It took two years, coast-to-coast letters, telephone calls, apologies and a huge surprise, but Lib Daly finally got to meet one of her heroes after an unsuccessful attempt two years ago.
On Mother’s Day, Daly’s son took her to see Carol Burnett performing at the Durham Performing Arts Center and she finally got backstage to meet her.
“She greeted me with open arms,” said Daly, a New Bern native. “She said ‘You’re Lib,’ and gave me a genuine hug.”
It all started two years ago when Daly’s son, David, sent a letter to Burnett, asking if his mother could meet her when she came to perform in Durham. But Burnett did not receive the letter until a year later when her manager brought her a bag of mail.
The letter explained how Daly was a fan of Burnett’s and how she and her four children used to watch her show in the late 1960s and 1970s.
Daly’s son, now a television producer in Chapel Hill, said he had hoped Burnett would meet them in 2011 to top off his mother’s 80th birthday.
“Almost a year later, Carol Burnett called me and said she had just seen the letter and apologized and said if she had known prior (to her performance in 2011 in Durham) she would have agreed to meet with my mother,” he said. “She said if she ever came back through town she would try to make it happen.”
When Daly found out Carol Burnett was returning to the DPAC in May, he sent another letter reminding her of his first attempts to have his mother meet her. About two weeks later, Daly received a call saying Burnett would meet with him and his mother after the show.
Daly’s mother, a retired school teacher, became a fan when Burnett started performing on the Garry Moore variety show. She has followed Burnett’s long career and watched her whenever she appeared on television in movies or guest spots.
“We watched her shows as my children were growing up,” Daly said. “It’s kind of a family thing. I have always related to her. I love her humor. She is always so straightforward and realistic. She seemed really nice to be as famous as she is.”
In a past interview with the New Bern Sun Journal, Daly said one of her favorite Burnett skits is “Went with the Wind” where Burnett portrays a Southern belle devastated by the Civil War and wears drapes taken from her window.
Daly said she did not know her son had received permission to take her backstage after Burnett’s performance in May.
“I think she had suspicions, but I didn’t tell her until the show was over,” he said. “She was getting a ride back to New Bern with friends and when she stood to leave, I said, ‘Hold on, we are going back stage to meet Carol.’ She was pretty excited.”
After everyone had their pictures taken with Burnett, Daly stayed and talked with the comedian for about five minutes. Her son said it was a “flurry of words, hellos, and obviously about each of them having red hair.”
“During the question-and-answer part of the show, someone asked (Burnett) if she got teased a lot about her red hair when she was in school,” Daly’s mother said. “She just smiled and said ‘I didn’t have red hair in school.’ She is very genuine and seems very glad to meet you. It made it really special.”
Daly said it was a memorable weekend.
“All Mother’s Days are special with four children and nine grandchildren,” she said. “But this was near the top. It was a big surprise.”
Daly’s son said Burnett seemed just as pleased to meet them.
“I think Carol Burnet got a kick out of it as well,” he said. “As famous as she is, she seems down to earth, humble and appreciates her fans. I got a kick out of it too. Not only was it fun to meet Carol Burnett, it was also great to see my mother meet her as well. It was quite a thrill for everybody.”
Eddie Fitzgerald can be reached at 252-635-5675 or at Eddie.Fitzgerald@newbernsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @staffwriter3.