미국의 팝퓰러 가수, 여배우. 뮤지컬, 영화 등에서 활약하였다.
갈란드는 가수로서의 콘서트 무대를 자주 가졌으며, 그녀가 레코딩한 음반은 뮤지컬과 드라마의 국제적인 스타덤에 오른 배우이다. 그녀는 아카데미어워드, 골든 글로브 어워드, 세실 비 데밀 어워드, 그래미 어워드, 토니어워드 등 많은 상을 수상하였다.
미국 미네소타주 그랜드 래피즈 출생. 본명은 프란시스 에셀 검. 3세 때부터 무대에 올라 노래하기 시작하였고, 15살 때에는 뮤지컬 영화 <The Wizard of Oz>에 출연하여 아카데미어워드에서 특별상을 수상하였다. TV 시리즈물과 뮤지컬 영화, 영화 등에 출연하였고, 1954년 <A Star Is Born>에 여주인공으로 출연하였다.
1997년 갈란드는 그래미 어워드의 특별상을 수상하였고, 그래미 명예의 전당에 올랐다. 그녀는 미국의 영화 역사에 이름이 남겨진 배우 중에 한 사람이다. 라이자 미넬리는 그녀의 딸이며, 그녀는 47세의 나이로 간경화로 사망하였다.
그녀가 출연했던 주요 작품들은 <Ziegfeld Girl, 1941>, <Babes on Broadway, 1941>, <Girl Crazy, 1943>, <Meet Me in St. Louis, 1944>, <Ziegfeld Follies, 1946>, <Easter Parade, 1948>, <A Star Is Born, 1954>이다.
1940년 <The Wizard of Oz>로 아카데미어워드 특별상 수상, 1955년 <A Star Is Born>으로 골든 글로브 어워즈에서 여우주연상, 1962년 <Lifetime Achievement>로 골든 글로브 어워드에서 세실 비 데밀 공로상을 수상하였고, 그매리어워드 최우수 여자 보컬상, 올해의 앨범상을 수상하였다.

Film <I Could Go on Singing, 1963> Actress(Jenny Bowman)
<A Child Is Waiting, 1963> Actress(Jean Hansen)
<Gay Purr-ee, 1962>, voice> Actress(Mewsette)
<Judgment at Nuremberg, 1961> Actress(Mrs. Irene Hoffman Wallner)
<A Star Is Born, 1954> Actress(Vicki Lester, Esther Blodgett)
<Summer Stock, 1950> Actress(Jane Falbury)
<In the Good Old Summertime, 1949> Actress(Veronica Fisher)
<Easter Parade, 1948> Actress(Hannah Brown)
<The Pirate, 1948> Actress(Manuela)
<Till the Clouds Roll By, 1946> Actress(Marilyn Miller)
<The Harvey Girls, 1946> Actress(Susan Bradley)
<Ziegfeld Follies, 1945> Actress(The Star in 'A Great Lady Has An Interview')
<The Clock, 1945> Actress(Alice Maybery)
<Meet Me in St. Louis, 1944> Actress(Esther Smith)
<Girl Crazy, 1943> Actress(Ginger Gray)
<Presenting Lily Mars, 1943> Actress(Lily Mars)
<For Me and My Gal, 1942> Actress(Jo Hayden)
<Babes on Broadway, 1941> Actress(Penny Morris)
<Life Begins for Andy Hardy, 1941> Actress(Miss Betsy Booth)
<Ziegfeld Girl, 1941> Actress(Susan Gallagher)
<Little Nellie Kelly, 1940> Actress(Nellie Kelly, Little Nellie Kelly)
<Strike Up the Band, 1940> Actress(Mary Holden)
<Andy Hardy Meets Debutante, 1940> Actress(Betsy Booth)
<Babes in Arms, 1939> Actress(Patsy Barton)
<The Wizard of Oz, 1939> Actress(Dorothy Gale)
<Listen, Darling, 1938> Actress('Pinkie' Wingate)
<Love Finds Andy Hardy, 1938> Actress(Betsy Booth)
<Everybody Sing, 1938> Actress(Judy Bellaire)
<Thoroughbreds Don't Cry, 1937> Actress(Cricket West)
<Broadway Melody of 1938, 1937> Actress(Betty Clayton)
<Pigskin Parade, 1936> Actress(Sairy Dodd)
<Every Sunday, 1936> Actress(Judy)

Soundtrack <Doctors, 2009>
<Johnny Mercer: The Dream's on Me, 2009>
<9, 2009/I>, performer: Somewhere Over the Rainbow>
<Taking Woodstock, 2009>, performer: No Love, No Nothin'>
<Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1940s: Stars, Stripes and Singing, 2009>
<Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1930s: Dancing Away the Great Depression, 2009>
<Life on Mars, 2009>
<Australia, 2008>
<Milk, 2008/I>
<The Bread, 2008>
<Pageant, 2008>
<P.S. I Love You, 2007>
<Tony Bennett: The Music Never Ends, 2007>
<A Life in Words and Music, 2007>
<The Pirate: A Musical Treasure Chest, 2007>
<The Good Life, 2007>
<The Family Stone, 2005>
<Gilmore Girls, 2001-2005>
<Independent Lens, 2005>
<Surviving Christmas, 2004>
<AFI's 100 Years... 100 Songs: America's Greatest Music in the Movies, 2004>
<Down with Love, 2003>
<Catch Me If You Can, 2002>
<Martine, 2002>
<Hildegarde, 2001>
<Annie Get Your Gun Intro with Susan Lucci, 2000>
<Little Nicky, 2000>
<The Next Best Thing, 2000>
<Wonder Boys, 2000>
<Hanging Up, 2000>
<Rituals and Resolutions, 1999>
<Little Voice, 1998>
<Quest for Camelot Sing-Alongs, 1998>
<Contact, 1997>
<MGM Sing-Alongs: Being Happy, 1997>
<That's Entertainment! III, 1994>
<Made in America, 1993>
<The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, 1968-1992>
<MGM: When the Lion Roars, 1992>
<Great Performances, 1991>
<Here's Looking at You, Warner Bros., 1991>
<That's Dancing!, 1985>
<Before Stonewall, 1984>
<Terms of Endearment, 1983>
<Bob Hope's Overseas Christmas Tours: Around the World with the Troops - 1941-1972, 1980>
<That's Entertainment, Part II, 1976>
<That's Entertainment!, 1974>
<The Merv Griffin Show, 1968>
<The Mike Douglas Show, 1968>
<The 37th Annual Academy Awards, 1965>
<The Jack Paar Program, 1962-1964>
<The Judy Garland Show, 1963-1964>
<A Child Is Waiting, 1963>
<Gay Purr-ee, 1962>
<The Judy Garland Show, 1962>
<Pepe, 1960>
<General Electric Theater, 1956>
<Ford Star Jubilee, 1955>
<A Star Is Born, 1954>
<Summer Stock, 1950>
<In the Good Old Summertime, 1949>
<Words and Music, 1948>
<Easter Parade, 1948>
<The Pirate, 1948>
<Till the Clouds Roll By, 1946>
<The Harvey Girls, 1946>
<Ziegfeld Follies, 1945>
<Meet Me in St. Louis, 1944>
<Thousands Cheer, 1943>
<Presenting Lily Mars, 1943>
<Girl Crazy, 1943>
<Strictly G.I., 1943>
<For Me and My Gal, 1942>
<We Must Have Music, 1942>
<Babes on Broadway, 1941>
<Life Begins for Andy Hardy, 1941>
<Ziegfeld Girl, 1941>
<Little Nellie Kelly, 1940>
<Strike Up the Band, 1940>
<Andy Hardy Meets Debutante, 1940>
<If I Forget You, 1940>
<The Miracle of Sound, 1940>
<Babes in Arms, 1939>
<The Wizard of Oz, 1939>
<Listen, Darling, 1938>
<Love Finds Andy Hardy, 1938>
<Everybody Sing, 1938>
<Broadway Melody of 1938, 1937>
<Thoroughbreds Don't Cry, 1937>
<MGM Christmas Trailer, 1937>
<Pigskin Parade, 1936>
<Every Sunday, 1936>
<Bubbles, 1930>