Bette Midler is named after Bette Davis and her sisters Susan and Judy are named after Susan Hayward and Judy Garland. The last syllable of her first name is unpronounced because her mother thought that was how Bette Davis pronounced her name.

Bette Midler is a huge fan and longtime friend of the late singer Rosemary Clooney. Her album "Bette Midler Sings the Rosemary Clooney Songbook" was originally titled "Rosemary for Remembrance". The name was changed just weeks before the album's September 30, 2003 release.

Bette Midler was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 6922 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on February 6, 1985.

Bette Midler won the 2017 Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical Tony Award for her performance as Dolly Gallagher Levi in "Hello, Dolly!" on June 11, 2017.

Bette Midler made her film debut with the musical drama The Rose (1979) based on the life of rock singer Janis Joplin, which was her first big movie and first starring role. The Rose won her the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical, as well as a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress.

Bette Midler starred in the Broadway revival of Hello, Dolly!, which began previews in March 2017 and premiered at the Shubert Theatre in April 2017. The show was her first leading role in a Broadway musical. She received the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance.