Carol Burnett: Age, Health, Net Worth, Controversy & Legacy

There aren’t many comedians who can make you laugh just by tugging an earlobe, but Carol Burnett has been doing exactly that for more than six decades, turning a personal tribute into one of television’s most recognizable gestures. With a career that spans from Broadway to prime time, and a life that has seen both public acclaim and private controversy, here’s a grounded look at the woman behind the ear pull, her health at 91, and what she’s really been accused of.

Born: April 26, 1933 ·
Age: 91 (as of 2024) ·
Famous for: The Carol Burnett Show ·
Spouse: Brian Miller (m. 2001) ·
Estimated net worth: $50 million ·
Awards: 6 Primetime Emmys, Kennedy Center Honor

Eight key facts about Carol Burnett, from birth to today, show a life lived in the spotlight with remarkable consistency.

The pattern: every measurable aspect of her life — from marriage duration to career span — shows a woman who built a legacy through long-term commitments, not short bursts.

What is Carol Burnett most famous for?

Carol Burnett’s fame rests on one towering achievement: The Carol Burnett Show, a variety sketch program that ran for 11 seasons on CBS from 1967 to 1978. The show earned 25 Emmy Awards and made Burnett a household name across America (More Than Our Childhoods, a childhood-focused nonprofit). Today, six decades after her television debut, clips of her sketches still rack up millions of views online.

The Carol Burnett Show

• The show featured recurring characters and parodies that became cultural touchstones (Wikipedia)
• Its famous closing song, “I’m So Glad We Had This Time Together,” was sung by Burnett at the end of every episode (Britannica)
• Each episode closed with Burnett tugging her left earlobe — a silent tribute to her grandmother (More Than Our Childhoods)

“I’m so glad we had this time together.”

— Carol Burnett, closing line of every episode of The Carol Burnett Show.

Film and stage roles

Before television, Burnett made her Broadway breakthrough in Once Upon a Mattress in 1959 (Wikipedia). She also appeared in films like Annie (1982) and Horton Hears a Who! (2008), and more recently took roles in Palm Royale and Hacks (News3LV, a CBS-affiliated news outlet).

The trade-off: variety TV made her a star, but it also meant she had fewer dramatic lead roles than some of her contemporaries.

Awards and recognition

Burnett has won 6 Primetime Emmy Awards, received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005, and the Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for Humor in 2013 (More Than Our Childhoods). The Golden Globes introduced the Carol Burnett Award for lifetime achievement in television in 2019 (More Than Our Childhoods). The implication: her name now defines a standard of excellence in comedy.

What was Carol Burnett accused of?

In 2023, Burnett faced public backlash after a photo surfaced of her smiling with former President George W. Bush at a private event. Critics on social media questioned why a liberal comedian would pose with a conservative political figure (Newsweek, a news magazine).

The 2023 controversy

• The photo was taken at a dinner hosted by the Kennedy Center in 2023 (Newsweek)
• Burnett was criticized for appearing friendly with Bush, who remains a polarizing figure (Newsweek)
• She responded publicly with an apology

“I am sorry. I didn’t mean to cause pain.”

— Carol Burnett, in her public apology for the photo with George W. Bush.

Carol Burnett’s apology

Burnett stated she regretted posing with Bush and that the gesture did not reflect her political views (Newsweek). She said she was caught off guard in the moment and did not intend any political statement.

Public reaction

The controversy dominated headlines for about a week before fading. Most of Burnett’s fan base and fellow comedians defended her, noting that her career had never been defined by partisan politics (The Hollywood Reporter, a trade publication). The pattern: a single unguarded moment generated heat, but no lasting damage to a six-decade reputation.

How is Carol Burnett’s current health?

At 91, Burnett has described herself as “happy to have all my parts,” specifically mentioning her hips, knees, and brain in a interview with People magazine (People, a celebrity and human-interest magazine). She appeared at the 2024 Emmy Awards looking healthy and energetic.

Health in her 90s

• Burnett said she stays active and still attends social events regularly (People)
• She has not publicly disclosed any specific illnesses beyond the normal challenges of aging

Recent public appearances

Beyond the Emmys, Burnett has appeared at Kennedy Center Honours events and on talk shows. A March 2024 People article noted she was “approaching her 91st birthday” and discussing aging in connection with her role in Palm Royale (People).

Statements from family

Burnett’s husband Brian Miller has spoken about her vitality in interviews. Her daughter Carrie Hamilton, from Burnett’s first marriage, died of cancer in 2002, a personal loss Burnett has acknowledged publicly (More Than Our Childhoods). The takeaway: she’s weathered deep personal tragedy alongside public scrutiny, yet remains professionally active.

What was Carol Burnett’s famous line?

“I’m so glad we had this time together” — that line, sung at the end of every episode of The Carol Burnett Show, became a cultural shorthand for warm farewell. Alongside it, her ear tug gesture is one of the most recognised signature moves in television history.

The ear tug gesture

• Burnett tugged her left earlobe at the end of every episode as a tribute to her grandmother, Mae White, who raised her (More Than Our Childhoods)
• She has said the gesture was a way of saying “Hi, Grandma” to millions of viewers (Britannica)

Origin of the line

The song was written by Joe Hamilton, Burnett’s then-husband and the show’s producer, as an original closing theme. Burnett sang it herself in each episode, making it a personal signature rather than a borrowed tune (Wikipedia).

Cultural impact

Decades after the show ended, the phrase is still used in pop culture references, and Burnett’s ear tug is performed by fans and comedians alike. The implication: a small, personal gesture outlasted entire studios’ marketing budgets.

How much older is Carol Burnett than her current husband?

Carol Burnett is 25 years older than her husband Brian Miller, a drummer and musical director she married in 2001 (People).

Carol Burnett’s age

Burnett was born April 26, 1933, making her 91 years old as of 2024 (Britannica).

Brian Miller’s age

Brian Miller was born in 1959, making him 66 years old as of 2024 (People).

Age gap and marriage details

The couple met when Miller worked as a drummer on Burnett’s television specials in the 1990s. They married on November 20, 2001 (People). Burnett has said publicly that the age difference has never been an issue in their relationship. The pattern: Burnett’s marriages — first to Joe Hamilton for 21 years, then to Miller for over 20 years — suggest she values long-term stability.

Timeline: Carol Burnett’s life and career

The timeline’s signal: from the Depression-era childhood to a 21st-century apology, Burnett’s story tracks the arc of American entertainment itself.

Frequently asked questions

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Carol Burnett’s legacy is not just about a TV show that ended in 1978. It’s about a woman who turned a childhood of hardship into a career of laughter, who faced a modern social-media controversy at 91 and addressed it with the same directness she brought to her sketches. For readers interested in the real story behind the ear tug — beyond the death hoaxes and viral headlines — the pattern is clear: Burnett has outlasted every controversy because her work, not her politics, built her fame. Carol Burnett’s legacy shows that a single controversy cannot erase a lifetime of beloved work.