In pictures: Television icon Carol Burnett

Published 6:48 PM EST, Wed January 2, 2019

Sasha Maslov/Redux
Carol Burnett poses for a portrait in New York in 2016.

The Golden Globes are naming a new award this year after groundbreaking actress Carol Burnett.

The first recipient will be Burnett herself.

"For more than 50 years, comedy trailblazer Carol Burnett has been breaking barriers while making us laugh," said Meher Tatna, the president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. "She was the first woman to host a variety sketch show, 'The Carol Burnett Show.' She was also the first woman to win both the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor and Kennedy Center Honors.

"And now we add another first to her running list: the first recipient — and namesake — of the new Golden Globe top honor for achievement in television, the Carol Burnett Award."

Burnett has won five Golden Globes — and many more awards — over a career that has spanned seven decades.

A young Burnett is seen in an undated portrait. Burnett was born in San Antonio in 1933, and she later moved to Los Angeles, where she attended UCLA and took theater-arts classes.
Photos: In pictures: Television icon Carol Burnett
Bettmann Archive/Getty Images
A young Burnett is seen in an undated portrait. Burnett was born in San Antonio in 1933, and she later moved to Los Angeles, where she attended UCLA and took theater-arts classes.
Burnett, left, and Mary Rodgers move a prop mattress through the stage door of the Alvin Theatre in New York in 1959. Burnett's first Broadway play was the musical "Once Upon a Mattress," and Rodgers wrote the score. Burnett earned a Tony Award nomination for her work on the play.
Photos: In pictures: Television icon Carol Burnett
Bettmann Archive/Getty Images
Burnett, left, and Mary Rodgers move a prop mattress through the stage door of the Alvin Theatre in New York in 1959. Burnett's first Broadway play was the musical "Once Upon a Mattress," and Rodgers wrote the score. Burnett earned a Tony Award nomination for her work on the play.
In the late 1950s, Burnett became a regular on "The Garry Moore Show." It was her television debut.
Photos: In pictures: Television icon Carol Burnett
Bettmann Archive/Getty Images
In the late 1950s, Burnett became a regular on "The Garry Moore Show." It was her television debut.
Burnett and her sister, Chrissie, listen to records on the floor of Burnett's apartment in 1959.
Photos: In pictures: Television icon Carol Burnett
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Burnett and her sister, Chrissie, listen to records on the floor of Burnett's apartment in 1959.
Garry Moore kisses Burnett in 1962 after they both received Emmy Awards for their work on "The Garry Moore Show."
Photos: In pictures: Television icon Carol Burnett
Eddie Adams/AP
Garry Moore kisses Burnett in 1962 after they both received Emmy Awards for their work on "The Garry Moore Show."
Burnett guest-stars on a "Twilight Zone" episode in 1962.
Photos: In pictures: Television icon Carol Burnett
CBS/Getty Images
Burnett guest-stars on a "Twilight Zone" episode in 1962.
Julie Andrews, left, and Burnett drink tea while reviewing the musical score for their 1962 TV special "Julie and Carol at Carnegie Hall."
Photos: In pictures: Television icon Carol Burnett
Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Julie Andrews, left, and Burnett drink tea while reviewing the musical score for their 1962 TV special "Julie and Carol at Carnegie Hall."
Burnett peeks at a portrait of herself that was being painted by artist Dmitri Vails in 1963.
Photos: In pictures: Television icon Carol Burnett
AP
Burnett peeks at a portrait of herself that was being painted by artist Dmitri Vails in 1963.
Burnett made her film debut in 1963's "Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed?"
Photos: In pictures: Television icon Carol Burnett
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Burnett made her film debut in 1963's "Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed?"
Burnett laughs while appearing with Lucille Ball, center, and Mary Jane Croft on a 1966 episode of "The Lucy Show."
Photos: In pictures: Television icon Carol Burnett
CBS/Getty Images
Burnett laughs while appearing with Lucille Ball, center, and Mary Jane Croft on a 1966 episode of "The Lucy Show."
Burnett interacts with the audience of her new variety show, "The Carol Burnett Show," in 1967. The show aired for 11 years and brought together Burnett's gifts for comedy, acting and song.
Photos: In pictures: Television icon Carol Burnett
CBS/Getty Images
Burnett interacts with the audience of her new variety show, "The Carol Burnett Show," in 1967. The show aired for 11 years and brought together Burnett's gifts for comedy, acting and song.
Burnett, left, and Cher perform a skit on "The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour" in 1972.
Photos: In pictures: Television icon Carol Burnett
CBS/Getty Images
Burnett, left, and Cher perform a skit on "The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour" in 1972.
Burnett — flanked by Jean Stapleton and Phil Silvers — tugs on her ear during an episode of "The Carol Burnett Show" in 1975. Burnett's signature ear tug came at the end of each episode and was her way of saying hello to her grandmother who raised her.
Photos: In pictures: Television icon Carol Burnett
CBS/Getty Images
Burnett — flanked by Jean Stapleton and Phil Silvers — tugs on her ear during an episode of "The Carol Burnett Show" in 1975. Burnett's signature ear tug came at the end of each episode and was her way of saying hello to her grandmother who raised her.
Burnett wears a dress made from a window curtain as she parodies "Gone With the Wind" during a "Carol Burnett Show" episode in 1976.
Photos: In pictures: Television icon Carol Burnett
CBS/Getty Images
Burnett wears a dress made from a window curtain as she parodies "Gone With the Wind" during a "Carol Burnett Show" episode in 1976.
Burnett performs a Tarzan yell, which she would often do during her show's question-and-answer sessions.
Photos: In pictures: Television icon Carol Burnett
ABC/Getty Images
Burnett performs a Tarzan yell, which she would often do during her show's question-and-answer sessions.
In 1979, Burnett poses with her second husband, Joseph Hamilton, and their daughters Erin, Carrie and Jody. Burnett and Hamilton divorced in 1984. She married her third husband, Brian Miller, in 2001.
Photos: In pictures: Television icon Carol Burnett
Steve Schapiro/Corbis/Getty Images
In 1979, Burnett poses with her second husband, Joseph Hamilton, and their daughters Erin, Carrie and Jody. Burnett and Hamilton divorced in 1984. She married her third husband, Brian Miller, in 2001.
Burnett takes the stand in 1981 after suing the National Enquirer for libel. She said the tabloid, in one of its gossip columns, incorrectly implied that she was drunk and had an argument with US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger at a Washington restaurant in 1976. The court ruled in Burnett's favor.
Photos: In pictures: Television icon Carol Burnett
Bettmann Archive/Getty Images
Burnett takes the stand in 1981 after suing the National Enquirer for libel. She said the tabloid, in one of its gossip columns, incorrectly implied that she was drunk and had an argument with US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger at a Washington restaurant in 1976. The court ruled in Burnett's favor.
Burnett co-stars in the 1982 musical film "Annie."
Photos: In pictures: Television icon Carol Burnett
Columbia Pictures/Getty Images
Burnett co-stars in the 1982 musical film "Annie."
Burnett reacts to a wax figure of herself as it is unveiled in Buena Park, California, in 1984.
Photos: In pictures: Television icon Carol Burnett
Bob Riha Jr./Getty Images
Burnett reacts to a wax figure of herself as it is unveiled in Buena Park, California, in 1984.
Burnett and Charles Grodin film a scene for the miniseries "Fresno" in 1986.
Photos: In pictures: Television icon Carol Burnett
CBS/Getty Images
Burnett and Charles Grodin film a scene for the miniseries "Fresno" in 1986.
Burnett poses with her memoir "One More Time" at a book signing in Beverly Hills, California, in 1986.
Photos: In pictures: Television icon Carol Burnett
Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage/Getty Images
Burnett poses with her memoir "One More Time" at a book signing in Beverly Hills, California, in 1986.
In the late 1990s, Burnett had a recurring role playing Helen Hunt's mother in the TV series "Mad About You."
Photos: In pictures: Television icon Carol Burnett
NBC/Getty Images
In the late 1990s, Burnett had a recurring role playing Helen Hunt's mother in the TV series "Mad About You."
From left, Burnett, Julie Andrews, Judi Dench and Isabelle Stevenson pose for a photo at the Tony Awards in 1999.
Photos: In pictures: Television icon Carol Burnett
Ray Stubblebine/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
From left, Burnett, Julie Andrews, Judi Dench and Isabelle Stevenson pose for a photo at the Tony Awards in 1999.
Burnett, center, poses with other Kennedy Center honorees in 2003. Joining her, from left, are singer James Brown, singer Loretta Lynn, film director Mike Nichols and violinist Itzhak Perlman.
Photos: In pictures: Television icon Carol Burnett
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Burnett, center, poses with other Kennedy Center honorees in 2003. Joining her, from left, are singer James Brown, singer Loretta Lynn, film director Mike Nichols and violinist Itzhak Perlman.
President George W. Bush awards Burnett the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005. Burnett was honored "for enhancing the lives of millions of Americans and for her extraordinary contributions to American entertainment."
Photos: In pictures: Television icon Carol Burnett
Douglas A. Sonders/Getty Images
President George W. Bush awards Burnett the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005. Burnett was honored "for enhancing the lives of millions of Americans and for her extraordinary contributions to American entertainment."
Burnett appears in a 2009 episode of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit."
Photos: In pictures: Television icon Carol Burnett
Will Hart/NBC/Getty Images
Burnett appears in a 2009 episode of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit."
Carol Burnett Square was unveiled in Los Angeles in front of her alma mater, Hollywood High School, in 2013.
Photos: In pictures: Television icon Carol Burnett
Joe Kohen/FilmMagic/Getty Images
Carol Burnett Square was unveiled in Los Angeles in front of her alma mater, Hollywood High School, in 2013.
Burnett is honored with the Kennedy Center's Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2013. Joining her in the front row is her husband, Brian Miller.
Photos: In pictures: Television icon Carol Burnett
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Burnett is honored with the Kennedy Center's Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2013. Joining her in the front row is her husband, Brian Miller.
Burnett performs a skit with "Tonight Show" host Jimmy Fallon in 2014.
Photos: In pictures: Television icon Carol Burnett
Theo Wargo/NBC/Getty Images
Burnett performs a skit with "Tonight Show" host Jimmy Fallon in 2014.
In 2017, CBS put together a two-hour special episode of "The Carol Burnett Show" to celebrate its 50th anniversary.
Photos: In pictures: Television icon Carol Burnett
Cliff Lipson/CBS/Getty Images
In 2017, CBS put together a two-hour special episode of "The Carol Burnett Show" to celebrate its 50th anniversary.
Burnett appears on stage during the Creative Arts Emmy Awards in 2018.
Photos: In pictures: Television icon Carol Burnett
Phil McCarten/Invision/AP
Burnett appears on stage during the Creative Arts Emmy Awards in 2018.