When Betty White died on New Year's Eve, it was a shocker—even though she was 99 years, 11 months, and two weeks old. It seemed impossible to conceive of living in this world without White, who brought us so much joy via a television career that has spanned the entire length of the medium's history.
We talk about the heartrending outpouring of celebrity grief that accompanied the news—including an amazing story involving Steve Martin and Linda Ronstadt—and walk through the highlights of her career, from her pioneering days in early television, to her sitcom queen era on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Golden Girls, to her meme-friendly 2010s revival. Take a moment to stop and celebrate the extraordinary life of a true icon with us.
Read more:
- When Women Invented Television by Jennifer Keishin Armstrong
- How to Be Golden by Paula Bernstein
- Betty White: 100 Remarkable Moments in an Extraordinary Life by Ray Richmond
- My Little Golden Book About Betty White by Deborah Hopkinson
Pop Literacy is proudly sponsored by Libro.fm and Writer's Bone.
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