Ellen DeGeneres to Receive Nation's Top Humor Award

Ellen DeGeneres will be receiving the 15th annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.

The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts announced that the comedian and TV host will be honored Oct. 22 for her special style of observational humor in the tradition of Twain.

"This has nothing to do with any political issue," said Cappy McGarr, an executive producer for the Mark Twain Prize show and a Kennedy Center board member. "But she's brilliantly shined a light on society, and that's what Mark Twain did."

DeGeneres' response to the announcement was, "Why didn't I get this sooner?"

Now, that's funny.

Past honorees include Bill Cosby, Tina Fey and Will Ferrell.

Via Today/AP