> At a Glance
> – Carol Burnett, 92, delivered the benediction at the Jan. 9 AFI Awards
> – She addressed stars including George Clooney, Leonardo DiCaprio, Steven Spielberg, Ethan Hawke, Timothée Chalamet, Gwyneth Paltrow
> – Burnett recalled saving pennies with her grandmother to see six-to-eight movies a week
> – Why it matters: The comedy legend’s speech celebrated cinema’s power to unite amid industry and global turmoil
Carol Burnett took center stage at the American Film Institute’s AFI Awards luncheon, turning the annual honors into a moving tribute to Hollywood’s storytellers.
Hollywood Royalty Listens
Before a ballroom packed with Jacob Elordi, Benicio del Toro, Guillermo del Toro, Ariana Grande, Emma Stone, Keri Russell, Seth Rogen, Adam Sandler, Patricia Arquette, Mia Goth, and more, the 92-year-old icon reflected on her childhood.
> Carol Burnett shared:
> “I grew up in Hollywood… my grandmother and I, we would save our pennies and we would see maybe six to eight movies a week.”
She praised the room for keeping her love of film and television alive, adding:
> “I never lost the deep respect and love that I have for you [and] all the stories we tell through cinema and television. The world is a better place for having heard your voices.”
Star-Studded Atmosphere
Casual moments lit up the Four Seasons Los Angeles event:
- Emma Stone and Ariana Grande caught up at nearby tables
- Clooney, Paltrow, and Hawke chatted a few tables over
- Jacob Elordi stopped by DiCaprio’s table
- Patricia Arquette hugged Mia Goth
- Timothée Chalamet slipped in to sit beside Odessa A’Zion, his Marty Supreme co-star
Honorees and Reflection
This year’s AFI Awards celebrated:
Film: Avatar: Fire and Ash, Bugonia, Frankenstein, Hamnet, Jay Kelly, Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, Sinners, Train Dreams, Wicked: For Good
TV: Adolescence, Andor, Death by Lightning, The Diplomat, The Lowdown, The Pitt, Pluribus, Severance, The Studio, Task
A special award went to It Was Just an Accident.
**Director Ava DuVernay, presenting the film honors, acknowledged the tense political climate:
> “There’s so many nightmares going on outside. So I hope we all leave this room a little stronger and keep doing good work.”
AFI CEO Bob Gazzale reminded guests of the year’s hardships, including January wildfires that killed 31 people and destroyed over 13,000 structures, and industry losses such as Debbie Lynch, Robert Redford, Diane Keel, Robin Michelle Reiner.
> Bob Gazzale said:
> “We need your stories to help us make sense of emotions that we cannot escape.”
Key Takeaways
- Carol Burnett brought the crowd to its feet with a heartfelt benediction
- The Jan. 9 luncheon united film and TV’s biggest names ahead of Golden Globe weekend
- AFI honored 10 films and 10 shows plus special award recipient It Was Just an Accident
- Speakers urged Hollywood to provide comfort and clarity in turbulent times
Burnett’s surprise appearance capped a week that saw her celebrated by Sarah Jessica Parker on CBS and Paramount’s Golden Eve special as her personal “north star.”
