Trivia

She was the daughter of Adelaide (Glaser) and George Channing (who was born George Christian Stucker). Carol's paternal grandfather, George Stucker, was the son of German immigrants, and Carol's paternal grandmother, Clara, was African-American. Carol's maternal grandparents, Otto Glaser and Paulina Ottmann, were both of German origin. Carol stated in her autobiography, "Just Lucky, I Guess", that her father, who was light-skinned, used one accent to help "pass" in the white world and another around the house, where he sang gospel music to entertain his daughter.

Her trademark, poofy blonde hair was always achieved by the use of wigs, as she was allergic to bleach.

She donated a dress she wore in the stage production of "Hello, Dolly!" to the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Institution.

In 1967, Pearl Bailey replaced her on Broadway when "Hello, Dolly!" was recast as an all-black production.

Inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame (1981).

Attended and graduated from the prestigious Lowell High School in San Francisco, California (1938). Her high school's theater is currently named after her.

Cherry Grove, Fire Island, New York: At age 92, she appeared before over 500 admirers for an interview event, during which she also burst into song while answering questions about her career. (August 2013)

Gave birth to her only child at age 32, a son Channing George Carson on March 25, 1953. Child's father is her second husband, Alexander Carson. When she married for a third time (her longest marriage at 43 years), in 1956, to Charles Lowe, her son, Channing George Carson took his stepfather's last name, becoming Channing (Chan) Lowe.

Had three Tony Awards: in 1964, as Best Actress (Musical) for "Hello, Dolly!"; in 1968, a Special Award; and in 1995, a Lifetime Achievement Award. Was also nominated three other times for Best Actress (Musical): in 1956, for "The Vamp"; in 1961, for "Show Girl"; and in 1974, for "Lorelei".

Son Chan Lowe was the long time, multiple award winning, editorial cartoonist for the Fort Lauderdale/South Florida Sun-Sentinel newspaper in Fort Lauderdale for many years before being laid off due to budget cutbacks in January 2015.

She was awarded a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars in Palm Springs, California on October 2, 2010.

An outspoken liberal Democrat, Channing's name was included in Richard Nixon's now-famous "enemies list", and she has said that was the highest honor in her career.

Returned to work 10 months after giving birth to her son Channing to begin performing in the Broadway production of "Wonderful Town".

In 1986-1987, toured in the play "Legends" with Mary Martin, the subject of an excellent, highly amusing book by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright James Kirkwood Jr., "Diary of a Mad Playwright: Perilous Adventures on the Road with Mary Martin and Carol Channing". Despite the pressures, Kirkwood describes Channing as a true professional and a joy to work with.

She was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Television at 6233 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on November 30, 1977.

Upon her death, she was cremated and her ashes were sprinkled around San Francisco, California. She passed away on January 15, 2019, more than two weeks away from what would have been her 98th birthday on January 31.

Said on The Carol Burnett Show that she ate "very healthy": she proceeded to say she ate bear meat, elk, buffalo and goat. She was not joking and reiterated that it was all very healthy.

Was one of 26 actresses to have received an Academy Award nomination for their performance in a musical; hers being Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967). The others, in chronological order, are: Bessie Love (The Broadway Melody (1929)), Grace Moore (One Night of Love (1934)), Jean Hagen (Singin' in the Rain (1952)), Marjorie Rambeau (Torch Song (1953)), Dorothy Dandridge (Carmen Jones (1954)), Deborah Kerr (The King and I (1956)), Rita Moreno (West Side Story (1961)), Gladys Cooper (My Fair Lady (1964)), Julie Andrews (Mary Poppins (1964), The Sound of Music (1965), and Victor/Victoria (1982)), Debbie Reynolds (The Unsinkable Molly Brown (1964)), Peggy Wood (The Sound of Music (1965)), Kay Medford (Funny Girl (1968)), Barbra Streisand (Funny Girl (1968)), Liza Minnelli (Cabaret (1972)), Ronee Blakley (Nashville (1975)), Lily Tomlin (Nashville (1975)), Ann-Margret (Tommy (1975)), Lesley Ann Warren (Victor/Victoria (1982)), Amy Irving (Yentl (1983)), Nicole Kidman (Moulin Rouge! (2001)), Queen Latifah (Chicago (2002)), Catherine Zeta-Jones (Chicago (2002)), Renée Zellweger (Chicago (2002)), Jennifer Hudson (Dreamgirls (2006)), Penélope Cruz (Nine (2009)), Anne Hathaway (Les Misérables (2012)), and Meryl Streep (Into the Woods (2014)).

Suffered from myopia, or near-sightedness for much of her life, which was responsible for her wide-eyed, sometimes wild-eyed look when performing.

Friends with: Shirley Jones, Florence Henderson, Bea Arthur, Mickey Rooney, Angela Lansbury, Debbie Reynolds, Jane Powell, Mary Tyler Moore, Liza Minnelli, Charlotte Rae, Betty White, Tommy Tune, Carol Burnett, Lily Tomlin, Ian McKellen, Elizabeth Taylor, Gavin McLeod, Barbara Walters, Alan Cumming, Lauren Bacall, Billy Barnes, June Lockhart, Helen Hayes, Fred MacMurray, Whoopi Goldberg, Jane Wyman, Esther Williams and Tippi Hedren.

She was a big hit in the stage production of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes but wasn't even considered for the film.

Despite receiving a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award nomination (for Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967)), she was not included in the annual "In Memoriam" segment at the The Oscars (2019).

During the 1964 presidential campaign, Channing took her signature song, "Hello, Dolly!" and transformed it into President Lyndon B. Johnson's theme song, "Hello, Lyndon!" Channing sang the latter song in Johnson's honor at the Democratic National Convention in Atlantic City.