She's surprised countless guests on her show over the years. But the tables were finally turned on Oprah Winfrey as guests and celebrity friends turned up to wish her farewell.
Tom Cruise and Madonna were just two of many who joined a star-studded goodbye programme for the talk show queen. Mission Impossible star Tom and fellow actor Tom Hanks greeted Oprah after arriving on stage to a standing ovation from the audience of 13,000 gathered for the taping of Surprise Oprah! A Farewell Spectacular.
"I feel the love and I thank you for it," Oprah told the crowd. "Thank you for being a part of this great night, this celebration of what you have done for The Oprah Winfrey Show. "You have made it possible for us to stand for 25 years." Madonna told the crowd that she is among the millions of people who are inspired by the chat show host, who announced in November 2009 that she would end her popular talk show after 25 years. "She fights for things she believes in, even if it makes her unpopular," said the Material Girl.
Men In Black star Will Smith and his wife Jada Pinkett Smith thanked Oprah and told her she mothered millions and "that puts you in the status of a goddess".Jamie Foxx and Stevie Wonder sang Isn't She Lovely, and Stevie followed with his own song, including the lyrics: "Oprah, thank you for using your gifts to uplift so many hearts."
Simon Cowell also made an appearance, as did Dakota Fanning, Halle Berry, Queen Latifah and Katie Holmes.Beyonce Knowles sang her song Run The World (Girls) before declaring: "Oprah Winfrey, because of you women everywhere have graduated to a new level of understanding of who we are, of what we are and most of all who we can be. "Pop pin-upJosh Groban and soul songstress Patti LaBelle performed Somewhere Over The Rainbow as Oprah watched on stage.
"Was that not the coolest?" said the lady of the moment when they finished.
