Ellen DeGeneres' late girlfriend inspired comedy

Ellen DeGeneres has always described her wife Portia de Rossi as the biggest inspiration in her life,

but it was a former girlfriend who gave her the motivation to launch a comedy career.

The 60-year-old stand-up and talk show host made the decision to write the material for her first ever comedy performance

when her lover was killed in a car accident 40 years ago when Ellen was just 20.

It was from that shock death that the "Phone Call to God" routine was born.

Ellen’s dream did come true and she appeared on 'The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson' back in 1986,

becoming the first woman to be invited to sit down on Johnny's couch thanks to her "Phone Call to God" routine.

You know the saying, when life gives you sour lemons, Ellen makes lemonade!