Barbara Walters' Interview with Oprah--The Next Chapter Part Two

According to Barbara Walters' report on the ABC Special, Oprah was born in Mississippi. Her mother was 18 and unmarried at the time. Oprah described her first home as having no running water or electricity. And it had an outhouse.

Oprah admitted she often ran away from home. She saw herself as a problem child. At 14, Oprah was sent to live with her father, whom she described as "strict." At age 17, Ms. Winfrey entered a beauty pageant in Nashville, Tennessee. At that time, she said, "I want to be a journalist like Barbara Walters." Oprah described how she had watched Barbara Walters on the Today Show and been very impressed. Ms. Winfrey acknowledged that, as a young woman she often thought of Barbara Walters and tried to emulate her.

Barbara Walters made every effort to get to the bottom of Oprah's relationships with her parents. Ms. Winfrey briefly remarked, "Fine" when asked about her relationship with her father. She seemed to struggle to find words to describe her relationship with her mother. She openly acknowledged she currently takes care of both parents monetarily.

Ms. Winfrey's early story is a testament to the fortitude, perseverance and sheer determination she must have had to achieve what she has after coming from such humble beginnings. Talk about a rags to riches story.

Oprah's Weight Problem

Ms. Winfrey shared disappointment in herself for focusing on her weight. She now sees her overeating as being "out of balance." Oprah asserts she is too busy to work on losing weight. "I refuse to beat myself up about it anymore." Interestingly, many of her fans can very much relate to her struggles with weight.

Oprah's Best Friend Gayle King

One of the many unique characteristics about Ms. Winfrey as a celebrity is that she does not hide her personal relationships from her audience. Avid Oprah watchers know that Gayle King is her best friend. She met Gayle King in Baltimore over 25 years ago. Oprah says, "She has always been happier for me than even I was."

Ms. Winfrey went on to say, "She is the mother I never had. She is the sister everybody would want. She is the friend that everybody deserves. I don't know a better person. I don't know a better person." At that point in the interview, Oprah became tearful, acknowledging that she hadn't ever told Gayle these feelings. She added, "The therapy I didn't have and the therapy that I don't need is because of the thousands and thousands of hours I spent on the phone with Gayle."

These remarks are stunning--how many people have a true friend? Oprah seemed quite touched as she spoke about Gayle. The world can most likely expect that the OWN network will have more than one place for Gayle King.

Oprah's Longtime Male Partner Steadman Graham

Described as a "business entrepreneur and speaker" by Barbara Walters, Steadman Graham and Oprah have dated for 22 years. Ms. Winfrey said she doesn't make many public appearances with Steadman anymore, a decision she made in 2003. Oprah said Steadman is "The love, the lover, the man, the partner, the mate." She and Steadman live together in a condominium over Lake Michigan in Chicago.

Oprah was moved to tears when discussing Steadman's way of "living this life" with her. She expressed he does it "with dignity and grace." When asked about having children, Ms. Winfrey says she has no regrets she hasn't had them, even though she once thought she would have children. Oprah said she's glad she didn't get married as she feared the relationship would somehow not have survived if they had.

Oprah's Charity

Barbara Walters said Oprah has donated nearly half a billion dollars to charities. In 2002, Ms. Winfrey gave Christmas gifts to 50,000 children. Then, she started her "dream school" for girls in Africa. Oprah takes great pride in all the girls at her school and shared that 26 of them recently came to Chicago with her to look at colleges in the US.

Oprah regards the students at her school as her children. When Barbara Walters asked about goals, Ms. Winfrey said, "I am seeking the fullest expression of myself as a human being on earth. If that reaches a million, or several million (people) then that's what 's supposed to happen" (ABC TV, 2010).

Oprah's ability to connect with herself and live her dreams has encouraged others to not only seek their own destinies but to also give to others through selfless acts of charity.

Oprah's Favorite Oprah Show Experiences

Oprah hosted more than 4,400 shows over the years. It must somehow bring her additional pride that practically everyone wants a seat in her audience. Oprah truly enjoys doing her shows and has even given cars to her entire audience more than once. She spoke of the joy that giving brings to her.

Also, Oprah admitted she loved starting the Book Club. There are many women out there who have most likely read all 64 books she's recommended. Can you believe that she turned every one of those books into best-sellers generating 65 million dollars in sales for those authors? Now, that's having an impact.

In describing what she has enjoyed most about doing the Oprah Show, Ms. Winfrey said, "Ordinary people have done extraordinary things." Oprah named Monica George as one of her favorite guests. Ms. George had to have both arms and both legs amputated after contracting bacteria in the hospital when she went in to deliver a baby. Ms. Winfrey also mentioned Mattie Stepanek, the young, fair-haired boy confined to a wheelchair and that she was truly blessed to have known him.

Oprah's Ability to Make Others a Star

Oprah introduced Phil McGraw, Nate Berkus, and Dr. Mahmet Oz to the world. Eventually, she gave each of them his own show. Over the years, Oprah has been responsible for the success of many counselors and other professionals who served as guest experts on her shows.

How can Oprah's show or life be summarized? Oprah is a fascinating person who teaches and inspires. It's comforting to know she will continue to enlighten the world on her new network, OWN. Oprah, we are ready.

Sources

ABC News Barbara Walters Special. Oprah the Next Chapter, December 9, 2010.

OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network website, December 11, 2010.

Personal Experience Watching the Oprah Winfrey Show for 25 years.