There’s something magical about Carol Burnett and Julie Andrews. Their friendship, which has spanned over six decades, is one of those rare bonds that remind us what true connection looks like. It all started with a little bit of luck—or perhaps fate. Carol has always believed that good fortune follows rain or snowstorms. So, when a massive blizzard hit New York City on the night she and Julie taped their first-ever television special together, Julie and Carol at Carnegie Hall, back in 1962, it felt like destiny. "The show aired that summer and not only won amazing ratings but also picked up a bunch of awards," Carol reminisced with a smile.
This collaboration wasn't just a professional milestone; it marked the beginning of a lifelong friendship. "Carol's been my pal for decades now, and I absolutely adore her," Julie, now 88, gushed about her dear friend Carol, who recently turned 90. "She's a joy to work with, incredibly loyal, and kind-hearted. And honestly? She hasn't changed a bit over the years."
Their story began in 1961 when Julie was starring on Broadway in Camelot, and Carol was performing in Once Upon a Mattress. A group of mutual friends introduced them after Carol's performance, suggesting they all go out for some Chinese food. At first, Carol felt a bit reluctant, confessing in her memoir This Time Together, "When someone pushes you like that, your natural reaction might be to run the other way." Surprisingly, Julie admitted to feeling the same way. But sometimes, the best things happen when we step outside our comfort zones.
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That dinner turned out to be unforgettable. "Julie and I spent the first five minutes sizing each other up," Carol recalled. "Then, something clicked. We started chatting, sharing stories, and laughing so hard we barely let the guys get a word in edgewise. By the end of the night, we had practically closed the place down!" From that moment on, their friendship blossomed into something truly special.
Pranks and Shenanigans
Julie once joked that being around Carol brings out her mischievous side. "Whenever I'm with Carol, I turn into this naughty, bawdy version of myself," the Mary Poppins star confessed with a laugh. Their playful antics were on full display during rehearsals for a show honoring President Lyndon Johnson in 1964. While waiting for their writer, Mike Nichols, to arrive at their hotel, the duo decided to pull off a little prank.
"Julie came up with this brilliant idea to sit on the couch in front of the elevator and pretend like we were caught in a passionate embrace," Carol recalled with a grin. "We figured out how to hug each other in a way that made our faces disappear into each other's necks, giving the illusion of a heated lip-lock." But fate had other plans.
Instead of Mike, who they were expecting, Lady Bird Johnson, the First Lady, and her Secret Service entourage stepped out of the elevator. "We were both laughing so hard we could barely breathe," Julie wrote in her memoir Home Work. "Carol slid off my knee and hid behind the couch." Thankfully, Lady Bird recognized Carol from her appearances on The Garry Moore Show. "Aren't you Carol Burnett?" she asked. In her memoir, Carol sheepishly admitted, "Yes, Ma'am, and this here is Mary Poppins!"
Through Thick and Thin
Despite their initial plans to take their act to Las Vegas, those dreams were put on hold when Julie discovered she was pregnant with her daughter Emma, who would later become Carol's goddaughter. Over the years, the pair collaborated on two more TV specials—one in 1971 and another in 1989—while maintaining their close bond despite living in different locations.
"Our friendship has always been one that picks up exactly where it left off," Julie said fondly. As time passed, they supported each other through life's ups and downs—marriages, children, divorces, and the loss of loved ones. "Carol's been my rock during tough times," Julie shared. "She's the first person I call when I need someone to lean on."
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Laughter has always been their go-to remedy for life's challenges. "Julie jokes that if she ever ended up in jail, Carol would be her one phone call," a close friend of the duo revealed. When Carol celebrated her 90th birthday last spring with a special TV tribute, Julie flew in to be by her side. "She sat with me the entire evening," Carol said. "It was the perfect birthday celebration I could ever ask for." For Julie, it was an event she wouldn't have missed for the world. "This is a friendship that comes around once in a lifetime," she declared. "And Carol? She's once-in-a-lifetime."
