#11: She Receives a Tony Award Nomination for the Broadway Musical Once Upon a Mattress
In 1959, she appeared on Broadway in the musical Once Upon a Mattress. The production was a comedic retelling of the fairy tale “The Princess and the Pea,” and her performance as Princess Winnifred became the central attraction of the show.
![Carol Burnett & Sutton Foster: "Once [again] Upon a Mattress" - CBS News](https://lizanest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/carol-burnett-once-upon-a-mattress-getty-1500.jpg)
The role earned her a Tony Award nomination and significantly raised her profile in the theater world. Performing on Broadway demonstrated her ability to combine comedy, singing, and acting, strengthening her reputation as a versatile performer working across multiple entertainment formats.
