Carol Burnett the 74-year-old clown princess of comedy is featured tonight in the documentary "Carol Burnett: A Woman of Character," which is part of PBS' ongoing "American Masters" series.

This 90-minute piece is a warmhearted look at the lively and resilient Emmy winner who overcame a traumatic childhood as both parents were alcoholics and also the heartaches in later years, including the death of her oldest daughter, Carrie Hamilton, from lung cancer.