First presented in 2021 as a virtual livestream concert event, Rufus Does Judy at Capitol Studios sees Wainwright using the very microphone Garland herself used while making her own historic recordings at Capitol Studios, backed by a four-piece jazz ensemble before a micro-audience comprised entirely of 2× Academy Award-winning actress Renée Zellweger, winner of 2020's “Best Actress” Oscar for her spectacular performance as Garland in 2019's Judy. Among the concert's many highlights is a special duet rendition of “Happy Days Are Here Again/Get Happy” performed alongside award-winning Concord recording artist Kristin Chenoweth.
Rufus Does Judy at Capitol Studios – which marked a rare complete performance of Wainwright's now-legendary homage to 1961's Judy Garland At Carnegie Hall – showcases a selection of standards spanning swing, jazz, and pop, including three songs by George & Ira Gershwin, two Rodgers & Hart classics, two from Howard Dietz & Arthur Schwartz, plus favourites by Harold Arlen, Yip Harburg, Irving Berlin, Noël Coward, and more. Highlights include such Garland signature songs as “The Man That Got Away” and, of course, “Over The Rainbow.”