Ball’s transformative message to Burnett? ” ‘Kid, whenever you need me, give me a call,’ ” Burnett shares

Carol Burnett is sharing a sweet memory of another comedy legend — and someone who had a tremendous impact on her — Lucille Ball, who died on April 26, 1989, the same day Burnett turned 56.

In a clip shared exclusively with PEOPLE from the upcoming special, The Carol Burnett Show: Mother of All Marathons, Burnett, 92, discusses how Ball in part helped the course of her career.

“The woman who influenced me probably the most was Lucille Ball,” Burnett says in the clip. “She came to see me in Once Upon a Mattress, which was my first Broadway break, and she was there the second night, and I was more nervous that she was in the audience than I was the night before, when all the critics were.”

As Burnett explains, Ball even paid a visit backstage.

“We sat and we talked for about a half-hour and she was so supportive and she said, ‘Kid…’ — she called me kid, she was 22 years older than I was — and she said, ‘Kid, whenever you need me, give me a call,’ ” Burnett says.

As Burnett was preparing for a television special, she called in that favor.

“Just a few short years later, I was lucky enough to be given a special if I could get a major guest star. And I got up the nerve and called her, and she said, ‘Hey kid, you’re doing great. What’s happening?’ ” Burnett recounts. “And I was so nervous and I kind of flustered … and she said, ‘When do you need me?’ “

Burnett continues: “She came on the show and then later on, years later, I did her show after I Love Lucy, and she was a guest on my show when I got my variety show. We were very close, and she always sent me flowers on my birthday. So this one morning I got up, turned on the television set — it was my birthday — and she had died that morning, on my birthday. And that afternoon, I got the flowers that said, ‘Happy birthday, kid.’ “

Named one of TIME’s most influential women of the 20th century, Ball’s impact on the entertainment industry remains resonant. During its six-year run, I Love Lucy made history with its live audience and storylines. A trailblazer in comedy, Ball redefined the role of a television housewife as one who could be relatable and imperfect while still being the funniest person in the room.

Burnett, meanwhile, has a legacy all her own, headlining The Carol Burnett Show for 11 seasons and Carol & Company for another two, starring as Miss Hannigan in 1982’s Annie and acting in memorable roles in All My Children, Fresno, Mad About You and Better Call Saul.

She’s still working and has most recently appeared in the Apple TV+ series Palm Royale. She has been awarded six Emmys, six Golden Globes, one Grammy and a Kennedy Center Honor throughout her career.

The Carol Burnett Show: Mother of All Marathons, featuring new exclusive introductions with Burnett, airs May 10 and 11 on Shout! TV.