Comedy queen Carol Burnett was honored Sunday with the Kennedy Center's Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, a lifetime achievement award that was a long time coming.

Apparently Burnett had been offered the award before, but couldn't accept due to scheduling conflicts, Jezebel reports.

"They asked me quite a few times," she told reporters on the red carpet. "But I could never work it out with my schedule.

"I hope after tonight it will knock me down a few pegs because my head is getting huge," she said.

Burnett's storied career includes highlights such as her portrayal of Miss Hannigan, the villainess in the film version of "Annie," and of course, her self-titled variety show.

"The Carol Burnett Show" reigned on American television for 11 seasons, the weekly variety show combined Old Hollywood with must-see appointment television, and enduring long past its last episode in 1978.

One TV executive told Burnett the variety show genre was "a man's game." She proved him wrong with the 11-year run that averaged 30 million viewers each week, according to the Associated Press.

Top entertainers included Julie Andrews, Tony Bennett, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler and others performed in Burnett's honor at Sunday's award ceremony.

"This is very encouraging," Burnett, 80, deadpanned in accepting the prize. "I mean it was a long time in coming, but I understand because there are so many people funnier than I am, especially here in Washington.

"With any luck, they'll soon get voted out, and I'll still have the Mark Twain prize," she said.

Fey, known for her writing and acting work on "Saturday Night Live" and "30 Rock," praised Burnett for opening the door for women comedians.

"You mean so much to me," Fey said. "I love you in a way that is just shy of creepy."

The show was taped Sunday and will be broadcast Nov. 24 on PBS stations.

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