View gallery
Whoopi Goldberg is ready to shed light on how she got her stage name. In her new memoir titled Little things: My mother, my brother and me, The view Co-host recalled the moment she didn’t want to be called by her birth name. Caryn Johnson.
“When I started getting roles in plays, I wanted a name that sounded more interesting,” Whoopi wrote in her book via Us weekly. “It wasn’t Caryn Johnson.”
While working on various stage shows, Whoopi said that some people called her “Whoopi” because she “sometimes let out a fart. I added ‘Cushione’ – with a French pronunciation.”
When her first review was published, Whoopi faced some questions from her mother: Emma Harris, about the name change. “When we were on the phone, she said, ‘What’s that Whoopi Cushione?'” Whoopi recalls. “Well, that’s kind of my nickname. It’s like a whoopee cushion with a little French accent.”
“I explained the whole fart thing to her,” Whoopi continued in her book. “‘Well, if you want to change your name and have people take you seriously, you need a more meaningful name,’ my mother advised me. I said, ‘Oh, really, big name of the stars?’ What do you think it should be?’ She said, “Well, you should take one of the names from the family tree.” How about Goldberg? That has a nice ring to it.’ That became my name.”
From that point on, only my family and a few people who knew me early in my life called me Caryn.
Back in January 2024, Whoopi first announced that her latest book project would honor her late mother and brother Clyde K. Johnson. “This book is dedicated to my mother and brother and our time together as a fun little unit,” she said People by the time. “It is dedicated to anyone who has found themselves on a frightening path not of their own choosing or who has struggled with loss.”
Whoopi’s mother died in 2010 after a stroke. She was 78 years old. Five years later, the actress mourned the death of her brother, who suffered a brain aneurysm at the age of 65.
“This book is dedicated to anyone who’s just trying to figure out the little things,” Whoopi added, “as well as the things that require you to be more than you thought you were, and it’s dedicated to love.”
Little things: My mother, my brother and me is available now.