Betty White on 17th Emmy Nomination: "I Haven't Gone Away, Guys"

"Everybody says there has been a big resurgence. I haven't gone away, guys. I've been this busy for 63 years," says Betty White, who snagged her 17th Emmy nomination Thursday for her performance on TV Land's Hot in Cleveland.

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"I'm flying high, needless to say. I just can't believe it," the 89-year-old actress says.

She woke up to a call from her agent and feared bad personal news. Even when he said congratulations, she had no idea what he was talking about. "I had forgotten that today was when the announcements were made. I let out a yelp, of course, since I was so thrilled. My golden retriever came in going, 'What is it mommy? Is something wrong?'" White says with a hearty chuckle. 

While White believes her co-stars — Valerie Bertinelli, Jane Leeves and Wendie Malick — also deserve awards recognition, the one thing she has over them is "longevity and old age," she says. "I've been around in this business for 63 years, and people can't get rid of me!"

Betty White: "I've been getting away with it for 63 years"

White says she gets more psyched over the nominations than the awards ceremony. "I have to say, and it sounds so cliché but I mean it, today is the exciting day. The awards night is kind of a chore, but today is the exciting day. I'm so thrilled I can't see straight."

And White says she's looking forward to more Hot in Cleveland, especially the bevy of men who appear on the show. "All I know is we've been having the most wonderful male guest stars. Somehow Elka winds up with all of them and I love that part. I hope they continue that."

Hot in Cleveland airs Wednesdays at 10/9c on TV Land.