Babe: Elaboratio: A Tribute to My Mother

2026 Kirkus Earphones Award Recipient

From the Author:

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.

I only knew her for a short time, as she died when I was thirteen, but those years gave me infinite joy and strength. I carry her with me every day. The love we had for each other will last me my entire life. She dreamed I'd become a musician--a famous musician.

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. She always said it with a smile, but I knew she really meant it. 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 one hundredth anniversary of the birth of my mom, Anita-Francis Livingston Connick.

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.

From the Publisher:

In Babe: Elaboratio, Harry Connick, Jr. pays a heartfelt tribute to his mother, Anita-Francis Livingston Connick, lovingly known as Babe. 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 the impressive career as one of the first female judges in New Orleans, Babe's life was a testament of love, determination, and wisdom.

In his debut book--written to accompany his first-ever Carnegie Hall performance--Harry Connick, Jr. 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.

Harry Connick, Jr.'s career exemplifies excellence across multiple platforms in the entertainment world. He has received Grammy awards, 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 five. He rose to international prominence in 1989 after recording the soundtrack for the hit comedy 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 celebrated achievements in music, Connick has built a wide-ranging career in film, Broadway, and television. He has appeared in twenty-one films, starring alongside acclaimed 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.

Despite his busy career, Connick is also known for his philanthropy and has done some of his most important work in 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 reinforce his commitment to using his talents to help others and promote public service.