Oprah's farewell spectacular, 05.18.11

Sunday, May 22, 2011 (updated on 5/22/2011 at 5:14 p.m.)

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Madonna, right, hugs Oprah Winfrey as she appears during a star-studded double-taping of 'Surprise Oprah! A Farewell Spectacular,' Tuesday, May 17, 2011, in Chicago. 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' is ending its run May 25, after 25 years, and millions of her fans around the globe are waiting to see how she will close out a show that spawned a media empire.

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(Charles Rex Arbogast ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Madonna, right, hugs Oprah Winfrey as she appears during a star-studded double-taping of 'Surprise Oprah! A Farewell Spectacular,' Tuesday, May 17, 2011, in Chicago. 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' is ending its run May 25, after 25 years, and millions of her fans around the globe are waiting to see how she will close out a show that spawned a media empire.

Story: Farewell, Oprah

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(Charles Rex Arbogast ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Maria Shriver appears with Oprah Winfrey during a star-studded double-taping of 'Surprise Oprah! A Farewell Spectacular,' Tuesday, May 17, 2011, in Chicago. 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' is ending its run May 25, after 25 years, and millions of her fans around the globe are waiting to see how she will close out a show that spawned a media empire.

Story: Farewell, Oprah

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(Charles Rex Arbogast ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Beyonce performs during a star-studded double-taping of 'Surprise Oprah! A Farewell Spectacular,' Tuesday, May 17, 2011, in Chicago. 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' is ending its run May 25, after 25 years, and millions of her fans around the globe are waiting to see how she will close out a show that spawned a media empire.

Story: Farewell, Oprah

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(Charles Rex Arbogast ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Tom Hanks talks to Oprah Winfrey during a star-studded double-taping of 'Surprise Oprah! A Farewell Spectacular,' Tuesday, May 17, 2011, in Chicago. 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' is ending its run May 25, after 25 years, and millions of her fans around the globe are waiting to see how she will close out a show that spawned a media empire.

Story: Farewell, Oprah

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(Charles Rex Arbogast ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Oprah Winfrey wipes away tears as Tom Hanks, left, talks to her during a star-studded double-taping of 'Surprise Oprah! A Farewell Spectacular,' Tuesday, May 17, 2011, in Chicago. 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' is ending its run May 25, after 25 years, and millions of her fans around the globe are waiting to see how she will close out a show that spawned a media empire.

Story: Farewell, Oprah

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(Michael Tercha CHICAGO TRIBUNE)

The stage is cleaned for the taping of Oprah's final show on Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.

Story: Farewell, Oprah

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(Michael Tercha CHICAGO TRIBUNE)

Oprah Winfrey walks with Tom Cruise during the taping of 'Surprise Oprah! A Farewell Spectacular' on Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.

Story: Farewell, Oprah

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(Charles Rex Arbogast ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Halle Berry, left, Katie Holmes and Queen Latifah, right, appear during a star-studded double-taping of 'Surprise Oprah! A Farewell Spectacular,' Tuesday, May 17, 2011, in Chicago. 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' is ending its run May 25, after 25 years, and millions of her fans around the globe are waiting to see how she will close out a show that spawned a media empire.

Story: Farewell, Oprah

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(Charles Rex Arbogast ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Oprah Winfrey talks as she is surrounded by Kristin Chenoweth, left, Gayle King, Tyler Perry and Maria Shriver, right, during a star-studded double-taping of 'Surprise Oprah! A Farewell Spectacular,' Tuesday, May 17, 2011, in Chicago. 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' is ending its run May 25, after 25 years, and millions of her fans around the globe are waiting to see how she will close out a show that spawned a media empire.

Story: Farewell, Oprah

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(Contributed item)

Maya Angelou, left, and Oprah Winfrey share laughs during a star-studded double-taping of 'Surprise Oprah! A Farewell Spectacular,' Tuesday, May 17, 2011, in Chicago. 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' is ending its run May 25, after 25 years, and millions of her fans around the globe are waiting to see how she will close out a show that spawned a media empire.

Story: Farewell, Oprah

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(Charles Rex Arbogast ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Oprah Winfrey reacts as Michael Jordan appears during a star-studded double-taping of 'Surprise Oprah! A Farewell Spectacular,' Tuesday, May 17, 2011, in Chicago. 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' is ending its run May 25, after 25 years, and millions of her fans around the globe are waiting to see how she will close out a show that spawned a media empire.

Story: Farewell, Oprah

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(Charles Rex Arbogast ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Oprah Winfrey watches as men from Moorehouse College sing during a star-studded double-taping of 'Surprise Oprah! A Farewell Spectacular,' Tuesday, May 17, 2011, in Chicago. 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' is ending its run May 25, after 25 years, and millions of her fans around the globe are waiting to see how she will close out a show that spawned a media empire.

Story: Farewell, Oprah

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(Charles Rex Arbogast ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Jamie Foxx sings to Oprah Winfrey during a star-studded double-taping of 'Surprise Oprah! A Farewell Spectacular,' Tuesday, May 17, 2011, in Chicago. 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' is ending its run May 25, after 25 years, and millions of her fans around the globe are waiting to see how she will close out a show that spawned a media empire.

Story: Farewell, Oprah

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(Charles Rex Arbogast ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Oprah Winfrey sheds her tears as men from Moorehouse College sing during a star-studded double-taping of 'Surprise Oprah! A Farewell Spectacular,' Tuesday, May 17, 2011, in Chicago. 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' is ending its run May 25, after 25 years, and millions of her fans around the globe are waiting to see how she will close out a show that spawned a media empire.

Story: Farewell, Oprah

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(Charles Rex Arbogast ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Fans watch during a star-studded double-taping of 'Surprise Oprah! A Farewell Spectacular,' Tuesday, May 17, 2011, in Chicago. 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' is ending its run May 25, after 25 years, and millions of her fans around the globe are waiting to see how she will close out a show that spawned a media empire.

Story: Farewell, Oprah

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(Charles Rex Arbogast ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Gayle King, left, and Maria Shriver hugs Oprah Winfrey during a star-studded double-taping of 'Surprise Oprah! A Farewell Spectacular,' Tuesday, May 17, 2011, in Chicago. 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' is ending its run May 25, after 25 years, and millions of her fans around the globe are waiting to see how she will close out a show that spawned a media empire.

Story: Farewell, Oprah

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(Charles Rex Arbogast ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Tom Hanks and Oprah Winfrey watch John Legend on a screen during a star-studded double-taping of 'Surprise Oprah! A Farewell Spectacular,' Tuesday, May 17, 2011, in Chicago. 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' is ending its run May 25, after 25 years, and millions of her fans around the globe are waiting to see how she will close out a show that spawned a media empire.

Story: Farewell, Oprah

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(Charles Rex Arbogast ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Oprah Winfrey speaks as she is surrounded by, from left, Patti LaBelle, Beyonce, Madonna, Dakota Fanning and Halle Berry during a star-studded double-taping of 'Surprise Oprah! A Farewell Spectacular,' Tuesday, May 17, 2011, in Chicago. 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' is ending its run May 25, after 25 years, and millions of her fans around the globe are waiting to see how she will close out a show that spawned a media empire.Charles Rex Arbogast

Story: Farewell, Oprah

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(Charles Rex Arbogast ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Jerry Seinfeld performs during a star-studded double-taping of 'Surprise Oprah! A Farewell Spectacular,' Tuesday, May 17, 2011, in Chicago. 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' is ending its run May 25, after 25 years, and millions of her fans around the globe are waiting to see how she will close out a show that spawned a media empire.

Story: Farewell, Oprah

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(Charles Rex Arbogast ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Diane Sawyer, right, appears with Oprah Winfrey during a star-studded double-taping of 'Surprise Oprah! A Farewell Spectacular,' Tuesday, May 17, 2011, in Chicago. 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' is ending its run May 25, after 25 years, and millions of her fans around the globe are waiting to see how she will close out a show that spawned a media empire.

Story: Farewell, Oprah

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