Betty White to be honored at the Daytime Emmy Awards

LOS ANGELES, March 16 (UPI) -- Betty White is to be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 42nd annual Daytime Emmy Awards, the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences announced Monday.

The ceremony honoring excellence on the small screen is to take place April 26 at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, Calif. It is to air live on Pop.

"Betty White is an American institution," Bob Mauro, president of NATAS, said in a statement. "Betty's career as a female pioneer has followed television from literally the beginning of the medium, winning her first Emmy Award in 1952, to the digital-streaming future, winning again in 2010. She is one of the most beloved female performers in the history of television and the National Academy is proud to be honoring her with a most well-deserved Lifetime Achievement Award."

"Betty White is the 'First Lady of Game Shows,'" added NATAS' Senior Vice President of Daytime David Michaels. "Betty was the darling of Password, where she met the love of her life, Allen Ludden, and a favorite on Match Game, The $25,000 Pyramid and countless others. She was the first woman to receive an Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show Host in 1983 for the show, Just Men. From her iconic dramatic turn as Ann Douglas on The Bold and the Beautiful to her classic sitcom performances, to her movies and books, Betty is a woman who has excelled in everything she has ever done. She is also one of the nicest women in show business and we are proud to be bestowing this honor on such an exemplary role model for our entire industry."

White, 93, is best known for her work on the comedy series The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Golden Girls and Hot in Cleveland.