In late 1969 , Mary Rose Foster ( Bette Midler ) is a famous rock and roll diva known as The Rose . Although a success , she is burnt out and lonely but is kept working by her gruff , greedy manager and promoter Rudge Campbell ( Alan Bates ) . Though loud and brassy , Rose is an insecure alcoholic and former drug user who seems to crave approval in her life . As such , she is determined to return to her hometown , now as a superstar . After being humiliated by a country singing star named Billy Ray ( Harry Dean Stanton ) whose songs she performs in her show , Rose takes off with a limousine driver named Huston Dyer ( Frederic Forrest ) and begins a romance with him . Rudge thinks Huston is just another hanger on , but Rose thinks she has finally met her true love . Huston tells her that he is actually an AWOL sergeant from the Army , and she tells him of her past in Florida . They have a rocky relationship and her lifestyle of `` Sex , Drugs , and Rock & Roll '' , constant touring , and Huston 's jealousy over Rose 's lesbian lover Sarah lead her to an inevitable breakdown at a tour stop in Memphis . Huston and Rose break up and she returns to her hometown of Jacksonville , Florida with PFC Mal , whom she met in Texas , as a security escort , telling him about her past .

Question: who did bette midler portray in the rose
Answer: Mary Rose Foster