, and later forming a vocal group with two of her sisters. Initially called "The Gumm Sisters," they changed the name to "The Garland Sisters." Frances Gumm chose to change her first name as well, adopting "Judy" after a popular song of the time.

By the time she was a teenager, the family had moved to California and Judy was finding work as an actress with MGM Studios. After appearing in numerous films that showed off her vocal talents, she starred as the corn-fed farm girl Dorothy Gale, swept up by a tornado and whisked away to the Land of Oz. She was only 17 at the time, and gave an impressive performance, creating an iconic American character without realizing it.

Working steadily through the '40s, Garland's career eventually began to wane, though she still was active as a recording artist. In 1961, she gave a well-remembered live performance at Carnegie Hall that would become immortalized by a live recording. Judy at Carnegie Hall is still considered a classic work to this day.