CHICAGO — Hollywood's A-list celebrities bid a star-studded farewell to Oprah Winfrey on Tuesday in a double-taping of her talk show that included messages from her fans around the world.
"I feel the love and I thank you for it," Winfrey 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."
Tom Hanks and then Tom Cruise greeted Winfrey after she came on stage to a standing ovation from the audience of 13,000 gathered for Surprise Oprah! A Farewell Spectacular. Josh Groban and Patti LaBelle sang Somewhere Over the Rainbow as Winfrey sat in a white chair onstage.
"Was that not the coolest?" Winfrey said when they finished. She announced in November 2009 that she would end her popular talk show after 25 years.