Kristen Wiig Says Watching Carol Burnett on TV Planted Her ‘First Creative Seeds’: ‘It’s Like You’re My Oldest Friend’
Kristen Wiig presented Carol Burnett with the Lifetime Achievement Award Tuesday night at the Gracie Awards in Beverly Hills, hosted by the Alliance of Women in Media Foundation.
“As the little me watched ‘The Carol Burnett Show’ in awe, the first creative seeds were planted,” Wiig said while presenting the award to Burnett. “So Carol, in many ways it’s like you’re my oldest friend, but also you are my oldest friend. It’s been an absolute honor and joy to work alongside you, Carol, in ‘Palm Royale.’ And I mean this, no one plays coma patient like you.”
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The Gracies Lifetime Achievement Award honors a woman in media who embodies the essence of vaudevillian, singer, actor and comedian Gracie Allen, the namesake of the Gracie Awards.
“I was unfortunately, believe it or not, too young to have met the legendary Gracie Allen, who is the inspiration for these awards,” Burnett said during her acceptance speech. “But I hope we might have had something, or maybe a lot, in common. Her iconic work as an artist paved the way for all the women who came after her, including me.”
Burnett also teased a second season of “Palm Royale,” explaining how much it meant to her for Wiig to present her with the award: “I was so fortunate to get to work with her. I think we’re gonna do it again.”
The event, hosted by Tamera Mowry-Housley, honored the achievements of women across many media platforms. This year’s theme was focused on “Feminine Strength, both Large and Small,” highlighting impactful actions from women.
Rachel Platten, singer of the 2015 single “Fight Song,” performed her song “Girls” at the event. Winners and presenters included Jane Fonda, Natalie Morales, Sheryl Underwood, Yvette Nicole Brown, Mayan Lopez, Melissa Peterman, Emma Kenney, Danielle Pinnock, Amanda Kloots, Lauren E. Banks, Sharon Carpenter, Allison Holker, Christina Elmore, Kim Fields, Betsy Brandt, Sutton Stracke, Crystal Kung Minkoff and Amy Chozick.
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