Carol Burnett Had One Daughter Hate Her 'Guts' & Later Took Care Of Her Other Daughter's Child

Nov 24, 2021 by apost team

Carol Burnett, the much-loved singer, actress, and comedian, has brought a ray of sunshine and laughter onto our screens for the last 60 years. Carol Burnett was born on Apr. 26, 1933, in San Antonio, Texas. Part of the reason Burnett was able to get into acting was that she moved to live with her grandmother in Hollywood, where she attended Hollywood High School and went on to study theatre in college. After performing in nightclubs around New York City post-graduation, Burnett secured her breakout Broadway role as the evil queen in the musical fairytale production, Once Upon a Mattress.

Carol Burnett is best known for her variety show "The Carol Burnett Show," which aired on CBS from 1967 to 1978. "The Carol Burnett Show" was a popular variety show with vaudeville roots featuring dancing, singing, and comedy sketches. It wasn't long before Burnett became a comedy queen in the acting business. The popularity of her variety show gained her notable roles in film and movies, such as the orphanage owner Miss Hannigan in 1982's "Annie."

Despite having wild success in Hollywood, Burnett's lucky streak didn't seem to follow into her life outside of acting. The actress's own personal life has had some trials and tribulations, including her youngest daughter, Carrie, dying from lung cancer when she was only 38 years old. In fact, the relationship between Carol Burnett and her daughters is one that may not be common in many families.

Read on to learn more about the tragic truth of turmoil between Burnett and her daughters.

"The Carol Burnett Show" was airing at the peak of Burnett's career when she began her family with TV producer Joe Hamilton. She welcomed three daughters into the world during the early 1960s: Jodie, Erin, and Carrie. All three of her girls went on to become stars in their own right, but she did not expect the turn of events that were due to take place in the future. Although from behind the screen Burnett seemed happy, not everything in her life was filled with joy. 

Burnett's first child Jody Hamilton, now 53 years old, was born in 1967. She followed in her father's footsteps and became a film producer in Hollywood. She has even produced her mom's show "Carol Burnett: Show Stoppers"–talk about keeping it in the family!

After Jody, Carol welcomed her second child, Erin, into the family. Erin's talent was singing, and she pursued a career in the music industry. According to Closer, her song "Dream Weaver," a 1998 cover of Gary Wright's 1975 hit, is her most iconic track.

Unfortunately, Erin has battled with drug abuse for many years. Carol had to step in when things were too much for her daughter and has played a big part in the upbringing of her grandson, Dylan. According to The Blast, Carol stated:

"Throughout her adult life, and since Dylan's birth, Erin has suffered from severe substance abuse and addiction issues. In the past 19 years, Erin has been in and out of rehabilitation centers and has been institutionalized a total of eight times for a minimum of 30 days each time."

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Carol's youngest daughter, Carrie, was born in 1963 and went on to become an actress. Unfortunately, Carrie also had a long battle with drug addiction. In an interview with People, Carol revealed:

"I put her in a third rehab place and, oh my God, she hated me. I came to the conclusion that I had to love her enough to let her hate me,. She got sober and we started bonding. We wound up working together, writing a play together. We worked together in three shows."

Tragically, just as things were improving, Carrie's life was cut short when she was diagnosed with lung cancer. She died from complications due to pneumonia after the cancer spread to her brain. Carol suffered greatly during this period but had to find a way to get through it, stating, "You don't get over it, but you cope. What else can you do?"

The icon, now 87, is certainly carrying on; however, she prefers to stay out of the limelight. She is mostly seen these days collecting awards for her outstanding and lasting contributions to comedy.

Although Burnett's life was filled with some tragedies, it's not uncommon for comedians to have histories of hardship behind their humor. Many comedians struggle with depression and loss and even turn to comedy as a way to cope with the struggles in their lives. Now in her late 80s, we hope that the Hollywood star thrives in the later years of her life. 

What is your fondest TV moment with Carol Burnett? Let us know your thoughts below, and share this story with fans of the screen legend.