Gayle King may have gotten the birthday surprise of a lifetime.
Oprah Winfrey went all out to throw a surprise early birthday celebration for her best friend, ahead of her milestone 70th birthday on December 28.
During her appearance on Sherri on December 16, the CBS Mornings anchor revealed how Oprah, 60, kept the entire plan under wraps.
King admitted she had been “bitching and moaning” about attending what she thought was a “holiday work dinner,” as she preferred to go to a black-tie event instead.
Winfrey, however, insisted the dinner couldn’t be rescheduled, so King reluctantly showed up—only to be completely shocked.
“I saw my favorite son, Will,” King said, referring to her 37-year-old son. “He had taken a plane to go home, or so I thought.”
Then, she saw her daughter Kirby, 38, and Kirby’s husband. “My mind couldn’t comprehend it — even when they said surprise.”
King explained how her December 28 birthday, falling between Christmas and New Year’s, often goes overlooked.
“Nobody wants to celebrate with you… so I was fine with that,” she joked.
Reflecting on the event, King shared her gratitude, saying, “It’s so nice to feel appreciated while you’re still alive to, as they say, receive your flowers.”
The guest list included friends, family, and her three sisters with their families, making it all the more special.
King revealed that Oprah planned the party for months, starting in June, despite not wanting a celebration 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.”
The heartfelt celebration left King “humbled and blown away,” and the moment even became a trending video online.
