For over 80 years, Betty White, 96, has been delighting audiences with her beloved roles in countless television shows and movies, earning her over 20 Emmy nominations and 8 Emmy wins over the years for performances on shows like The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Golden Girls, and Hot in Cleveland.

With such an illustrious career and numerous accomplishments as an actress and comedian, it was long overdue for White to be properly honored as she was at Sunday night’s 70^th Primetime Emmy Awards.

As the adored actress, who has been referred to as both a ‘national treasure’ and the ‘First Lady of Television’, took the stage, the crowd went wild before she even started speaking.

True Hollywood Royalty

With a collage of images from various moments in her extensive career in Hollywood displayed on the big screen behind her and a crowd filled with cheering peers in front of her, it was a truly magical moment as White stood on stage at the Microsoft Theater preparing to speak.

And when the crowd finally quieted, White did not disappoint with her heartfelt, witty, and perfectly punctuated speech.

https://youtu.be/9OjoZmlbIvw

White’s speech proved exactly why she is, and will remain, true Hollywood royalty.

Not only was it short and sweet (with some light humor sprinkled in), but it was also incredibly humble. While the crowd was clearly celebrating White and expressing gratitude for the years of entertainment that she has provided audiences, the icon used her moment in the spotlight to actually thank them!

“Little did I dream then, that I would be here and it’s incredible that I’m still in this business and that you are still putting up with me,” White said. “I am thanking you. It’s incredible that you can stay in a career this long and still have people put up with you. I wish they did that at home.”

White kept the crowd laughing as she concluded her speech with a joke about Saturday Night Live creator, Lorne Michaels, saying, “I want to thank Lorne Michaels, not only this tonight but all the wonderful things he has done with me, no for me,” and once again, showing her humility and gratitude for being able to continue working to this day in a business that she truly loves, “All I can say is it’s such a blessed business to be in and how lucky can be I be and how much I say thank you to each and every one of you.”

Following her hilarious and heartfelt speech, fans and peers alike took to Twitter to continue showering the icon with love and appreciation.

betty white really is the best we have.

— Netflix (@netflix) September 18, 2018

May Blessings upon Blessings pour on @BettyMWhite she is a gem🙌🏾💎 most of us pray to live her age & have their right mind! Stay Beautiful inside & out #BettyWhite #Emmys2018

— Missy Elliott (@MissyElliott) September 18, 2018

Betty White is a national treasure. #EMMYs

— Luvvie is the #ProfessionalTroublemaker (@Luvvie) September 18, 2018

What did you think of Betty White’s Emmy speech? Are you a Betty White fan? What is your favorite Betty White role? Share your thoughts and join the conversation below!