Sophie Tucker lung cancer and kidney failure on February 9, 1966, aged 79, in New York City. She had continued working until the months before her death, playing shows at the Latin Quarter just weeks before. She is buried in Emanuel Cemetery, in Wethersfield, Connecticut, her home state. Tucker's comic and singing styles are credited with influencing later female entertainers including Mae West, Rusty Warren, Carol Channing, Totie Fields, Joan Rivers, Roseanne Barr, Ethel Merman, "Mama" Cass Elliot of The Mamas & the Papas, and most notably Bette Midler, who has included "Soph" as one of her many stage characters. She also
Jill Gibson they referred to Gibson as "skeletal, modish, blonde and beautiful". Another article called "New Mama is definitely Jill" was published in "Melody Maker", followed by a cover story on Gibson that was featured in "KRLA Beat" with the headline reading "Brand New Mama". The new Mama also made several television show appearances with The Mamas & The Papas to promote their latest single, "I Saw Her Again". The Mamas & the Papas hit the road with Gibson for a few concert dates beginning on July 1 in Dallas, Texas (the Dallas show was supposed to be on June 18 but