[ laughter ] >> reporter: betty white born in the chicago suburb in illinois certainly never wasted her time in the 1940s, fresh out of high school, she began working in radio appearing on such shows as nbc's "the great gildersleeve". >> merry christmas. >> i didn't go to college. i just went into show business. in 1952 she co-hosted her show "life with elizabeth". >> what's so terrible about spiders. >> tell him, honey. >> they go boing. >> reporter: in 1958 on "the betty white show" she revealed another talent, singing. ♪ ♪ >> reporter: but she is best known for two signature tv roles, sue ann, the happy moment