She was the funny lady who worked with Carol Burnett in the 1970s. And then she had her own spinoff show that made her a household name in the US.

This 75-year-old talented comedienne also appeared on the popular 1970s TV series The Love Boat.

There are other TV shows on her resume: Laverne & Shirley, Major Dad, Diagnosis: Murder, Yes, Dear, and Murder She Wrote. 

The redheaded wonder worked with Miley Cyrus on Hannah Montana and had a substantial role on Roseanne as well.

The star is lesser known for her 1973 hit song The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia, even though it is still a top classic today.

She was spotted while shopping in Los Angeles this week. Who is she?

She was the funny lady who worked with Carol Burnett in the 1970s. And then she had her own spinoff show that made her a household name in the US

This talented comedienne also appeared on the popular 1970s TV series The Love Boat. There are other TV shows on her resume: Laverne & Shirley, Major Dad, Diagnosis: Murder, and Yes, Dear, and Murder She Wrote

She is Vicki Lawrence.

The Hollywood veteran is best known for her character Mama (Thelma Harper) on The Carol Burnett Show and the spinoff sitcom, Mama’s Family.

Her TV career came roaring back in the 2000s when she made several guest appearances in the Disney Channel sitcom Hannah Montana. 

Most recently, Lawrence starred in the Fox sitcom series The Cool Kids from 2018 to 2019.

Lawrence was born in the Los Angeles area.

While at UCLA she landed The Carol Burnett Show, so she dropped out for TV fame.

She landed the gig because she looked like Burnett. Carol needed someone to play her younger sister on her upcoming show. 

Lawrence has said carol taught her the comedy ropes and she looks up to her.

Vicki was on the popular sketch show from 1967 to 1978; her most famous character was Mama. 

The redheaded wonder worked with Miley Cyrus and Roseanne as well

The star is lesser known for her 1973 hit song The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia which is still a top classic today. She was spotted while shopping in Los Angeles this week. Who is she?

She was the only cast member, except for Burnett herself, who stayed on the show for the entire 11 seasons. 

After The Carol Burnett Show ended in 1978, Lawrence and her husband Al Schultz moved with their kids to Maui but then returned to Los Angeles.

Mama was also seen in the TV movie Eunice in 1982.

Mama’s Family ran from 1983 to 1985 on NBC; after its cancellation from NBC, it was renewed from 1986 to 1990 in first-run syndication.

The plucky funny lady also starred in the 1985 comedy pilot Anything for Love with Rebeca Arthur. 

She is Vicki Lawrence. In a glam pH๏τo session in 1973

She is best known for her character Mama (Thelma Harper) on The Carol Burnett Show and the spinoff sitcom, Mama’s Family

Vicki seen far left with Tim Conway center and Carol Burnett far right

Lawrence had her own spinoff named Mama’s Family

Lawrence has also appeared with Burnett, Korman, Tim Conway an Lyle Waggoner in the Burnett show retrospectives that were broadcast in 1993, 2001, and 2004

Lawrence has also appeared with Burnett, Korman, and Tim Conway in the Burnett show retrospectives that were broadcast in 1993, 2001, and 2004. 

Lawrence played Sister Mary Paul – Sister Amnesia – in the TV special that originally aired on TNN in 1998. 

And then came her big teen sitcom: from 2006 to 2011 Lawrence played Mamaw Stewart -the mother of Robby Ray Stewart and grandmother of Jackson and Miley Stewart- on Hannah Montana alongside Billy Ray Cyrus and his daughter Miley Cyrus.

In 2011, she was Mrs. Santa Claus in the Hallmark movie Annie Claus Is Coming to Town.

She starred in the Fox sitcom The Cool Kids, along with Martin Mull, Leslie Jordan, and David Alan Grier from 2018 to 2019.

She also appeared in a special celebrity-edition episode of the Anne Robinson version of The Weakest Link. 

Her music career was also noteworthy.

The star also appeared on an episode of The Love Boat

And then came her big teen sitcom: from 2006 to 2011 Lawrence played Mamaw Stewart -the mother of Robby Ray Stewart and grandmother of Jackson and Miley Stewart- on Hannah Montana alongside Billy Ray Cyrus and his daughter Miley Cyrus

The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia was written by her first husband Bobby Russell, and was a top hit of 1972. 

It sold over two million copies.

The song was re-recorded by Reba McEntire for her 1991 album For My Broken Heart. 

Another hit was the single He Did With Me.

She followed it up there with Ships in the Night (1974) and The Other Woman (1975). She released a disco album enтιтled Newborn Woman in late 1979. 

Lawrence work on the game show Win, Lose or Draw (1987-1990), and was on Match Game, Pᴀssword, Pᴀssword Plus, Super Pᴀssword, and various incarnations of the Pyramid game show, She also appeared on the 1986–89 version of Hollywood Squares. She was a regular panelist on the 1998 revival of Match Game.

Lawrence and her family appeared on Celebrity Family Feud in July 2015. 

The star was diagnosed with chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) around 2011 and went on The Doctors in 2015 to talk about her health.

Her music career was also noteworthy. The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia was written by her first husband Bobby Russell, and was a top hit of 1972. It sold over two million copies.

Lawrence was married to singer and songwriter Bobby Russell from 1972 to 1974. 

Lawrence’s second husband was Hollywood make-up artist Al Schultz, whom she married November 16, 1974, and with whom she had two children, Courtney Allison Schultz (born 1975) and Garrett Lawrence Schultz (born 1977).

Al Schultz died June 19, 2024.