How a Snowstorm and Sleepover Led to Oprah and Gayle's Friendship

Contents:

• HOW OPRAH AND GAYLE’S 46-YEAR FRIENDSHIP BEGAN—AND WHY IT’S LASTED
• OPRAH AND GAYLE REFLECT ON HOW THEY’VE REMAED BT FRIENDS FOR 45 YEARS—AND COUNTG
• OPRAH WEY AND GAYLE KG EXPLA THE SECRET TO THEIR LONG-TERM BT IENDSHIP
• STRANGE THGS ABOUT OPRAH AND GAYLE'S FRIENDSHIP
• OPRAH EXPLAS WHY SHE AND GAYLE KG "WILL ALWAYS BE EACH OTHER’S CORNER"
• THE STATE OF OPRAH WEY AND GAYLE KG'S DES-LONG FRIENDSHIP IN 2023
• IS THIS A REAL PIC OF TOM HANKS WH GAYLE KG AND OPRAH AS PART OF A 'BLACK EYE CLUB'?
• OPRAH AND GAYLE GIVE FRIENDSHIP ADVICE TO BEYONCé, KELLY, AND MICHELLE
• HOW A SNOWSTORM AND SLEEPOVER LED TO OPRAH WEY AND GAYLE KG'S 'BETIFUL' 46-YEAR FRIENDSHIP
• OPRAH WEY AND GAYLE KG REVEAL WHAT LED TO THEIR ‘BETIFUL’ 46-YEAR IENDSHIP
• OPRAH AND GAYLE WEIGH ON WHAT TO DO IF YOU THK YOUR FRIEND’S PARTNER IS CHEATG
• WE KNOW THE SECRET BEHD GAYLE KG AND OPRAH'S LONG-LASTG FRIENDSHIP
• READ OPRAH AND GAYLE'S UNCENSORED INTERVIEW ABOUT THEIR FRIENDSHIP BACK 2006
• OPRAH WEY AND GAYLE KG SHARE THEIR 46-YEAR FRIENDSHIP’S ORIG STORY
• DID GAYLE KG JT E OUT? OPRAH WEY’S BTIE SAYS ‘I’M GAY’ ON CBS THIS MORNG

HOW OPRAH AND GAYLE’S 46-YEAR FRIENDSHIP BEGAN—AND WHY IT’S LASTED

Gayle and Maria, I met around the same time; Gayle and I [have been iends for] 42 years, Maria and I [have also been iends for] 42 years.

While Oprah grew up impoverished, often movg between her parents’ hom Nashville and Milwkee, Gayle spent part of her childhood Turkey, where she had a hoekeeper and a swimmg pool. ”To celebrate the forever iends, we’ve put together a timele of some of Gayle and Oprah’s standout moments—om their ial meetg the 1970s to more recent updat, like when Gayle shared the sweet story of her diamond necklace om Oprah on Watch What Happens Live December 2022.

1976: Oprah and Gayle first meet as young were twenty-somethgs the early days of their reers, both employed at Baltimore's WJZ statn. ”1986: Gayle mak her first appearance on The Oprah Wey the but season of the inic The Oprah Wey Show, Gayle ma her first of many gut meos over the years.

OPRAH AND GAYLE REFLECT ON HOW THEY’VE REMAED BT FRIENDS FOR 45 YEARS—AND COUNTG

In one of our favore moments om The Oprah Wey Show archiv, Gayle pulled off the ultimate surprise by unexpectedly poppg on Oprah the middle of an episo. But jt as Knight was providg some wisdom, a clearly shocked Oprah terpted to make a special announcement: “Gayle is here!

OPRAH WEY AND GAYLE KG EXPLA THE SECRET TO THEIR LONG-TERM BT IENDSHIP

“This is so touchg to me, bee Patti was here and Aretha me, and then everyone was g, I thought, Gee, I wish Gayle uld be here to see this, ” she was equally grateful to be attendance, offerg the most humble rponse. It would bee one of the show’s most unfettable no technology, nng water, or electricy, Oprah and Gayle set out to spend a weekend as the lonials did—tradnal garb and all.

“After Gayle got thrown down the square-dancg episo the night before—the guy went do-si-do, and she went down—we cid to leave a ltle early. 2006: Our rint bti set out on a grand cross-untry road a fan-favore Oprah Wey Show episo, Oprah and Gayle ped on the ultimate road trip. “All you had to do today was listen to my sgg, which should have been very pleasurable, ” Gayle said as Oprah plaed about the trip.

Michael Kovac//Getty ImagBoth media legends their own right—Oprah is a billnaire bs mogul, and Gayle is an Emmy-wng journalist and member of the Broadstg and Cable Hall of Fame—each of the BFFs had a banner year up was Lady O January. ”In June, for a segment on CBS This Morng, Gayle joed Oprah for a first peek at Lady O’s new exhib at the Natnal Mm of Ain Amerin History and Culture, which showsed Oprah’s monumental life and reer.

STRANGE THGS ABOUT OPRAH AND GAYLE'S FRIENDSHIP

And four months later, the tabl were turned when Gayle took the spotlight as she was officially ducted to the Broadstg & Cable (B&C) Hall of Fame. ”January 2019: The OG Chronicl is a move that was long overdue for the dynamic duo, a jot vio seri was officially lnched, lled The OG Chronicl, starrg Oprah and Gayle. In the first episo, we learned that Gayle once donned Saran wrap and a trench at to spice up a relatnship, while Oprah oks soul food to keep romantic wh Stedman.

Kelly documentary, the disgraced artist sat down wh Gayle his first terview sce he was arrted Chigo on 10 unts of aggravated crimal sexual explosive segment garnered Gayle wispread praise as she kept her ol while Kelly proceed to lose his.

You may be able to fd the same ntent another format, or you may be able to fd more rmatn, at their web 2019: Oprah regniz Gayle’s big Time magaze over a month later, Gayle’s hard work was put on display aga when she was named one Time’s 100 Most Influential People of 2019. Tom Cooper//Getty ImagIn Denver, durg the last leg of Oprah’s WW 2020 Visn Tour, Gayle was terviewed by Oprah for the first time ever their s-long iendship. The two vered a lot of ground durg their nversatn, cludg the story of how they first met (which we tail above), Gayle’s divorce, and ter trolls.

OPRAH EXPLAS WHY SHE AND GAYLE KG "WILL ALWAYS BE EACH OTHER’S CORNER"

After months of livg on oppose asts—Gayle New York and Oprah California—Gayle joed Oprah at her Santa Barbara home for a socially distanced lunch. In the days followg, Oprah proved to be an excellent host, liverg ice cream to Gayle’s doorstep, who was stayg her gut after quarantg for 13 days, Oprah and Gayle fally rned wh a hug after the latter tted negative for Covid-19. September 2021: Gayle be a grandmother—and Oprah be a ’s dghter, Kirby Bump, and Kirby’s hband, Virgil Miller, weled their first child, Lu Lynn Miller, 2021.

Gayle announced the arrival on CBS Morngs, sayg, “I’ve wanted to be a grandmother for a long time, and ’s really somethg when you see your own child bee a parent. You may be able to fd the same ntent another format, or you may be able to fd more rmatn, at their web Oprah is such an important part of Gayle’s life, ’s only natural that she has a role Kirby and Lu’s liv, too. April 2022: People magaze honors Gayle and Oprah’s s-long 50 years after they first met, the dynamic duo’s iendship was celebrated People’s Betiful Issue 2022.

Along wh pairs like Octavia Spencer and Allison Janney, Sarah Plson and Amanda Peet, and Mandy Moore and Mka Kelly, Oprah and Gayle got glammed up for shoot wh a photographer they know and love, Joe Puglie, who also ptured Kirby’s ZambranoThis was only the send time Oprah and Gayle had done a profsnal shoot together—the first was for the ver of O, The Oprah Magaze, September 2019.

THE STATE OF OPRAH WEY AND GAYLE KG'S DES-LONG FRIENDSHIP IN 2023

December 2022: Gayle reveals the sweett gift Oprah has ever given wearg the heart-shaped necklace om Oprah this snap om 2004. Mathew Imagg//Getty ImagDurg an appearance on Watch What Happens Live, Gayle explaed the story behd the heart-shaped diamond necklace she wears almost all the time. It was even more signifint bee Gayle was gog through a particularly difficult time—she was on the heels of her divorce—and Oprah’s support meant the ntent is imported om twter.

IS THIS A REAL PIC OF TOM HANKS WH GAYLE KG AND OPRAH AS PART OF A 'BLACK EYE CLUB'?

Over the years, Gayle has always been happier, I would have to say, for my I do thk that’s And you know, we beme iends not knowg, of urse, that was gog to last all of the years. I thk, you know, durg all of those years of the Oprah Show when I was risg and beg known by lots of people, Gayle was always, always cheerg me on. And I was prepared for that bee I thought…Gayle: Right after I had Kirby, Oprah to my hoe, Oprah Daily people, she has a T-shirt that says: “Hbands e and go.

Friends who tell you the Oh, I remember that time…Gayle: Oprah’s very good at tellg you the tth, even when you don’t want to hear .

Her name is Gayle Kg, and she's the jelly to Wey's peanut butter, her ri or die, and a permanent fixture the media mogul's life. In an Instagram post, Kg reposted a screenshot of her outf, along wh a ptn that read, "Note @oprah sent to my [assistant] this am "plz tell Gayle I'm on treadl & 's hard to foc w/the circ around your neck" I thk she's WRONG thoughts? Surely iends who spend the majory of their time together are bound to have petty tiffs om time to time, and Oprah and Gayle are no different.

OPRAH AND GAYLE GIVE FRIENDSHIP ADVICE TO BEYONCé, KELLY, AND MICHELLE

"The therapy that I didn't have, and the therapy that I don't need, is bee of my thoands and thoands of hours on the phone wh Gayle, " she said.

Even Kg addrsed the mors after Rosie O'Donnell allud to the duo beg the "emotnal equivalent" of a gay uple durg an terview wh Howard Stern's Siri XM show. Our iendship has stood the tt of may have heard me tell the story, which I’ve told often over the years: In the wter of 1976, when Gayle Kg was a productn assistant at the Baltimore televisn statn where I was anchor of the eveng news, a snowstorm prevented her om gettg back home to the suburbs. Courty of Gayle KgI believe God put the two of each other’s path to do exactly what we’ve been dog sce that night Baltimore when I was 22 and she was 21.

HOW A SNOWSTORM AND SLEEPOVER LED TO OPRAH WEY AND GAYLE KG'S 'BETIFUL' 46-YEAR FRIENDSHIP

And the reason ’s worked all the years, whout arguments or fallouts, is that we’ve always each been happy wh our own that Gayle’s a shg star on CBS This Morng, people often ask her how she felt beg the shadow of my succs. Courty of Gayle KgAnother story I’ve told a few tim: Once, back the ’80s, when Gayle was visg me Chigo for the weekend, I went to put on my at and was surprised to fd a wad of bills my pocket. “I didn’t want you to ever thk I was out to get somethg or take advantage, ” she so we’ve moved through our iendship wh rpect and of Gayle’s many appearanc on The Oprah Wey Show, BurnsWhen Gayle got the ll to go to CBS, she was workg for OWN and didn’t want to leave for fear that the perceptn would be that even my bt iend was abandong “the stgglg work.

OPRAH WEY AND GAYLE KG REVEAL WHAT LED TO THEIR ‘BETIFUL’ 46-YEAR IENDSHIP

I’ll tell you this: No matter what glass she’s actually wearg, she’s seeg the world through sunny-lored boundls posive outlook; the more-is-more approach to necklac; the love of a great burger, a warm doughnut, a cupke wh yellow ostg; the apparent faiary wh every pop/rap/untry/R&B song on Apple or Spotify; the endls cursy—that’s my Gayle. Dpe the fact that those 47 years have seen Oprah and Gayle transform to pletely different people, they are grateful for their iendship and openly exprs their gratu for each other. Gayle Kg also shared a snippet of the duo's trip, showg a vio of herself gettg a Dead Sea float and mud bath and jokg the ptn, "Oprah often tells me we have different ias of fun...

A real photograph shows Tom Hanks wh a black eye, standg between Oprah Wey and Gayle Kg, showg he is part of a "Black Eye Club.

OPRAH AND GAYLE WEIGH ON WHAT TO DO IF YOU THK YOUR FRIEND’S PARTNER IS CHEATG

Sce at least 2019, a photograph featurg Tom Hanks, Oprah Wey, and Gayle Kg has been the subject of numero nspiracy theori. I thought I knew a lot about iendship until I spent 11 days travelg across the untry a Chevy Impala wh my bt iend, Gayle Kg. First, they ma a stop at an Oprah Daily Insir's hoe, and then they met Katy Perry at a baby boutique to shop for Gayle's grandson.

The iends' third and fal stop was visg another Oprah Insir, who creded Oprah wh spirg her own reer while drivg, Oprah and Gayle answered more qutns om rears and Oprah fans—cludg a very well-known iend group. Oprah and Gayle immediately were game—but clarified that they'll only go as long as 's tly glampg, the word ed to scribe a luxury mpg experience. Oprah DailyOprah DailyNow, to make this ultimate glampg trip a realy, all Oprah and Gayle need is nfirmatn om Beyoncé, Kelly, and Michelle.

"I saw your recent Oprah Insir vio where Gayle admted the one time she was a ltle jealo of Oprah was when she got to dance wh Ta Turner, " the Insir wr.

WE KNOW THE SECRET BEHD GAYLE KG AND OPRAH'S LONG-LASTG FRIENDSHIP

Gayle and Oprah do adm, however, that while they weren't exactly jealo, they did each often long to be nsired a "pretty girl" when they were younger. "We like V Diel, but there's somethg about the Rock, " Gayle DoanFally, Oprah and Gayle reach the home of Lisa Fabrega, an Oprah Daily Insir. ' You've tly been a shg star for me, " Fabrega told, Gayle, and Lisa DoanOf urse, wouldn't be a Gayle and Oprah road trip whout one sg-a-long.

You may be able to fd the same ntent another format, or you may be able to fd more rmatn, at their web and Gayle's Road Trip EssentialsLands' End Long Sleeve Tunic TopLands' End Canvas Tote BagCred: Lands' EndJohanna Howard x Mark & Graham Striped ThrowHerschel Supply Co. Oprah Wey was a 22-year-old news anchor at WJZ-TV Baltimore when she offered Gayle Kg, then a 21-year-old productn assistant/wrer at the statn, a place to crash for the night. For more on Oprah and Gayle's iendship and terviews wh other famo BFFs, please pick up PEOPLE Magaze, on newsstands Friday.

READ OPRAH AND GAYLE'S UNCENSORED INTERVIEW ABOUT THEIR FRIENDSHIP BACK 2006

“Every night after the show, I would e home, and I would have the ssns wh Gayle where we talked about what happened on the show, or what didn’t happen on the show, and that was the way I kd of regulated myself, ” Wey explaed.

OPRAH WEY AND GAYLE KG SHARE THEIR 46-YEAR FRIENDSHIP’S ORIG STORY

On the latt episo of The OG Chronicl, Oprah and Gayle take on the subject of iendship, offerg advice for fans who are sticky suatns and need some help.

The longtime bt iends weigh on the e of the N-word, lendg iends money, and what to do if you tch a iend's someone better than Oprah and Gayle to talk about iendship? " Throughout the clip, Oprah and Gayle jump om one sticky iendship suatn to the next, always explag the bt way to take the high road.

DID GAYLE KG JT E OUT? OPRAH WEY’S BTIE SAYS ‘I’M GAY’ ON CBS THIS MORNG

“Jt have as a standard policy: Don’t loan iends money, ” she says before Gayle terjects wh: “But Oprah, what if your iend is trouble? And there is tly no other celebry iendship that has stood the tt of time as well as the relatnship between journalists Gayle Kg and Oprah Wey. Article ntu below advertisementKeep readg to fd out everythg you need to know about Gayle Kg and Oprah Wey's iendship timele, cludg the secrets to their succs.

The pair further elaborated on their iendship a 2006 issue of O Magaze, explag that they bond when a snowstorm prevented Gayle om gettg home safely.