When you think of Ellen DeGeneres, the first thing that probably comes to mind is her infectious laughter and witty humor. But there's a side of Ellen that's deeply serious, and it’s one she doesn’t talk about often. Recently, she opened up about a tragedy from her past that changed her life forever—the death of her girlfriend in a car accident. It’s a story that’s both heartbreaking and transformative, and it sheds light on the person Ellen is today.

Ellen was just 20 years old when her world came crashing down. “My girlfriend was killed in a car accident,” she recalls, her voice heavy with emotion. “And at the time, I wasn’t even doing comedy. I was just starting to figure out who I was.” The tragedy struck after a night out where Ellen’s brother was performing with his band. Her girlfriend was on the way home when the accident happened. Ellen, unaware of the severity of the situation, even drove by the crash site. “I didn’t know it was her car,” she says. “I found out the next morning. That moment made me feel so much guilt. I couldn’t help but think, ‘What if I had done something differently?’”

Struggling to Find Closure

Ellen, now 60, admitted that the relationship had its ups and downs. “We had fought a lot,” she confessed. “We had actually separated, but I was planning on moving back in. I thought I was teaching her a lesson, but in reality, I was just hurting her. That’s something I’ll never forgive myself for.”

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The loss of her girlfriend forced Ellen to take a hard look at her life and the relationships she cherished. “It made me realize how fragile life is,” she said. “You can lose someone in an instant, and you’re left with nothing but memories. It shifted my entire focus. I started to think about what truly matters in life and how I wanted to live mine.”

A Turning Point in Her Career

Ellen’s journey through grief wasn’t just personal—it also shaped her career. In the aftermath of her loss, she found herself searching for answers. “I wanted to pick up the phone and call God,” she joked. “I wanted to have a conversation with him about why this happened. So, I wrote it out. I wrote the conversation I wished I could have had.”

That moment of reflection turned into one of her most iconic routines. “I thought, ‘Johnny Carson would love this. I’m going to do this on The Tonight Show,’” she recalled. And she did. A few years later, in 1986, Ellen performed her “Phone Call to God” routine on The Tonight Show. It was her first appearance on national television, and it was a game-changer. Not only did she become the first female comedian to perform and then sit on the couch with Johnny Carson, but she also received an open invitation to return. “That’s very good stuff,” Johnny told her, and the rest, as they say, is history.

ellen degeneres on the tonight show getty images

Ellen performing on The Tonight Show in 1987.

From Tragedy to Triumph

Ellen’s story is a testament to resilience and reinvention. She turned her pain into purpose, using her humor to connect with millions of people around the world. “Comedy is my way of coping,” she says. “It’s how I make sense of the world.” And it’s clear that her unique perspective has resonated with audiences everywhere.

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