Probably best if I didn't share my opinion of her "Novelty Song" period in the "50's but back in the '40's she made some classic recordings of American standards that rival the best of Ella and Billie, IMO. Her versions of The Very Thought of You and I Could Write a Book to name a couple are my favorite readings of those old chestnuts. She could act too, not just the screwball comedy stuff like Calamity Jane (which I watch whenever it's aired on TCM} and the Rock Hudson collaborations but she did a good job in Hitchcock's The Man Who Knew Too Much.
I always had the impression that she was a kind, humane and funny individual and that was confirmed a few years back when she appeared on the radio show Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me and good-naturedly accepted the respectful jibes of the crew there.
Oh, and she was a living doll!
Even though she hasn't been in the public eye for awhile I feel like a very bright light has been extinguished in America.