Broadcast in conjunction with the release of Streisand's studio album of the same name, the special aired April 28, 1965 on CBS.

A critical success, the program earned Streisand a contract for four additional television specials.

Columbia launched a major advertising campaign to promote the subsequent album My Name Is Barbra, Two... coinciding with the October rebroadcast of the TV special.

[3] My Name Is Barbra was nominated in six categories at the 17th Primetime Emmy Awards, winning five, including Outstanding Individual Achievement in Entertainment.

The special also won the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Television.