Carol Burnett to receive nation's top humor prize

Julie Andrews, Tony Bennett, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler will honor Carol Burnett as she receives the nation's top humor prize in Washington.

The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is awarding Burnett the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor on Oct. 20. The show will be broadcast on PBS stations Nov. 24.

The lineup of entertainers who will salute Burnett on stage also includes Maya Rudolph, Martin Short and Lucie Arnaz, the daughter of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz.

Burnett became famous playing a variety of characters in sketch comedy routines for 11 years on TV's "The Carol Burnett Show." She had her breakout on Broadway in "Once Upon a Mattress" while also appearing on morning TV. More recently, Burnett has made appearances on "Hot in Cleveland," "All My Children" and "Glee."

The prize honors Mark Twain's tradition of satire and social commentary.