The Kennedy Center announced Ellen DeGeneres as recipient of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.
On September 12, 2017, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts announced that Ellen DeGeneres would receive the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, one of the most prestigious honors in American comedy. The prize is awarded annually to individuals who have had an impact on American society similar to that of the 19th-century humorist and social critic Mark Twain.
The announcement recognized DeGeneres's decades-long career in stand-up comedy, television, and film, as well as her significant role in shaping American humor through her observational comedic style and her trailblazing openness about her sexuality, which reshaped public discourse around LGBTQ+ issues in entertainment.
Being named a recipient of this honor placed DeGeneres alongside past luminaries of American comedy, and was seen as an acknowledgment not only of her comedic talent but of her broader cultural impact as a pioneer for LGBTQ+ visibility in mainstream entertainment. The announcement generated widespread media coverage and anticipation for the formal award ceremony to be held the following month at the Kennedy Center.