Carol Burnett reveals special gift she received from Lucille Ball on day comedian died
The comedy icon has opened up about her special relationship with Lucille Ball – and the touching birthday gift she received from the late 'I Love Lucy' legend on the day of her death.
Burnett, 92, discusses Ball's impact on her Hollywood career in the upcoming Shout TV! special 'The Carol Burnett Show: Mother of All Marathons,' which premieres May 10.
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'The woman who influenced me probably the most was Lucille Ball,' the Golden Globe-winning actress says in a preview of the special obtained by People.
6 Carol Burnett in Los Angeles on Sept. 15, 2024.
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6 Lucille Ball and Carol Burnett on 'The Carol Burnett Show' in September 1967.
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'She came to see me in 'Once Upon a Mattress,' which was my first Broadway break,' Burnett continued, 'and she was there the second night, and I was more nervous that she was in the audience than I was the night before, when all the critics were.'
The pair hit it off after Ball gave Burnett some supportive advice backstage.
'We sat and we talked for about a half-hour and she was so supportive and she said, 'Kid…' – she called me kid, she was 22 years older than I was – and she said, 'Kid, whenever you need me, give me a call,'' Burnett remembered in the clip.
6 Carol Burnett, now 92, shortly before receiving her Life Achievement Award from the Screen Actors Guild in December 2015.
Rich Fury/Invision/AP
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The 'Palm Royale' actress later called in that favor when she was offered 'The Carol Burnett Show' in 1967.
'Just a few short years later, I was lucky enough to be given a special if I could get a major guest star,' the Emmy winner explained. 'And I got up the nerve and called her, and she said, 'Hey kid, you're doing great. What's happening?'
6 Lucille Ball in a scene from 'I Love Lucy' in May 1952.
'And I was so nervous and I kind of flustered,' Burnett continued, 'and she said, 'When do you need me?'
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'She came on the show, and then later on, years later, I did her show after 'I Love Lucy,' the comedian added, 'and she was a guest on my show when I got my variety show.'
Their friendship continued until Ball's death at age 77 on April 26,1989, which was also Burnett's 56th birthday. Despite the 'Here's Lucy' icon's passing, her birthday gift to Burnett was still delivered.
6 Carol Burnett at 'The Carol Burnett 50th Anniversary Special' in Los Angeles on Oct. 4, 2017.
Vince Flores/startraksphoto.com
'We were very close, and she always sent me flowers on my birthday,' Burnett says. 'So this one morning I got up, turned on the television set – it was my birthday – and she had died that morning, on my birthday.
'And that afternoon, I got the flowers that said, 'Happy birthday, kid.''
Since 'The Carol Burnett Show' ended in 1978 after 11 seasons, Burnett has starred in 'Annie,' 'All My Children,' and 'Better Call Saul.'
6 Carol Burnett in June 2022.
Getty Images for AFI
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However, after winning seven Emmys, six Golden Globes, a Grammy and a Kennedy Center Honor throughout her impressive career, Burnett has teased that her latest project, the Apple TV+ series 'Palm Royale,' will likely be her last.
'Probably,' she said when asked about retirement back in October. 'Unless there's a cameo or something fun!'
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