Oprah Winfrey has been one of the most prominent figures in television for over 25 years. Her TV shows have educated, motivated and inspired millions of viewers. Anything she endorses or disavows, from books to food to politicians (i.e. Barack Obama) typically dramatically impacts public opinion, including product sales. Some also hail her as a new age spiritual leader.
Early Life
Born to a single mother in rural Mississippi in 1954, Oprah Winfrey overcame considerable adversity on the road to success. At the age of nine, she was raped. When Winfrey was 14, she got pregnant and her son died shortly after he was born. In high school, Winfrey was hired by a radio station and was co-anchoring the local evening news by the time she was 19. Later on, she landed a job as host of a poorly rated daytime Chicago talk show and never looked back.
The Oprah Winfrey Show
The Oprah Winfrey Show, broadcast from a Chicago television studio, debuted in 1986. It grew to become the highest rated and one of the longest running talk shows in American history. The program also won 47 Daytime Emmy Awards by 2000, when Winfrey opted to remove it from consideration. There were few, if any, issues Oprah refused to tackle. She interviewed countless people from all walks of life, discussed difficult and light-hearted topics, took her show on the road and was very generous to her studio audiences. Winfrey also helped further the careers of a number of other television personalities including Dr. Phil McGraw, Dr. Mehmet Oz and Rachel Ray.
In 2009, Oprah announced her upcoming 25th season would be the show’s last. She felt it was the right time to end it and planned to spend time focusing on her new TV network – The Oprah Winfrey Network. May 25, 2011 was the date of the final episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show. Winfrey became extremely wealthy as a result of the program’s lucrative syndication deal. Her current net worth is estimated at approximately $3 billion.
Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN)
The Oprah Winfrey Network debuted on January 1, 2011. Approximately 80 million homes have access to the new television channel. It provides Winfrey with the opportunity to broadcast content of her choosing 24 hours a day. The programming includes a scripted television series created by Tyler Perry, talk shows hosted by Dr. Phil and Rachel Ray, and a mix of documentaries, specials and movies.
Spiritual Leadership
Oprah Winfrey is also considered by some to be an influential spiritual leader. She does not promote any specific religion, but her positive messages are believed to be a source of inspiration for many viewers. Winfrey has consistently focused on inspirational and uplifting themes in her TV shows and O Magazine. Some viewers credit her as the motivating force in their own acts of kindness and altruism. As a testament to her leadership, after the September 11 attacks, New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani requested she host a Prayer for America service in Yankee Stadium. Former President Bill Clinton and Senator Hillary Clinton were also in attendance.
Winfrey’s most current vehicle for engaging her audience in spiritual dialogue is Super Soul Sunday. The program has been be broadcasted on (OWN) since 2011. The show’s mission is to help people live the best possible life and develop a more significant bond with the world around them. Winfrey’s guests include authors, spiritual leaders and philosophers. Personal fulfillment, happiness and conscious living are some of the topics explored on the show. Author Maya Angelou, Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel and basketball coach Phil Jackson have been a few of the featured guests.
Oprah Winfrey has touched many peoples’ lives in a wide variety of ways. Her lasting legacy may very well be her approach to spirituality.