Broadway legend Carol Channing was born 101 years ago today – let’s enjoy some of her famous numbers

An absolute national legend was born 101 years ago today. She is, of course, the late, great Carol Channing who still lives on in our hearts.

She was best known for her Tony Award winning role of Dolly Levi in Hello Dolly which ran on Broadway forever then was a sensation in several later revivals.

But we also loved her in her Oscar-nominated role in Thoroughly Modern Millie and in her many hilarious talk show, variety show, and sitcom guest appearances.

Miss Channing, who died in 2019, was a force of nature and I hope she knows how many people appreciate her for sharing her great talent and energy with us for all these years and for all the work she and her beloved late husband, Harry Kullijian, did to keep the arts in schools.

She had said the arts are like ‘fertilizer for the brain.’

I love what she said in a 2010 interview: “The gay community is responsible for so much of my success, and I love them. It’s a mutual love affair, really. They make the better audiences too, because they laugh often and loudly. Applause is obligatory, but laughter is a reward, and gay audiences reward me often. Years ago, I was made their Queen in San Francisco, which is so much better than legend or icon. I was told that on that day, there wasn’t a blonde wig to be found in stores. Isn’t that wonderful.”