Minnelli was born in Hollywood, California into a well-known artistic family; her maternal lineage had entertainers in the family going back six generations. Her famous mother, Judy Garland, had legendary success in film and in music, and her aunts ha

Minnelli was born in Hollywood, California into a well-known artistic family; her maternal lineage had entertainers in the family going back six generations. Her famous mother, Judy Garland, had legendary success in film and in music, and her aunts had been part of a singing group, "The Gumm Sisters", with her mother. Her father, also from a theatrical family including circus performers, was acclaimed MGM film director Vincente Minnelli. Liza Minnelli's first film appearance was at the age of three in the final scene of the 1949 musical In the Good Old Summertime, starring her mother and Van Johnson.

Although Minnelli and her mother shared a warm personal relationship, during the London Palladium performances, Garland recognized Minnelli's talent and felt a sense of competition. Minnelli recalled a time where she was singing on stage: "I was onstage with my mother, but suddenly, she wasn't Mama ... she was Judy Garland.".

As a teenager with two younger siblings, Minnelli