SPOILER: Find Out Oprah's Shocking Family Secret
Credit: Todd Williamson/WireImage.com
As promised, Oprah Winfrey spilled the beans on her shocking family secret during her show, broadcast in Chicago Monday morning.
The big reveal: Winfrey, 56, discovered a half-sister she never knew she had. Named Patricia, the sibling was given up for adoption as a child in 1963, and now lives in Milwaukee, Wisc.
PHOTOS: Oprah and other stars with painful pasts
The talk show guru learned about the long-lost relative in November, and they met up in November.
Patricia had long been searching for the identity of the mother who gave her up for adoption; in 2007, she discovered that world-famous Winfrey was her half-sister.
PHOTOS: Oprah and other stars get dramatic makeunders
As for Oprah, she says she was 9 years old and living with her father, Vernon, when her mother gave birth to Patricia and gave her up. Winfrey didn't even know about her mom's pregnancy, she says.
"I thought I'd seen it all," Winfrey teased about the discovery on Friday. "But this, my friends, is the miracle of all miracles."
PHOTOS: Check out Oprah's incredible dream home
She added that the news "literally shook me to my core." The mogul has been frank on her show about her difficult past: She was born into poverty, sexually abused at a young age and lost a baby at age 14.
Tell Us What You Think
13What a beautiful ending for her 1/2 sister. She found her birth family & her adoptive family. What a blessing !
To the people confused about the half-sisters: Oprah HAD a half-sister named Patricia (which she called "Pat" on yesterday's show to avoid misunderstandings), whom she knew about all her life. She had a drug problem, Oprah put her through rehab twice but drugs ultimately took her in 2003. This Pat sister had two daughters that Oprah knows. The new half-sister, Patricia, was named so not by Oprah's mother, who left her at the hospital after she'd been born. Probably she got the name from Social Services, etc. or even the family that ultimately adopted her at age 7. SO there's two different women named Patricia. One is dead, the other one was introduced yesterday on the show.
Unfortunately stories of separated and disconnected siblings are all too common. I've been working in the field of foster care and adoption for over 20 years and am passionate about keeping siblings together. Kuddos to Oprah and her new-found sibling for going public - many blessings to them both as they work to finally create the sibling bond they were both denied.
Only one?
I read somewhere else that she has TWO half sisters named Patricia?
Wow thats great!! Congrats to Oprah and her new found sister. @ Deborah!! - What??
I'm with you Deborah! I'm confused. Maybe its just for ratings.
sister*
this sister is one lucky lady! I wish I was Oprah's siter!!!!!! lol $$$$
From other reports I've read, she had another sister, also named Patricia, and a brother, both that she knew about and they have both passed away.
I am so confused!!! Oprah or other magazines have mentioned her half sister, Patricia before. Oprah supposedly paid for Patricia's daughter high school tuition. Oprah lived with her mom and Patricia at age nine, and went to live with her dad at age 14. She lost her child at age 14, with her dad. Someone please explain the situation to me. Patricia, her half sister, grew up with Oprah and is mentioned in Kitty Kelly's book.
must be a slow news day.
This woman is just Amazing! everything she has been thru.