Betty White should probably clear a spot in her trophy case.
The “Hot in Cleveland” actress and general icon will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at this year’s Daytime Emmy Awards, which will air live Apr. 26 on Pop at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT, the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences said Monday.
Hailing White as “an American institution,” NATAS president Bob Mauro added that the 93-year-old actress is “one of the most beloved female performers in the history of television.”
“Betty’s career as a female pioneer has followed television from literally the beginning of the medium, winning her first Emmy Award in 1952, to the digital-streaming future, winning again in 2010,” Mauro said. “She is one of the most beloved female performers in the history of television and the National Academy is proud to be honoring her with a most well-deserved Lifetime Achievement Award.”
NATAS senior vice president, daytime David Michaels lauded White’s extensive game show experience in Monday’s announcement, noting that she was the first woman to win an Emmy for Outstanding Game Show Host.
“Betty White is the ‘First Lady of Game Shows,’” Michaels said. “Betty was the darling of ‘Password, where she met the love of her life, Allen Ludden, and a favorite on ‘Match Game,’ ‘The $25,000 Pyramid,’ and countless others. She was the first woman to receive an Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show Host in 1983 for the show, ‘Just Men.’ From her iconic dramatic turn as Ann Douglas on ‘The Bold and the Beautiful,’ to her classic sitcom performances, to her movies and books, Betty is a woman who has excelled in everything she has ever done. She is also one of the nicest women in show business and we are proud to be bestowing this honor on such an exemplary role model for our entire industry.”
Previous Lifetime Achievement Award honorees include Oprah Winfrey, Barbara Walters, Merv Griffin, Dick Clark, Bob Barker, Phil Donahue, Regis Philbin and Alex Trebek.