The secret's out!
With 24 hours to go until Oprah Winfrey broadcasts her final episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show, details have begun to leak out about the episode taped Tuesday in Chicago.
According to the Associated Press, who cited sources who attended the final taping, Winfrey's final guest is…
No one.
Rather than welcoming celebrities or other newsmakers to the stage, Winfrey reportedly opted to appear alone, recapping lessons she's learned during her time on air.
"This is my love letter to you," Access Hollywood quotes Winfrey as telling the audience, which reportedly included Winfrey's celeb pals Tyler Perry, Maria Shriver, and Gayle King.
"It was just her the whole time, a recap of what she believed in, what we've given her as viewers and what she hopes she has given us," audience member Nancy Evankoe, 60, of Hoffman Estates, Ill., who attended the taping with her daughter, told the Associated Press.
The subdued farewell was a far cry from Winfrey's star-studded May 17 send off, held at Chicago's United Center arena.
Feted by celebs including Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks, Will Smith and Aretha Franklin, Winfrey reveled in a night of musical performances and emotional speeches that aired as The Oprah Winfrey Show's second and third to last episodes. (Read Us' live blog from the night here.)
"It's no secret that millions of people are inspired by Oprah. I am one of those people," Madonna gushed of the talk show host at the event, attended by 13,000 of Winfrey's ultimate viewers. "Whenever I'm asked who my role models are, I always say 'dead' or 'alive.' The dead list is long, but the alive list has one name on it: Oprah."
Indeed, the talk show host feels the love.
"You have all invited me into your lives," an emotional Winfrey told her studio audience in November 2009, when announcing that her 25th season would be her last. "We've grown together. I want you all to know that my relationship with you is one that I hold very dear. Your trust in me, your sharing your precious time with me…has brought me the greatest joy that I have ever known."
The finale episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show airs May 25.
By Allison Corneau for UsMagazine.com. For more Channel Surfing, click here.
