Carol Burnett, the star of The Carol Burnett Show, will receive the John F. Kennedy Center’s Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.
The Kennedy Center announced that Burnett will be celebrated during a ceremony on Sunday, Oct. 20. PBS will air the event on Wednesday, Oct. 30.
“From her television program and appearances, as well as her performances on Broadway and in film, Carol Burnett has entertained generations of fans with her vibrant wit and hilarious characters," Kennedy Center Chairman David M. Rubenstein said in a statement. "We are delighted to pay tribute to this unique and beloved entertainer."
Burnett added, “I can't believe I'm getting a humor prize from the Kennedy Center. It's almost impossible to be funnier than the people in Washington.”
According to The Washington Post, Burnett will be the first woman to have both the Twain Prize and the Kennedy Center Honors, which she was presented with in 2003.
Burnett is best known for her self-titled show, which ran from 1967 to 1978, won 25 Emmys and averaged 30 million viewers a week. She also appeared in the film adaptation of Annie and Noises Off, plus she recently made an appearance on Glee.
Last year’s Twain Prize winner was Ellen DeGeneres and in 2011, Will Ferrell received the award. Bill Cosby, Neil Simon and Steve Martin have also received the award.