Oprah Winfrey wiped away tears as celebrity after celebrity surprised her during a farewell double-episode taping of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" that will precede her finale.
"Thank you is not enough, but thank you," Winfrey told the crowd of 13,000 gathered at Chicago's United Center on Tuesday night for "Surprise Oprah! A Farewell Spectacular." "For your love and your support, thank you."
The crowd gave Winfrey a standing ovation when she first walked on the stage. Then the stars came out, with Winfrey's producers making good on their promise of the biggest celebrities of movies, music and television.
Aretha Franklin sang "Amazing Grace." Tom Hanks acted as host for the evening. Michael Jordan, who led the Chicago Bulls to six NBA championships during the 1990s, told Winfrey she inspires him. Tom Cruise, famous for his couch jumping on Winfrey's show, was there. And Madonna said she is among the millions of people who are inspired by Winfrey.
Winfrey announced in November 2009 that she would end her popular talk show after 25 years. Tuesday's taping will air May 23 and 24, before Winfrey's final show on May 25.
Maria Shriver, the TV journalist and Kennedy heiress, appeared on the same day it was revealed her husband, Arnold Schwarzenegger, fathered a child with a woman on his household staff more than a decade ago. Shriver did not mention her husband during the taping.
"You have given me love, support, wisdom and most of all the truth," Shriver told Winfrey. "And I know I'm not alone in receiving those gifts from you."
Beyonce sang her song "Run the World (Girls)" backed by dozens of dancers. Rascal Flatts performed too.
Winfrey also received messages from some less-famous admirers. Female American soldiers gave a taped message from Iraq and three female fans from countries around the world came on stage. The show was interspersed with clips of Winfrey's fans and flashbacks of previous episodes.
Fans started lining up outside hours before the taping started. The content of the final episode of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" is still under wraps.
奥普拉近日录制了告别秀特别节目《奥普拉惊喜巨献》，分为两期，将在最后一期脱口秀之前播出。录制期间，众多一线明星接连登场，让奥普拉流下了感动的泪水。
温弗瑞告诉在场的一万三千名嘉宾和观众：“‘谢谢’两个字远远不够，但还是衷心感谢你们。谢谢你们给我的爱和支持。”特别节目的录制于本周二晚在芝加哥联合中心举行。
温弗瑞登场时，观众起立鼓掌致意。之后大牌明星纷纷亮相。温弗瑞的节目制作人兑现了承诺：影视、音乐、电视明星星光云集。
艾瑞莎•弗兰克林演唱了《奇异的恩典》。汤姆•汉克斯成为当晚的主持。迈克尔•乔丹告诉温弗瑞，她激励了自己。乔丹曾在上世纪90年代率领芝加哥公牛队夺取六次NBA冠军。汤姆•克鲁斯也赶来捧场，他曾经在《奥普拉脱口秀》上“跳沙发”，引起轰动。麦当娜说温弗瑞激励了数百万人，也包括自己。
温弗瑞在2009年11月宣布，将停播自己已经主持了25年的脱口秀节目。本周二录制的特别节目将在5月23日和24日播出。最后一期脱口秀将于5月25日播出。
电视主持人、肯尼迪家族成员玛丽亚•施莱弗也前来捧场。节目录制当天，她的丈夫阿诺德•施瓦辛格宣布自己十几年前和一位女佣有染，两人还育有一个私生子。施莱弗在节目录制中没有提到自己的丈夫。
施莱弗告诉温弗瑞：“你给了我爱、支持、智慧，最重要的是让我了解了真相。我知道很多人都接受了你的这些礼物。”
碧昂斯在几十人的伴舞下演唱了自己的歌曲《掌控世界(女孩)》。“流氓弗拉德乐队”也在现场表演。
温弗瑞还收到了一些平民仰慕者的信息。美国驻伊拉克女兵在录制的带子中表达了对她的爱戴。还有来自全球各地的三名女粉丝登台捧场。节目中不时插播温弗瑞粉丝的视频片段，以及往期脱口秀的精彩回放。
粉丝们早在录制前几小时就排队等候。最后一期《奥普拉脱口秀》的节目内容还未公布。
