Conan O'Brien will be the next winner of the Mark Twain Award for American Humor.

O'Brien will receive the award at the Mark Twain Award's annual gala on March 23 at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. (Netflix will stream the event later this year.) The comedian , the podcast’s former late-night host — who will also host the Oscars on March 2 — will become the 26th winner, joining a list that also includes Richard Pryor Pryor, Carl Renner, Whoopi Goldberg, Tina Fey, Eddie Murphy and his late-night predecessors Jay Leno and David Letterman, among others.

“For four decades, Conan O’Brien brought his unique style of smart, silly, insightful and hilarious into our homes,” said Deborah F. Rutter, president of the Kennedy Center. "from saturday night live and The Simpsons - including the incredibly funny Monorail episodes - to late nights, podcasts and all things Coco, Conan is a master of invention and reinvention, constantly pushing the envelope and finding new comedic heights. I'm looking forward to a raucous evening at the Music Hall on March 23rd, paying homage to his immense legacy and lasting influence. "

O'Brien added: "I am honored to be the first recipient of the Mark Twain Award, not for humor but for my work as a riverboat pilot."

O'Brien began his career at HBO Not necessarily news before working as a writer saturday night live and The Simpsons. he took over nbc late at night In 1993, Letterman moved to CBS and (briefly) succeeded Leno as showrunner tonight show 2009-10. When NBC reversed that decision, he went on a multi-city comedy/variety tour before landing on TBS, where he hosted conan It’s been 11 years.

He currently hosts the podcast Conan O'Brien needs a friendand his Coco team have produced many other audio programs. O'Brien also stars in and executive produces the Max travel series Conan O'Brien must gohas been picked up for a second season.

"I do enjoy being a different person, a misfit. I think I'm more interesting when I'm not in a position of power," O'Brien told hollywood reporter About the driving force behind Must go. “I’m talking to a guy and he looks at my skin, my freckles, and he says, ‘Are you sick?’ Those situations themselves make me funny — when I make a joke.”