A Salute To Betty White

January is turning out to be a big month for Betty White. The TV legend was the virtual centerpiece at the People’s Choice Awards earlier this week. Not only did she win for Favorite Cable TV Comedy (“Hot In Cleveland”), practically every celebrity on stage paid tribute to her. And this coming week, White celebrates her 90th birthday. For our own salute, here are some things you might not know about the most beloved star in show business:

Way To Go, Betty! An animal lover and activist, White turned down a part in “As Good As It Gets” because of what she thought was unkind treatment of a dog in the movie—even though it was directed by James Brooks, creator of “Mary Tyler Moore.”

The Monica Lewinsky Connection White went to the famed Beverly Hills High School, which has an impressive list of attendees that includes director/writer Nora Ephron, “Friends” star David Schwimmer, and former White House intern Monica Lewinsky.

Together Forever Her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is next to that of her beloved husband, TV game show host Allen Ludden.

Too Bad She Never Actually Ran For Office White was named honorary mayor of Hollywood in 1955.

A Positive Faith She’s a member of the Unity Church, which advocates “positive Christianity” and emphasizes the power of positive, “affirmative prayer.” Unlike more conservative Christian congregations, it does not interpret the Bible literally.

Boo, NBC! Although White was a popular, long-term commentator for the televised Tournament of Roses Parade, NBC fired her in 1975 because they felt White had become too identified with “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” on CBS. She bounced back, though, with a ten-year stint as a Thanksgiving Day parade commentator on CBS.

A Bittersweet Memory When White married Allen Ludden in 1963, their first wedding dance was to the love song “Misty.” “I still hear it now,” White told an interviewer, “and my hair stands up.”

Save Us A Slice, OK? All-American baking company Betty Crocker is designing White’s 90th birthday cake, a three-layer chocolate affair with gold and red frosting in the form of roses.

She Always Tells The Truth In 1949, when White was just 27, an unnamed “expert” advised her, “You know, now is a good time to start knocking a couple of years off your age.” Luckily for those who are inspired by her, White hasn’t done that.