Today marks a major milestone for the legendary comedy icon, Carol Burnett, as she celebrates her 90th birthday! After decades of bringing joy and laughter into our lives, Burnett is still going strong. To honor her incredible career, NBC will be airing a special tribute called “Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter and Love” tonight.
Many of Hollywood’s biggest names showed up to pay their respects and shower Burnett with praise on the red carpet. Among them was Julie Andrews, the legendary star of “The Sound of Music” and a close friend of Burnett’s. “She brings out the best in me, and I think I bring out the worst in her, I don’t know why,” Andrews joked, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Andrews fondly recalled the first time she met Burnett at a Chinese restaurant many years ago. “When we met, no one else got a word in edgewise. We bonded like that, and it has never changed,” Burnett said of their “never-ending friendship.”
Another music icon, Cher, shared her heartfelt friendship with Carol Burnett. “We would sneak out through the fence to go to the farmer’s market, and we played practical jokes on each other,” Cher said. “It was just easy and fun, and that’s all we wanted to do.”
Actress Jane Lynch also shared her admiration for Burnett, stating, “I was firmly in love. She’s exactly the person that you hope she would be.” The tributes continued as Lily Tomlin, Steve Carell, Laura Dern, Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Oprah, Michelle Obama, Steve Martin, Martin Short, Allison Janney, Jimmy Fallon, and Ellen DeGeneres, among other esteemed personalities, were reportedly part of the tribute show.
Additionally, Broadway’s brightest stars, including Bernadette Peters, Billy Porter, Sutton Foster, and Kristin Chenoweth, performed musical numbers in Burnett’s honor. A Broadway veteran herself, Burnett received Tony nominations for her roles in “Once Upon a Mattress” and “Moon Over Buffalo.”
Expressing her excitement about the special tribute, Burnett said, “I’m so thrilled that NBC decided to throw me a birthday party and invited all of my closest friends. I can’t wait to look back at so many wonderful moments throughout my career. I feel incredibly fortunate to share this night with everyone.”
Carol Burnett is best known for her groundbreaking variety/sketch series, “The Carol Burnett Show,” which aired for 11 seasons on CBS. As the first woman to host a show of its kind, Burnett is widely regarded as a trailblazer for female comedians. Her contributions to the entertainment industry have been recognized with prestigious honors, including the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor and the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award. In fact, the Golden Globes named their television lifetime achievement award after her, the “Carol Burnett Award,” with Burnett being its first recipient.
Even at the age of 90, Burnett doesn’t feel her age. In an interview with People Magazine, she referred to herself as a “late bloomer” compared to other performers. “I can’t wrap my head around it,” she confessed. “I still feel like I’m about 11, but I’m amazed. It sure went fast. But I’m glad because I’ve got all my parts—I got my hips, I got my knees, and I’ve got my brain. So, I’m happy about that.”
It’s heartwarming to see so many beloved stars come together to honor the groundbreaking comedy star, Carol Burnett. Let’s join in celebrating her incredible career and wish her a very happy 90th birthday!
