When asked about female show stars of German television, the names of the usual suspects come to mind: Helene Fischer (41), Barbara Schöneberger (52), Ina Müller (60), Linda de Mol (62), Ulla Kock am Brink (65).

Helene Fischer is likely the uncrowned queen, a ratings guarantee as a stage star, primarily present as an acrobatic singer. Barbara Schöneberger is the multi-talent, a quick-witted host, singer, comedian with a unique laugh and eye roll. Linda de Mol and Ulla Kock am Brink - that was once upon a time, over 20 years ago. And late-night fixture Ina Müller, with her humor and voice, is always good for entertaining late-night fare, but she hasn't (yet) landed in prime weekend entertainment.

Someone forgotten? Oh yes, a woman with a friendly demeanor and distinctive blonde bob who ventured into the thicket of Saturday night entertainment when it was still dominated by men - namely: Thomas Gottschalk (76).

Decades-Long Icon

Carmen Nebel was the great exception. Even "Der Spiegel", which likes to skewer public broadcasting entertainment with a sharp pen, wrote about one of her shows with slight irritation that there was "little to say" about it: "Nebel seemed her usual brisk and sprightly and cast-iron cheerful self." A meager compliment, but an accolade nonetheless.

For over 30 years she hosted schlager and folk music programs on ARD and ZDF. The audience liked her calm, confident manner, in which good cheer was never confused with hysteria and a relentless hunt for gags. On July 24, this Carmen Nebel will turn 70 years old. It has become quiet around her, as she is retired. She appears on television almost never.

The medium was once her life's purpose. The native Saxon from Grimma in the Leipzig district had initially studied education, German studies and English studies at Berlin's Humboldt University in the GDR before becoming a teacher for German and English. But that wasn't meant to be all, because she wanted to be on television.

In 1979 she was discovered at a talent competition, and that same year she became a freelance announcer for GDR television. A few years later she gave up her teaching profession and entered TV entertainment full-time. Starting in 1986 she hosted various TV shows in the GDR, in 1989 she got her own show called "Sprungbrett," and in the same year she was voted "GDR Television Favorite."

Florian Silbereisen Became Her Successor

After reunification and the dissolution of GDR TV, Carmen Nebel moved to public broadcasting West German television to ARD. Initially she hosted the German pre-selection for the Eurovision Song Contest, became spokesperson for the German jury, then from 1994 she presented 46 Saturday night shows "Die Feste der Volksmusik" (ARD/ORF) as well as the program "Krone der Volksmusik" and was replaced in 2003 by a young man named Florian Silbereisen (44).

However, she hadn't been fired; rather, Carmen Nebel had switched to competitor ZDF, again with her own Saturday night show: "Willkommen bei Carmen Nebel," which was produced by her Berlin company TeeVee Produktions GmbH and on which she presented not only well-known schlager stars but also talented newcomers for 20 years.

During this time, Carmen Nebel also advanced to become public broadcasting's Christmas angel. For 18 years she hosted "Die schönsten Weihnachts-Hits," from 2004 to 2011 "Alle Jahre wieder - Weihnachten mit dem Bundespräsidenten" and finally for eleven years the successor program "Heiligabend mit Carmen Nebel."

For the "Süddeutsche Zeitung" it was established, "as long as anyone can remember": "In Advent, like the star in the sky over Bethlehem back then, Carmen Nebel appears on television to get her audience in the Christmas mood with schlager and folk music." The newspaper didn't even complain about the level of the shows, but compared them to mulled wine, which (almost) everyone is known to like: "warm, sweet, lulling, after a while you automatically start swaying."

Confident Farewell

In 2021, "Willkommen bei Carmen Nebel" finally ended, and in 2024 so did the host's Christmas magic. And the "SZ" wrote: "She completes the final show confidently and stylishly in a black, simply tailored suit. There's nothing flashy or nebulous even about her departure; she consciously decided to retire at age 68, she announced. At the end, Andreas Gabalier presents the hostess with a white rose, allegedly from Athens, which is supposed to say: 'Come back again soon.' It's a bit like how most people wish Christmas to be: sentimental, familiar, heartfelt."

Then Carmen Nebel spoke her last sentence as a show star: "It was lovely, I enjoyed doing it, bye, goodbye."

New Happiness as a Grandmother

Carmen Nebel hasn't come back; she has since kept away from this public life almost radically: The show star became a retiree, scandal-free as in her previous life. She married her partner, musician and composer Norbert Endlich, in 2021. Now, in retirement, she has found her personal happiness, far from the spotlights and show stairs that she doesn't miss.

"It's a great new life situation. I'm enjoying the extra free time," she told the magazine "SuperIllu." She has now found a new role as a grandmother. Her husband Norbert Endlich is the father of schlager singer Ella Endlich (42), and she had her first child three years ago.

Carmen Nebel never thought about coming out of retirement; she likes the quiet life away from the cameras too much. Moreover, and here a hint of criticism emerges, "attitude and language" have changed "and with them the protagonists: It's good that I'm no longer part of it."