Ellen DeGeneres: The talk show host and comedian's career in photos

"The Ellen DeGeneres Show" returned with its first show of 2021 on Jan. 13, 2021— a month after she contracted the virus. 

"Obviously there are a lot of negative things going on, so I wanted to talk about something positive: my COVID test," said DeGeneres in a clip from the episode, addressing a virtual audience that was originally supposed to attend the show she canceled in December after receiving a positive test.

For Halloween, she dressed up as her favorite superhero on Oct 31, 2020: a nurse! 

Strike a pose! DeGeneres sported her signature suit at the 77th annual Golden Globe Awards on Jan, 5, 2020. 

That same night, she won the Carol Burnett Award. 

During the 62nd annual Grammy Awards, the comedian introduced Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus on Jan. 26, 2020.

Both in costume, DeGeneres hugged guest Rebel Wilson, left, during a Halloween taping of "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" on Oct. 31, 2018.  
 

Here she was onstage during "A Conversation with Ellen DeGeneres" on Oct. 19, 2018. 

Ellen DeGeneres, left, and P!nk shared a laugh backstage at the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards on Aug. 27, 2017. 

Good works are recognized. President Barack Obama presented DeGeneres with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House on Nov. 22, 2016.

Along with her television career, DeGeneres was also the voice of Dory in the 2016 animated feature "Finding Dory." Here she posed with Albert Brooks,  left, Hayden Rolence, writer/director Andrew Stanton, producer Lindsey Collins and co-director Angus MacLane at the premiere of "Finding Dory" on June 8, 2016.

DeGeneres was all smiles as she arrived to host the 86th annual Academy Awards on March 2, 2014.

On Sept. 4, 2012, DeGeneres was honored with her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. 

She may not be a singer, but she sure knows good music. DeGeneres joined the Season 9 "American Idol" judges Randy Jackson, Kara DioGuardi and Simon Cowell in 2010. 

She and her wife, Portia de Rossi, appeared on the Sept. 1, 2008 issue of People Magazine, which shared photos of their wedding. 

She's a beauty too. The actress appeared on the March 2007 cover of W magazine. 

DeGeneres has learned a lot from her guests. On Oct. 28, 2004, Kelly Preston taught her how to hula dance during a taping of "The Ellen DeGeneres Show."

And Hilary Duff showed DeGeneres some basic gymnastics moves on Oct. 27, 2003. 

She lent her voice to Dory in the 2003 smash hit "Finding Nemo."

Dressed as a Bjork swan, DeGeneres hosted the 53rd annual Emmy Awards on Nov. 4, 2001.

She brought the Grammy Awards hosting gig to a close in some cozy pajamas at the 39th annual awards show on Feb. 26, 1997. 

She landed the cover of Time magazine on April 14, 1997.

Ellen DeGeneres' insightful observations, sardonic wit and skewed perspective on life were the inspiration for "Ellen," a comedy capitalizing on the award-winning, critically acclaimed comedian's genius for finding humor in the commonplace. 

Let's take a look at some notable "Ellen" episodes: She looked uncomfortable when Laura Dern's character perceived her as gay in "The Puppy Episode" of "Ellen" on April 30, 1997.

Ellen (Ellen DeGeneres, left) threw a bachelorette party for a despondent Paige (Joely Fisher, second from right), inviting her high-powered boss (guest star Kathy Najimy, right) on the "Go Girlz" episode of "Ellen," which aired on May 1, 1996. 

In "The Shower Scene" episode of "Ellen," which aired on Sept. 27, 1995,  Ellen (Ellen DeGeneres) labored to make amends after accidentally taping over a video of Paige's sister giving birth to twins.