For those who somehow missed our recent Wonder Woman craze, it might be tempting to dismiss the original Wonder Woman, Lynda Carter, as a 1970s-era pop cult idol, but you’d be making a yuuuuge mistake. (Don’t say we didn’t warn you!)
Carter, is a multi-faceted star, and while she’s here in Palm Springs for Comic Con, she’s going to prove it beyond a shadow of a doubt, as she brings her “The Other Side of Trouble” concert tour to Comic Con Palm Springs for a one night performance.
Oh, Wonder Woman’s a musician? You bet. She has been nearly all her life, starting her public musical career at the age of five in a Phoenix talent show, then she progressed to bands while in high school, and even played Vegas while a teenager (Gary Burghoff—Radar O’Reilly from M*A*S*H was the drummer!).
Not to be stuck in any one box, she also won the title of Miss World USA in 1972. And dang, she just refused—and continues to refuse—to be bound to any stereotypes or limitations. While starring as Wonder Woman in the 1970s, Carter performed a lot of her own stunts, even hanging from a helicopter. We just want to say this—that rocks!
She’s had a number of TV specials, but was edited out of her role in Apocalypse Now, which is a dang shame. Married to Robet Altman, Carter does motivational speaking appearances, and, as you will see at Comic Con Palm Springs, she will bring the house down with her concert performance (her tour continues with dates in Baltimore, Florida, and The Appel Room at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York). None of this comes as a surprise to those who have followed her career as she headlined Caesar’s Palace, and performed with the likes of Michael Jackson, Merle Haggard, Tom Jones, the Muppets, Ray Charles, and plenty of others. She starred as Mama Morton in the musical Chicago in London and New York. Heck, she even hosted an episode of The Midnight Special. (Ooops—we’re showing our age!) But wait! She also has written and recorded five original songs for the awesome video game Fallout 4.
“I grew up in a house filled with music. My mother, who is of Mexican and Spanish descent, used to sing to my English-Irish father, and between the two of them I was introduced to a diverse array of music, ranging from country to blues to classical,” Carter noted. “I was encouraged to sing since I spoke my first word, and I’ve sung every day of my life since then.”
She’s also made us proud, as a role model, not just for young women, but really, for all of us. She’s served as grand marshall for Pride celebrations and parades, and received honors for her humanitarian work.
Carter’s even played the president. We might want to look into having her play that role one more time.....
Lynda Carter’s The Other Side of Trouble Tour in concert for Comic Con Palm Springs Saturday, August 26, 8 p.m. Palm Springs Convention Center Tickets: comicconpalmsprings.com/lynda-carter-tickets
