And just like that, Sarah Jessica Parker is the sixth and latest recipient of the Carol Burnett Award.
The beloved “Sex and the City” alum was honored with the prestigious Golden Globes Award during CBS’ first-ever “Golden Eve” special on Thursday, three nights before the main ceremony at the Beverly Hilton hotel on Jan. 11.
Parker was introduced to the stage by last year’s recipient, Ted Danson, before being presented the honorary award by her husband of nearly 30 years, Matthew Broderick.
“It’s the nature of the journeyman to move on, but in 1997, because [agent] Kevin [Huvane] said I had to say yes, I met Carrie Bradshaw, Charlotte York, Samantha Jones and Miranda Hobbes,” Parker began her touching speech.
“I spent 25 years with the most glorious ensemble of women and actors, where we treated all of New York like CBS Television City and the streets like Studio 33,” she joked.
The “And Just Like That” alum, whose breakout TV role was as Patty Greene in the sitcom “Square Pegs” in 1982, went on to discuss when and why she ever wanted to become an actress in the first place.
“Sitting in the audience at the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park and watching these spectacular actors who came in from New York City, I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, yes, that is what I most want,’” Parker explained. “And it became my fervent wish to become a working actor.”
The “Family Stone” star then gave the Carol Burnett Award’s namesake a sweet shoutout.
“I had this desire to audition, to work hard, to care, to worry about the work, to be nervous, to fail, to be fearless and committed like Carol Burnett,” she said.
“To succeed, to have made friends, to be in another fitting, to fall in love with crews, to weep when saying goodbye to them all, to be challenged and to hear the word action,” Parker continued. “I wish this for all young actors.”
The “Failure to Launch” star concluded her touching remarks by thanking Broderick, 63, and their three children: James, Tabitha and Marion.
“I love you so deeply and admire so much the people you are becoming, that every day at home and at work, I want to make you proud,” Parker ended her speech.
Helen Mirren, meanwhile, was presented with this year’s Cecil B. DeMille Award by Harrison Ford during the inaugural event.
Golden Globes President Helen Hoehne first announced in November that Parker would be this year’s recipient of the award named for legendary actress and comedian Carol Burnett.
“Sarah Jessica Parker’s career embodies the very spirit of the Carol Burnett Award,” Hoehne said. “Her trailblazing impact on television and her dedication to storytelling across stage and screen have left an indelible mark on popular culture.”
“We are honored to celebrate her extraordinary contributions to entertainment,” she added.
The Carol Burnett Award was first created and given to its namesake in 2019.
Recognizing someone who “has made outstanding contributions to television on or off screen,” the award is chosen “based on their body of work and the lasting impact of their television career achievements on both the industry and audiences.”
After Burnett in 2019, the top TV honor was presented to Ellen DeGeneres in 2020, Norman Lear in 2021, Ryan Murphy in 2023 and Danson in 2025.
Recipients weren’t named in 2022 when the ceremony wasn’t broadcast due to controversy surrounding the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s lack of diversity, nor in 2024 when the award was skipped to make room for new categories and other nominees.
A 14-time Golden Globe nominee and a six-time winner, Parker scored her first Globe in 2000 for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy for her iconic role as Carrie Bradshaw in the hit HBO series “Sex and the City.”
She went on to win the award three more times for the role in 2001, 2002 and 2004, as well as for Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy in 2001 and 2002.
After starring as Carrie Bradshaw for the show’s six-season run from 1998 to 2004, Parker returned to the role for both the “Sex and the City” movie in 2008 and its 2010 sequel.
She later reprised the role once more for the revival series “And Just Like That,” which aired on HBO Max from its premiere in December 2021 until its abrupt conclusion in August 2025 after three seasons.
“I was very thrilled,” Burnett exclusively told Page Six regarding Parker being this year’s Carol Burnett Award recipient. “And the thing is, not everybody knows this, but I have no say in who’s going to get it – and I didn’t want to!”
“So it’s always a pleasant surprise for me when I hear who [the Golden Globe Foundation] is going to give it to,” the comedy legend continued. “When they said Sarah this year, I said, ‘Oh, that’s fabulous.’”
The post Sarah Jessica Parker reflects on 25 years of Carrie Bradshaw as she’s honored with 2026 Carol Burnett Award appeared first on Page Six.
