Lily Tomlin has been making people laugh since her start in the comedy biz in the early 1970s. Famous for her "characters" (a telephone operator called Ernestine and a rowdy 6-year-old known as Edith Ann), Tomlin has consistently dabbled in everything from stand-up to appearances in TV, film and theater. She's got an impressive amount of high-ranking awards (including biggies such as Emmys, a Tony and a Grammy, among others) under her belt. All that and she's still not retired? Correct. Now in her '70s, Tomlin is currently on tour and will stop in at Belk Theater for a performance tonight. $19.50. 7 p.m. Belk Theater, 130 N. Tryon St. 704-372-1000. www.blumenthalcenter.org.