BETTY WHITE's Birthday Celebration Earns Big Ratings for NBC

Ellen Degeneres, Morgan Freeman, Tina Fey, Ray Romano, Seth Meyers and Tracy Morgan joined the star-studded line-up paying tribute to one of the world's most beloved entertainers last night on NBC's Betty White'S 90th BIRTHDAY: A Tribute to America's Golden Girl. Mary Tyler Moore and White's "Mary Tyler Moore" co-stars Ed Asner, Valerie Harper and Gavin MacLeod, as well as Hugh Jackman, Carol Burnett, Jay Leno, Amy Poehler and White's "Hot in Cleveland" co-stars Valerie Bertinelli, Wendie Malick and Jane Leeves were also on hand to deliver birthday wishes along with Joel McHale and William Shatner.

The birthday special gave the network its biggest audience in the time period since early 2008 with an estimated 13.9 million viewers. A special preview of White's Off Their Rockers series proved to benefit from the strong lead-in as well, bringing in 12.2 million viewers. "Betty White's Off Their Rockers" is a hidden-camera show where senior citizens take to the streets to pull shocking, unexpected and hilarious pranks on the younger generation.

The birthday special, taped at the Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles, included special musical performances, surprise appearances and comedy, and featured the irreverent tone, spirit and energy that is the hallmark of White's six-decade career in show business. White took the stage to share some memories and give thanks to those who had come to honor her.

From her first words on radio in 1947, to her current TV series "Hot in Cleveland," viewers will be taken on an unprecedented journey through White's storied career. Her work on game shows, talk shows, "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and "The Golden Girls" was featured, along with her performances in movies and commercials. And most importantly, White was saluted for her favorite role: making the world a better place for animals.