Betty White is literally a living legend—and the winner of the Emmy Award is set to grow another year older! On Sunday, Jan. 17, the Golden Girls icon celebrates her 99th birthday and, while being in quarantine, she has some plans. Betty said to Entertainment Tonight on Wednesday, Jan. 13, “You probably didn’t ask, but I’ll tell you anyway,”
“What am I doing for my birthday? Running a mile each morning has been curtailed by COVID, so I am working on getting The Pet Set re-released,” she revealed, referencing the 1970s series she hosted. “And feeding the two ducks who come to visit me every day,” Betty also shared, adding “The Pet Set is one of my favorite shows. I’m thrilled it’s going to be seen again after all these years.” It sounds like she’s set for her big day!
The Pet Set focused on Betty’s long-lived love of animals and featured several memorable celebrity guests including the legends of Mary Tyler Moore, Doris Day, Burt Reynolds and more. Though there were a lot of dogs and cats, more exotic animals like tigers, elephants, lions, gorillas, cougars, zebras and bears would also appear in the studio. Betty’s late husband, Allen Ludden, who died in 1981, was the creator and announcer of the programme. The Pet Set will be released on streaming platforms and on DVD on Feb. 23 to celebrate its 50th anniversary.
The actress frequently shares her love of animals on her social media accounts—including a snuggle with a bear in 2018. “Friends forever,” she said, capturing the photo, which is seen alongside a video of elephants as well as Betty and a gorilla called Koko. “I treasure every minute we spent together,” she wrote next to the photo.
Betty — who is a Guinness World Record holder for the longest running career television career for any woman in history — has previously shared her tips for living into your 90s. While she confessed to still indulging in hot dogs and vodka (her drink of choice is a vodka tonic), she cites a positive attitude as the most important. “I know it sounds corny, but I try to see the funny side and the upside, not the downside,” she said to Parade magazine in 2017, ahead of turning 96. “I get bored with people who complain about this or that. It’s such a waste of time…Accentuate the positive, not the negative,” she told encouraged.
At the time, the Oak Park, Illinois native also shared here number one birthday wish: celebrity crush Robert Redford, 84! “But it never works. I try every year,” she hilariously confessed, adding that the two haven’t even met.
