10 things to know about Oscars host Ellen DeGeneres

Ellen DeGeneres returns to the awards ceremony circuit, announcing Friday that she will host the 85th annual Academy Awards.

The comedian and talk show host is no stranger to the cameras and hosted the Oscars in 2007. Here’s what you should know about DeGeneres’ long career.

1. Sixteen years ago DeGeneres announced that she was gay on her ABC sitcom “Ellen.” The show was canceled after she came out.

2. In 2001 she hosted the Emmy awards after the 9/11 attacks.

3. Ten years ago DeGeneres started her talk show, “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” amid a flurry of similar programs. But DeGeneres’ show is especially popular with women ages 25-54 and ratings are up 10 % for women ages 18-34.

4. In 2008 DeGeneres married her longtime girlfriend Portia De Rossi. They bought a house together for $12 million in Malibu.

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5. DeGeneres is very popular online. Her YouTube channel is among the most-watched of celebrity channels. Clips have been seen about 1.7 billion times.

6. She has more than 21 million followers on Twitter.

7. According to Forbes, DeGeneres earned $55 million in 2012.

8. In 2009 she made her way onto “American Idol,” replacing Paula Abdul as a judge. DeGeneres stayed for only one season.

9. Last fall she was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

10. DeGeneres will return to the big screen as the beloved, confused fish Dory in the Disney/Pixar animated feature “Finding Dory.”

Also:

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Ellen DeGeneres to host Oscars; she’s no Seth McFarlane

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Twitter:@DiangeleaMillar

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