Emotional Oprah: 'It's Time'

Oprah Winfrey fought back tears today as she officially announced the end of her show, telling the audience the decision came from the heart. “You may hear speculation in the press about why I am making this decision,” she said. “Here is the real reason: I love this show. … I love it enough to know when it’s time to say goodbye.”

It’s not that she’s sick of the show—“It still means as much to me to spend an hour with you as it did back in 1986,” she said. But “25 years feels right in my bones and feels right in my spirit. It’s the perfect number.” She also asked viewers to keep watching during the 18 months she has left on the air. (More Oprah Winfrey stories.)