LORNA LUFT - LUFT STUNS CARNEGIE HALL

LORNA LUFT stunned crowds at New York City's Carnegie Hall last week (14JUNE06), when she made a surprise appearance at RUFUS WAINWRIGHT's tribute concert to her late mother JUDY GARLAND. Wainwright recreated the entire set list from the tragic icon's 1961 Carnegie Hall concert, which won Garland two Grammy awards. Luft admitted to initially feeling sceptical when she first learned of Wainwright's plan to restage the legendary show, but the singer's sincerity won out. She told the audience, "He said, 'I just need to pay tribute and I want to do this and I want to say thank you.' "When it's done out of respect and done out of real, heartfelt emotion, why wouldn't I be there for that?' After Luft agreed to join Wainwright for a duet of AFTER YOU'VE GONE, the pair had to keep her participation in the show a closely guarded secret.