The renowned CBS Mornings anchor recently revealed that her best friend of decades, Oprah Winfrey, pulled off the surprise of a lifetime: an early celebration for her upcoming milestone 70th birthday. The heartfelt moment unfolded ahead of King’s December 28 birthday, and it was nothing short of magical.
On December 16, while appearing on Sherri, King candidly shared the story behind the unforgettable evening. It began, surprisingly, with some grumbling. Oprah, now 60, invited King to what she described as a “holiday work dinner,” something King wasn’t exactly thrilled about.
“I was bitching and moaning,” King admitted, recalling how she had hoped to attend a glamorous black-tie event instead. But Oprah stood firm. The dinner, she insisted, couldn’t be rescheduled, and King reluctantly agreed to go.
What awaited her was far from what she expected.
“I saw my favorite son, Will,” King shared, referring to her 37-year-old son. “He had taken a plane to go home, or so I thought.”
As if that wasn’t enough to confuse her, she then spotted her daughter Kirby, 38, and Kirby’s husband. It was at that moment the pieces began to fall into place.
“My mind couldn’t comprehend it — even when they said surprise,” she admitted with a laugh.
For King, whose birthday falls in the busy stretch between Christmas and New Year’s, such celebrations are rare. “Nobody wants to celebrate with you,” she joked, referring to the tricky holiday timing. “So I was fine with that.”
But Oprah wasn’t. The media mogul had been planning the event since June, determined to honor her best friend in a way King would remember forever. The intimate celebration included close friends, family, and even King’s three sisters with their families, creating a truly special and emotional evening.
Reflecting on Oprah’s gesture, King was deeply moved. “It’s so nice to feel appreciated while you’re still alive to, as they say, receive your flowers,” she said gratefully.
Interestingly, King revealed that Oprah herself had avoided any major fuss for her own 70th birthday earlier this year. “She didn’t want all of that. She said she’d rather be home reading a book under her trees,” King explained.
“So I feel that party was what I was hoping she’d do for herself. But I was so glad it was me,” she added with a smile.
As videos from the evening surfaced online, the heartwarming moment quickly captured attention, turning into a viral celebration of friendship, love, and gratitude.
“Humbled and blown away,” King said, reflecting on the night. It was a testament not just to Oprah’s thoughtfulness, but to the enduring power of their friendship—one that continues to inspire millions.