The Oscar and Tony-winning singing actress was scheduled to perform at the Cape Fear Community College Fine Arts and Humanities Center's Opening Night Gala Oct. 3 at the Humanities & Fine Arts Center in Wilmington, NC.
Stormy weather made the trip difficult for the stage and screen star. When her connecting flight was forced to return to Charlotte due to turbulence, Minnelli and featured performer Cortes Alexander found an Uber car to drive them 200 miles to Wilmington, according to the New York Post.
Her driver, it turns out, was Ahmed El-Awady, a former Egyptian Olympic handball player. A spokesperson for Minnelli told the New York daily, "He drove all night and finally delivered Liza to her hotel at 6:30 AM."
The 1,500-member audience later gave the entertainer a standing ovation.
