Carol Burnett Honored With Mark Twain Prize for Humor

“30 Rock” star Tina Fey among those paying tribute TV comedy icon

Getty Images

Carol Burnett made another addition to her trophy case on Sunday.

Television icon Burnett, whose “The Carol Burnett Show” racked up 25 Emmy awards during its run from 1967 to 1978, was feted with the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at Washington, D.C.’s Kennedy Center over the weekend.

Also read: Carol Burnett, Tim Conway to Guest on ‘Hot in Cleveland’

On the red carpet for the event, Burnett, 80, explained to reporters that the Kennedy Center had attempted to give her the Mark Twain honor previously, but scheduling conflicts interfered.

“They asked me quite a few times, but I could never work it out with my schedule,” the Washington Post reported Burnett as saying.

Also read: Carol Burnett as Sue Sylvester’s Mom?

Taking the stage during the event, Burnett took a jab at the politicians who inhabit D.C., joking, “It was a long time in coming, but I understand — because there are so many people funnier than I am, especially here in Washington.”

“30 Rock” star Tina Fey was among those honoring Burnett during the ceremony, admitting, “I love you in a way that is just shy of creepy,” and adding, “A lot of female comediennes are going to come out and say that ‘I love you so much, but I’m saying it first!”

During her decades-long career, Burnett has also been honored with a Peabody Award, multiple Golden Globe awards, and a Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Comments