The five-time Emmy Award-winner and Golden Girls star known for her brilliant comedic timing addressed the occasion herself in an email to the Associated Press.

“Since I am turning 99, I can stay up as late as I want without asking permission!” she wrote.

Her agent, Jeff Witjas, told Fox News that while the actress is happy to mark the occasion she will be playing things safe because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Witjas explained she would celebrate with hot dogs and french fries and receive a bouquet of fresh roses.

“Betty had planned to run a couple miles for her birthday but COVID has canceled this so she will remain safe in her home doing various activities,” Witjas joked. He added that White “loves her fans.”

They certainly appreciate her too, with the actress’ name having trended on Twitter this week in anticipation of her turning 99.

Others, including some well-known names, have held their messages for the day itself.

Mulan actress Ming-Na Wen said White was her “spirit animal” and a “queen”, as she paid tribute to White.

Singer Marie Osmond said White had taught her not to take herself “too seriously” and called the 99-year-old, “99% pure perfection!”

Former New England Patriots player Benjamin Watson noted—a day after MLK Day—that white would have been a 7-year-old when Martin Luther King Jr. was born.

Author Steven W. Thrasher wished White a “very happy 99th” and pointed out that James Earl was turning 90 on the same day.

“These two nonagenarian artists represent the best of 20th century American art,” he wrote.

White’s fellow Emmy Award-winning actress Jackée Harry shared a “throwback” photo.

Over the course of a career that has spanned over almost eight decades, the Illinois native has appeared or given her voice to over 30 movies and over 100 TV series and has earned five Emmy Awards in various categories, a Grammy Award and three Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Inducted in the Television Hall of Fame in 1985, White also has a star dedicated to her on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Earlier this week, White told ET she was working on the release of The Pet Set, White syndicated show from the 1970s that featured an array of Hollywood stars including James Stewart, Burt Reynolds, Carol Burnett, Mary Tyler Moore and Doris Day.

“You probably didn’t ask, but I’ll tell you anyway,” she said.

“What am I doing for my birthday? Running a mile each morning has been curtailed by COVID, so I am working on getting The Pet Set re-released, and feeding the two ducks who come to visit me every day.”