Oprah's Final Shows: Stedman Pays Tribute To Oprah (VIDEO)

The second-to-last episode of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" featured Part 2 of the "Farewell Surprise Spectacular" that Oprah's producers cooked up for her. It was just as starry and sentimental as Part 1, with celebrities such as Will Smith, Jerry Seinfeld, Michael Jordan, Stevie Wonder, Maria Shriver, Alicia Keys and Aretha Franklin toasting Oprah, and with emotional tributes to her support of education from some of the people she had given college scholarships to. When some of these students emerged, Oprah broke down and began weeping.

But perhaps the most surprising part of the entire event was the appearance by Oprah's long-time partner Stedman Graham. The two rarely appear in public together, and Oprah was stunned to see Stedman walk out on the stage of the United Center.

"What in the name of Jesus?!" she exclaimed.

"It really does amaze me that I get to be around a woman who changes peoples' lives every day and who also takes her own lunch to work," Stedman said. "I cannot, honey, believe that a colored girl from the backwoods of Mississippi has done all that you have done ... I love you for making a difference in my life."

Stedman then introduced Aretha Franklin, and joined Oprah in the crowd to listen to the Queen of Soul sing "Amazing Grace"--amazingly, of course.

WATCH:

Oprah famously discussed her relationship with Stedman during an interview with Barbara Walters last fall, calling him the "love" and the "lover" in her life.

Comments

[LizHarper]

08:56 PM on 07/04/2011

There is a point where narcissistic self-indulgence should make everyone uncomfortable. Oprah has trained her friends well---adore me and worship my fame. She brought us her own inability to discern as she lapped THE SECRET- positive thinking will make you rich. Such obvious tripe that I winced when I tried to watch it. Then there was that uneducated blithering idiot who claimed that Jesus had talked to her. What was her name? Betty something. She wrote books about it and the conversations with Jesus became ungodly longer with each telling. Her last comments on Oprah had her saying that Homosexually was a sin according to Jesus. Look, no offense, but if Jesus is going to chat up someone it will not be Betty or Sarah Palin. Oprah spent many shows with questionable people and she should have known better. On the positive side, I think she is the single most influential woman in terms of her contributions to education, reading, self help, self reflection, self evolution and acts of profound charity and good will. And, she showed us how to have a good time along the way!

[Satish Chourasiya]

06:18 AM on 06/15/2011

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[carl1124]

02:10 PM on 05/26/2011

I ask for her help and nothing. Are kids where taken by there Grandmother and we need help no one will help. I can why some take the law in their own hands.

[1freedom]

09:30 AM on 05/26/2011

I absolutely love the way you guys will continue to sit at your internet(s)

[HotheadPaisen]

09:24 AM on 05/28/2011

you're posting this via mind control?

[Havana Thinks]

08:51 AM on 05/26/2011

What I noticed from the video was that both Oprah and Gayle seemed to glow from the comments made by Steadman. At times, Gayle's smile was more toothy than Oprah's.

Steady man was correct in saying she changed his life---by millions of dollars!!!

[sixtoes]

08:08 AM on 05/26/2011

Don't count out the Drama Queen just yet. She'll be back.

[mjhuong]

12:04 AM on 05/26/2011

OW is a liar!

[Terry Keith]

04:05 PM on 06/27/2011

Whatever! You forgot to mention that she's smart about money too.

[caprawalie]

10:09 PM on 05/25/2011

No offense to the admirers and loyal followers of Oprah and those who claim she changed their lives through her talk shows. I never watched any of her life changing shows completely, but life will continue with or without her. The fickle public will soon forget her and will even revel at the obligatory post-mortem excavation of dirt from her past. This is the way of America. Mr. stedman should be worried now as The O might find more leisure time to devote her life long habit of fixing people applied to her audience of one!

[Havana Thinks]

08:47 AM on 05/26/2011

You are a total nonsense sayer. But I will further the comment of she changed Steadman's life. That is absolutely certain. She made him the black 6 miillion dollar man! She certainly did change HIS life!!!

[caprawalie]

05:50 PM on 05/26/2011

Your common sense utterance is that her change is primarily measured in money. She made Stedman a 6 million dollar "black" man! She also probably made Dr. Phil a 10 million dollar "white" man! What nonsense!

[StockBroker]

09:56 PM on 05/25/2011

I see she took Anthony Robbins tips for her "I'm so marvelous, farewell to me" party.

Let's get real folks: it was fluff TV she was peddling for the past 25 years (along with $300 dog collars, $500 tote bags, $900 can openers, etc. in her ridiculous magazine).

Glad this pretentiuos, egotistical windbag is gone.

[grnmtnkate]

12:13 PM on 05/26/2011

You are turning green, dude.

[HotheadPaisen]

09:26 AM on 05/28/2011

what would you expect from a stock broker?

[RiceStarz]

09:55 PM on 05/25/2011

I remember seeing the Colour Purple, and at the time, I went for the author and for Whoopie. Then, I said to myself, I love this woman, I want more. I had no idea who she was or who she would become, but I knew she would be great. I had no idea how great. I saw some of both shows, but will watch both in their entirety on demand. can't wait.

[cafebeege]

01:09 AM on 05/26/2011

She was great in The Color Purple......love that movie. I didn't anticipate as you did that she would be as great a future success though. Figured she'd stay in acting......."method acting" we now know from the traumas of her childhood. Boy, she put them to good use in that role.

[texxtin]

09:45 PM on 05/25/2011

Oprah's story is really unbelievable. Had she never lived and someone wrote a fictional book about a character that did all that she did, people would have said it was a ridiculous fantasy.

[texxtin]

09:41 PM on 05/25/2011

Oprah is a awesome no doubt about it.

[StockBroker]

10:07 PM on 05/25/2011

Gag.

Glad she and her ego are gone.

[dkuz09]

03:51 PM on 05/26/2011

You seem to enjoy reading lots of articles on her.

[Terry Keith]

04:08 PM on 06/27/2011

You're jealous. She made it through all that you guys do to stop people like her. Get over it. That doesn't work anymore.

[NxCtrl]

07:57 PM on 05/25/2011

A brilliant, blessed woman. If you ever wanted to see what a blessed person looks like you was witness to one for 25yrs. Here was a woman (Oprah), that came into the business knowing nothng about it and exiting.as one of the most influential woman pretty much in the world.....not to mention incredibly rich.

[Democrab]

07:25 PM on 05/25/2011

I never saw her show. But I'm glad she supported Obama, good choice.

[Breslin]

06:57 PM on 05/25/2011

Brilliant reaction from Oprah! I love it!