Well, here we are – 25 years, 4,561 shows, and 1.3 million audience members later, Oprah’s finale show was aired today. A true rags to riches story, Oprah ends an empire expressing “Gratitude is the single greatest I will take with me from this experience.”
For her last show, Oprah turned to her loyal audience at Chicago’s United Center and opened up about the lessons she has learned over these past 25 years. Tears flowed between her, the staff, and the fans. She offered advice to America saying, “You are responsible for the energy you create for yourself, and the energy you bring to others. Don’t wait for somebody else to save you, to complete you, to fix you.”
No one can forget her 283 favorite things, the all-inclusive trips and lots full of cars she gave away throughout her talk show career. As the final season was coming to a close, celebrities such as; Aretha Franklin, Tom Cruise, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jordan and Madonna, stopped by to give their thanks and appreciation to the Queen of Television. However, Oprah wanted the final show to just include herself, her staff and her fans.
In the last segment of the show, Oprah refused to say goodbye, but instead ended with “until we meet again.”