Viola Davis, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Bernadette Peters are among the slew of celebrities taking to Twitter to pay tribute to late singer, comedienne and actress Carol Channing. Known for her starring roles in Broadway’s “Hello Dolly!” and “Gentleman Prefer Blondes,” the legend of the stage and screen died Tuesday at her home in Rancho Mirage, Calif. at the age of 97.
Bringing us full circle, the Twitter account for Louis Armstrong tweeted out a final word from the trumpeter and singer behind the 1964 hit “Hello Dolly!” Armstrong died in 1971.
“Goodbye, Dolly,” the tweet reads, along with a picture of the two at one of Channing’s performances of the musical in 1965.
Goodbye, Dolly. Mourning the loss of Carol Channing today at the age of 97. Here she is onstage with Louis Armstrong when he attended a performance of "Hello, Dolly!" at the St. James Theatre in 1965. pic.twitter.com/msojsru2E0
— Louis Armstrong (@ArmstrongHouse) January 15, 2019
Lin-Manuel Miranda of “Hamilton” and “Mary Poppins Returns” expressed his sadness by quoting the lyrics from “Before The Parade Passes By” from “Hello Dolly!” Actress Bernadette Peters retweeted Miranda’s post with the comment, “She was show business and love personified.”
โWhen the whistles blow
And the cymbals crash
And the sparklers light the sky
I'm gonna raise the roof
I'm gonna carry on
Give me an old trombone
Give me an old baton
Before the parade passes by!โ
Goodbye, Carol.
โค๏ธโค๏ธโค๏ธโค๏ธโค๏ธโค๏ธโค๏ธโค๏ธโค๏ธโค๏ธโค๏ธ https://t.co/Z6KFQzrcWV— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) January 15, 2019
She was show business and love personified โค๏ธโค๏ธโค๏ธโค๏ธ https://t.co/isNzReB733
— Bernadette Peters (@OfficialBPeters) January 15, 2019
Viola Davis tweeted that Channing was a “helluva” performer. “You had a great run! Rest well,” Davis said.
RIP Carol Channing. The original Dolly and a "helluva" performer! You had a great run! Rest well. https://t.co/6kMpQgonHt
— Viola Davis (@violadavis) January 15, 2019
Actress and longtime Channing enthusiast Sandra Bernhard remarked that she is “so sad” to have lost the person who inspired her to start acting. “I saw her in Hello Dolly when I was 8 and she changed my DNA,” Bernhard tweeted. “Love you lady forever.”
I am so sad just lost my incredible original inspiration #carolchanning I saw her in Hello Dolly when I was 8 and she changed my DNA love you lady forever one of the greatest entertainers of all times
— Sandra Bernhard (@SandraBernhard) January 15, 2019
The twitter account behind Pee-wee Herman, the Paul Reubens character, took to Twitter to express his condolences. “One of the nicest, sweetest people I ever had the pleasure of working with,” the tweet said, along with a picture of the two together.
RIP Carol Channing. One of the nicest, sweetest people I ever had the pleasure of working with. What an original, one of a kind, LEGEND! ๐ท: Herb Ritts #carolchanning #love #icon #legend #oneofakind #original #wonderful #restinpeace #โค๏ธ #โค๏ธโค๏ธโค๏ธ pic.twitter.com/OJxGlCQaCE
— Pee-wee Herman (@peeweeherman) January 15, 2019
The current company still touring “Hello Dolly!” all these years alter also released a statement Tuesday, announcing plans to dedicate the night’s performance to the original star. “We are deeply saddened by the passing of the one and only Carol Channing. She was a ‘Dolly’ for the ages, and a true icon of the American Theater,” the statement said. “Betty Buckley and the cast will dedicate tonight’s performance in San Diego to her memory.”
Here are more tweets commemorating the late legend.
Carol was a true life-forceโฆa kind and effervescent woman who never allowed the parade to pass her by! xo B pic.twitter.com/C2WSCsYZbl
— Barbra Streisand (@BarbraStreisand) January 15, 2019
The great, the legendary #CarolChanning has died at age 97. She was a complete original, and there will never be another. Blonde, 6 ft tall and utterly hilarious, she was a legend. My condolences to the world; to those who knew her or saw her and those who never got the chance.
— bettemidler (@BetteMidler) January 15, 2019
Carol Channing was one of the few who paved the path for so many women in theater and beyond… I will forever admire and look up to you, Carol. Rest In Peace. pic.twitter.com/RTUeyqxAtW
— Kristin Chenoweth (@KChenoweth) January 15, 2019
97 ainโt bad for a lifespan. Thank you Carol Channing. Because of you diamonds and raspberries are my favorites. #rip
— Stacy London (@stacylondon) January 15, 2019
RIP the legendary Broadway empress Carol Channing. Raspy-voiced chanteuse, our beloved Dolly Levi, the first solo Super Bowl performer, AIDS and Actorsโ champion, target of Nixonโs enemies list…all around bad ass. ๐๐ญ๐๐ป pic.twitter.com/mH4wNcOXZj
— S.E. Cupp (@secupp) January 15, 2019
One of Broadway's greatest lights, Carol Channing, has passed on. She rejoins the heavens as a new diamond in the night sky, and as she famously sang, they are a girl's best friend. Goodbye and farewell, forever our Dolly. https://t.co/0u2zLcAnff
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) January 15, 2019
Rest In Peace, Carol Channing. Thank you for entertaining us. pic.twitter.com/J7Ixlmjehd
— Diana DeGarmo Young (@DianaDeGarmo) January 15, 2019
Goodbye Dolly .. Rest In Peace carol Channing ๐๐ฟ๐
— โ๐ผrosanna arquette (@RoArquette) January 15, 2019
Carol Channing brought more magic into this world than just about anyone. Sheโs completely irreplaceable. How fortunate are we that her artistry will continue to entertain us for generations to come. Carol, thank you for being so uniquely & gorgeously, You. #CarolChanning pic.twitter.com/Ew1L6HJNBZ
— Mitzi Gaynor (@TheMitziGaynor) January 15, 2019
Farewell, Dolly. When someone in the theater is as beloved as Carol Channing, it's hard to believe they will ever pass away.. But today, she has left us, full of song, happy memories and… https://t.co/6cocSVUpfe
— Ann Hampton Callaway (@annhcallaway) January 15, 2019
Goodbye, Dolly. What an amazing run you had. โค๐
Carol Channing 1921-2019 โกโกโกโกโกโกโกโกโกโกโกโกโกโกโกโกโกโกโก Reposted from @AnikaNoniRose – My Life. Got. I felt so very blessed to be a part of thisโฆ https://t.co/ERq4g5v2HS— Anika Noni Rose (@AnikaNoniRose) January 15, 2019
Weโll only ever say HELLO, not Goodbye. The legendary #CarolChanning, January 31, 1921 – January 15, 2019. Tomorrow is the 55th anniversary of the original HELLO, DOLLY opening night at the St. James. She will always be Wow Wow Wow, fellas. Forever. pic.twitter.com/OAaskBnkjV
— Jordan Roth (@Jordan_Roth) January 15, 2019
We got 97 Years of her #MAGIC #RIP #CarolChanning pic.twitter.com/7fAgzn6WXt
— Neil Meron (@neilmeron) January 15, 2019
โWe feel the room swayinโ
While the bandโs playinโ
One of you old favorite songs from way back when…โYou defined Broadway.
Rest In Peace, Carol Channing.— RUTH BUZZI (@Ruth_A_Buzzi) January 15, 2019
Goodbye Dolly. ๐ข https://t.co/00Wz6nMsTp
— Josh Gad (@joshgad) January 15, 2019
Now the angels sing โHello Dolly๐ถโ
What a life lived๐ https://t.co/78cA7AiI17— Joshua Henry (@joshuahenry20) January 15, 2019
Goodbye, Dolly.
And thanks for it all.
— Alex Brightman (he/him) (@ABrightMonster) January 15, 2019
So long, Dolly. Thank you for inspiring SEVERAL generations with your talent, your perseverance and your unadulterated joy. Boy are they in for a show in heaven tonight. #carolchanning #rip https://t.co/g4oeQGOXiW
— Ken Davenport (@kendavenport) January 15, 2019
So sad! She came from an era when individuality was prized and celebrated. Could she really sing? Who cares? She had star power to spare and gave joy and laughter for close to 8 decades. Truly one of a kind โค๏ธ #CarolChanning https://t.co/cGN1gDcOY0
— Matthew Bourne (@SirMattBourne) January 15, 2019
RIP Carol Channing. pic.twitter.com/WJNJIdp5il
— Gilbert Gottfried (@RealGilbert) January 15, 2019