Carol Burnett is speaking out this week to open up about her friendship with the late great comedic legend Lucille Ball.
Burnett’s Friendship With Ball
While being interviewed by the former First Lady Michelle Obama on her IMO podcast on Wednesday, Burnett discussed her friendship with Ball.
“She was my pal,” Burnett 92, recalled of her friendship with the I Love Lucy star.
Burnett went on to say that she and Ball met in New York City. At the time, the women talked for “20 minutes.” Before they parted ways, Ball told Burnett, “Kid, if you ever need me for anything, you call me.”
Three years later, Burnett convinced Ball to guest star on her NBC special. She remembers that they “had the best time.” From there, they had a “great” friendship that lasted for decades.
Ball tragically died on Burnett’s 56th birthday in April of 1989. She was 77 years-old.
“She always sent me flowers on my birthday,” Burnett stated. “I got up one morning, and she had died on my birthday. I got flowers that afternoon. ‘Happy birthday, kid.’”
How sweet is that?!
Burnett’s Previous Comments On Ball
Burnett previously opened up about her friendship with Ball in May of last year.
“The woman who influenced me probably the most was Lucille Ball,” Burnett began. “She came to see me in Once Upon a Mattress, which was my first Broadway break, 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.”
Afterwards, Ball made a point of coming backstage to meet Burnett. The two bonded immediately, and it was clear that Ball saw great talent in Burnett.
“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 recalled.
Burnett took Ball up on this a few years later when she was preparing for a television special.
“Just a few short years later, I was lucky enough to be given a special if I could get a major guest star. And I got up the nerve and called her, and she said, ‘Hey kid, you’re doing great. What’s happening?'” Burnett recounted. “And I was so nervous and I kind of flustered … and she said, ‘When do you need me?’ “
“She came on the show and then later on, years later, I did her show after I Love Lucy, and she was a guest on my show when I got my variety show,” Burnett added.
Burnett And Ball’s Dynamic
Burnett has also opened up about the dynamic that she shared with Ball.
“She never tried to give me any advice,” Burnett recalled of Ball to Fox News. “She was not one to give any kind of advice…she just supported me. And we had fun working together. Having fun was so important to us.”
Burnett and Ball are two legends in the world of comedy. That’s why it’s nice to know that they shared such a beautiful friendship behind the scenes.
May Ball continue to rest in peace. And God bless you, Carol Burnett!