Oprah's mom is officially off the hook for a $155,547 bill she owed to a Milwaukee clothing boutique -- and TMZ has learned she has her famous daughter to thank. 
Our spies at the Valentina Inc. boutique tell us Oprah personally covered the balance her mother, Vernita Lee, owed for bills she racked up.
Oprah's big gift officially settles the suit the store filed against her mom.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Oprah, Exclusives
Gayle King's reaction to Oprah calling it quits in 2011 was simple: "If she's happy, I'm happy for her."
O's BFF was in NYC today, where she made it clear that even after Oprah's off the air she "can't be replaced."
And just like O, Gayle also threw out a shameless plug -- making sure to promo what time Oprah airs in NYC.
Filed under: Paparazzi Video, TV, Oprah
Oprah just made her big announcement live on her show -- revealing the "real" reason she's walking away after 25 years.
She started strong, then began to cry, then regained her composure -- and in between shameless promotion for her next season, Oprah told her audience that pulling the plug, "feels right."
"I love this show ... this show has been my life and I love it enough to know when it's time to say goodbye. 25 years feels right in my bones and my spirit. It's the perfect number, the exact right time."
And then there was this moment:
"For some of you, long time Oprah viewers, you have literally grown up with me ... we've grown together ... you had your family and you raised your children and you left a spot for me in your morning or afternoon -- depending on when the Oprah show airs in your town."
UPDATE: Oprah knows a thing or two about sweeps -- and is saving her big announcement for the end of the show.
Oprah is about to personally announce that she's ending her reign as maybe the most successful person ever to host a show on TV. And you can see it all go down on TMZ.
BTW, as we first reported, Oprah insiders are telling us one of the reasons behind the timing is that Oprah is angling to get ABC to slide "The Dr. Oz Show" into her time slot. "Oz" becomes a free agent at exactly the same time Oprah will go off the air.
We're also told other talk shows are angling to get the time period, which is primo real estate in TV land.
Oprah Winfrey insiders tell TMZ Oprah initially planned to announce she was quitting her show earlier than today ... but the decision was delayed for strategic reasons.
We're told Oprah will be making her big announcement tomorrow because it's the last taping day of the show for the rest of the year.
As for the strategic reasons .... one insider says Oprah wants "The Dr. Oz Show" to slip into her time period on ABC when her show goes off the air. We've learned "The Dr. Oz Show" becomes a free agent literally within days of the final curtain for "Oprah." Will ABC buy Oz?
Stay tuned ...
Filed under: TV, Oprah, Exclusives
Oprah Winfrey just announced to her staff ... next season will be the last for her TV show.
An Oprah insider tells TMZ "Oprah announced there will be layoffs after this season."
The final show will air in Sept 2011.
2011 marks the 25th year of the show -- one of the most successful in TV.
The feud between Sarah Palin ('memba her?!) and Levi Johnston rages on -- and even though she offered him an olive branch invite to her Thanksgiving dinner, we don't see them sharing the stuffing come next week.
The VP wannabeen appeared on "Oprah" today, where talk turned to her daughter's babydaddy's Playgirl spread -- a career move she labels as "heartbreaking" "porn." Palin also noted that she heard Levi is going by another name these days -- Rikki Hollywood.
FYI -- Levi's supposedly shooting his "porn" today.
Filed under: TV, Oprah, Celebrity Feuds, Playboy, Politix
Debra Winans couldn't be happier that Oprah Winfrey banned her ex-husband Bebe from the "O" show until his domestic violence case plays out ... and now Debra's giving Oprah a nice pat on the back over her decision.
Debra gave the following statement to TMZ:
"It further demonstrates the fact that Oprah continues to be a strong voice against domestic violence and that she's willing to take the steps necessary to defend the defenseless."
It all started when Bebe -- who was charged with assaulting Debra back in '08 -- was allowed to pimp out his new album on "Oprah" last month.
Debra told us she was "upset" at Oprah about Bebe's appearance -- especially after O took a stand against domestic violence earlier this year by refusing to let Chris Brown on her show.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, TV, Oprah, Exclusives
Oprah Winfrey has finally decided alleged woman-abuser BeBe Winans isn't welcome on her show anymore -- at least for now -- after the famous gospel singer's ex-wife raised hell and implied Oprah was a moral hypocrite.
It's all because Oprah took a hard moral stance on Chris Brown, refusing to have the singer on her show after Chris beat Rihanna.
But last Friday, when O allowed BeBe onto the show, the woman he's accused of attacking told TMZ she was "hurt' by Oprah's decision because their case is still pending. Now, it seems Oprah got the message.
TMZ spoke with a rep from Oprah's show, who told us "BeBe will not be appearing on the 'Oprah' show until his legal matters are resolved in court."
Winans was charged with domestic assault last winter, he's due back in court in January.
Oprah took a hard stand on Chris Brown, but just a few days ago the talk show host allowed another famous alleged woman-abuser on her show -- and now the victim says she feels betrayed. 
The man in question is gospel singer BeBe Winans -- who is accused of shoving his ex-wife Debra Winans to the ground in front of their kids back in February. BeBe was on "Oprah" on Friday to pimp out his new gospel CD -- his domestic violence charge is pending until another court hearing next year.
Debra tells TMZ she's "hurt by Oprah's decision to have Bebe on the show" -- especially after she refused to have Chris Brown on her show in the wake of the Rihanna beating.
Calls to Oprah's people were not returned.
Filed under: TV, Oprah, Rihanna, Chris Brown, Exclusives
Oprah Winfrey was blindsided on the set of a live TV newscast yesterday -- when a local Dallas newsman suddenly blasted Queen O with a super-awkward question, "Would you like to take this opportunity to apologize to America for introducing us to Dr. Phil?"
Oprah squirmed a bit, but she was saved when the anchor got even more awkward -- asking O if she wanted to "touch my hair."
The wait is over ... media icon and weight loss guru Oprah Winfrey just announced her latest breakthrough diet -- corn dogs smothered in mustard.
Oprah and BFF Gayle King took a road trip to the Texas State Fair in Dallas yesterday to tape a special show -- which will air later this fall -- and based on the pictures we got of Oprah in a cowboy hat chowing down on a corn dog, she completely gave up on the traditional low-fat approach to dieting -- at least temporarily.
Our fair source claims Oprah also had herself a little of the fair's famous deep fried butter. No joke ... but so far, no confirmation on the battered butter from O's peeps.
Still, that's the kind of diet we can wrap our arms around.
UPDATE: It's confirmed -- Oprah ate the fried butter! In fact, she called it "the best treat of the fair."
Filed under: Oprah, Photo Galleries
CarCrash BurglarBunch ElinNordegren propofol nfl crash MichaelJackson CarriePrejean accident ErinAndrews gay suv TigerWoods photos KateGosselin lawsuit HulkHogan video photo FireHydrant shopping pictures football gallery DebbieRowe AdamLambert butt CelebrityPictures house GloriaAllred rihanna octomom twilight ChildSupport gossip Dr.ConradMurray KristenStewart divorce LosAngeles BritneySpears MariaShriver RobKardashian paparazzi nude lax EarlyShow TilaTequila family golf AmericanMusicAwards FloridaHighwayPatrol ParkingTicket dui DavidHasselhoff JonKatePlus8 fight JaimeeGrubbs tree mistress boxing ChrisBrown face jail MileyCyrus OprahWinfrey wife RachelUchitel australia ArnoldSchwarzenegger LamarOdom winner NadyaSuleman contest 911Call JonGosselin
'Memba Them?! Hot Vegas 
