Publications
Partners
Washington - Ellen DeGeneres is winning the top US humour prize 15 years after breaking ground as the first lead character on primetime TV to reveal she's gay.
The Kennedy Center in Washington announced on Tuesday that DeGeneres will receive the 15th annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humour. She'll be honored on 22 October with a lineup of star performers.
In a statement, DeGeneres said receiving the same award as Bill Cosby, Tina Fey and Will Ferrell makes her wonder "why didn't I get this sooner?"
It was in 1997 when DeGeneres came out on Time magazine's cover and on TV's Ellen to a record 46 million viewers. The sitcom was cancelled a year later.
The Kennedy Center in Washington announced on Tuesday that DeGeneres will receive the 15th annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humour. She'll be honored on 22 October with a lineup of star performers.
In a statement, DeGeneres said receiving the same award as Bill Cosby, Tina Fey and Will Ferrell makes her wonder "why didn't I get this sooner?"
It was in 1997 when DeGeneres came out on Time magazine's cover and on TV's Ellen to a record 46 million viewers. The sitcom was cancelled a year later.
DeGeneres bounced back with movie roles and a hit talk show.
