Names and faces

When Carol Burnett launched her namesake variety show in the 1960s,one TV executive told her the genre was “a man’s game.” She proved him wrong with an 11-year run that averaged 30million viewers each week. On Sunday, the trailblazing comedienne received the nation’s top humor prize at Washington’s Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Top entertainers including Julie Andrews, Tony Bennett, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler and others performed in Burnett’s honor as she received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. The show was taped Sunday and will be broadcast Nov. 24 on PBS stations. “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.” Burnett said it’s a thrill to receive the award named for the humorist and satirist and that she’s in good company with past honorees, who include Fey, Bill Cosby, Steve Martin, Lily Tomlin and Ellen DeGeneres.

Taylor Swift has gathered an all-star band for her appearance on next month’s Country Music Association Awards. Swift will be joined by Alison Krauss, Vince Gill, Sam Bush, bassist Edgar Meyer and percussionist Eric Darken for a special version of her hit song “Red.” The 23-year-old singer is one of two top nominees with six nominations for the Nov. 6 awards. Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley will co-host the ABC broadcast live from Nashville, Tenn. No word on what Swift has planned for her group. In recent award show performances, she’s played the Mad Hatter and led the viewer on a backstage tour. All five nominees for top honor entertainer of the year - Swift, Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton and George Strait - will perform on the show this year.

Front Section, Pages 2 on 10/22/2013

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