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Grammy and Emmy award-winning entertainer Harry Connick Jr. will discuss his debut book, Babe: Elaboratio–A Tribute to My Mother, on Tuesday, Oct. 6, at Vanderbilt University. Connick will be in conversation with a special guest beginning at 6:30 p.m. in Langford Auditorium, 2209 Garland Ave. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m.
The event is hosted by the Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries in collaboration with Parnassus Books and Dialogue Vanderbilt.
Tickets for the talk are $32.00 each (plus Eventbrite fees) and include one general admission seat and a bookplate-signed copy of Babe: Elaboratio, to be published by Harper Celebrate, an imprint of HarperCollins Focus, on Sept. 29. There will be no signing line for book personalizations or an author photo line at this event. Also, please note that this is a book event, not a concert. No live music will be performed.
About the book
In Babe: Elaboratio, Connick pays heartfelt tribute to his mother, Anita-Francis Livingston Connick, lovingly known as Babe, who died when Connick was 13. In these pages, Babe’s story unfolds as a magnificent musical fantasy, rich with emotion and layered with history. From her early childhood in New York to the serendipitous meeting with her husband in Morocco to her impressive career as one of the first female judges in New Orleans, Babe’s life was a testament of love, determination and wisdom.
“There aren’t enough trees to make enough paper to write enough words to say how much I love my mom, and words would just make a big bucket of ink,” Connick writes in the introduction.
“She would say, ‘I want to be known as Beethoven’s mother.’ It was her dream to see me perform at Carnegie Hall. She made this known to me at an early age. … I never performed at Carnegie Hall because I wanted to save it for a special occasion. That occasion finally became a reality on May 22, 2026, the 100th anniversary of the birth of my mom.
“What you’re about to read is an elaboration, an elaboratio, a swirl of truths and legends as I remember my mother, which also serves as a blueprint for the music by the same name that I’ve written in her honor. I hope that this book provides insight into not only the musical score but also the infinite love I have for the magnificent woman for whom I’ve composed it.”
In his debut book—written to accompany his first-ever Carnegie Hall performance—Connick unpacks the emotional journey of his composition, revealing the memories and musical significance hidden in the measures of his orchestration. Featuring personal photography and measures from the score, Babe: Elaboratio is a tribute to Babe, a celebration of music, and a meditation on the power of a mother’s love to shape a life forever.
About the author
Connick’s career exemplifies excellence across multiple platforms in the entertainment world. He has received Grammy and Emmy awards and Tony nominations for his live and recorded musical performances, his achievements in film and television, and his appearances on Broadway as both an actor and a composer.
The foundation of Connick’s art is the music of his native New Orleans, where he began performing as a pianist and vocalist at the age of 5. He rose to international prominence in 1989 after recording the soundtrack for the hit film When Harry Met Sally, a multi-platinum success and the prelude to a prolific music career that has included several multi-platinum album releases, showcasing his versatility as a vocalist, pianist, composer and arranger.
Beyond his achievements in music, Connick has built a wide-ranging career in film and on Broadway and television. He has appeared in more than 20 films, starring alongside actors Sandra Bullock, Hilary Swank, Morgan Freeman, Ashley Judd and Sigourney Weaver in projects spanning romance, drama, thriller and action. He earned Tony nominations for his performance in The Pajama Game and as a composer and lyricist for Thou Shalt Not. On television, he had a recurring role on Will & Grace, served as a judge on American Idol, and hosted an Emmy-nominated daytime talk show, Harry, further cementing his reputation as a multifaceted entertainer.
Connick is also known for his philanthropy, including his efforts to help New Orleans after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. He, along with friend Branford Marsalis, conceived of Musicians’ Village and its centerpiece, the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music.
Connick’s many honors—including a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, induction into the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame, honorary doctorates from Tulane and Loyola universities, and the Jefferson Award for Public Service—have not slowed his creative drive. Instead, they have reinforced his commitment to using his talents to help others and promote public service.