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Oprah Winfrey Sets Show Finale Date

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It's the end of an era.

After 25 years at the helm of The Oprah Winfrey Show, the legendary talk show host is getting ready to say goodbye.

Winfrey's Harpo Productions confirmed Friday that the last episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show will air May 25.

Related: PHOTOS: Revisit Oprah's legendary career

"You have all invited me into your lives," an emotional Winfrey told her studio audience in November 2009, when announcing that her 25th season would be her last. "We've grown together. I want you all to know that my relationship with you is one that I hold very dear. Your trust in me, your sharing your precious time with me…has brought me the greatest joy that I have ever known."

And although Winfrey will vacate her syndicated daytime spot, she won't be gone from the small screen altogether.

Related: PHOTOS: See the talk show host's giant California mansion

Her Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) launched on January 1, 2011 and will ramp up its original programming later this year. Winfrey previously announced plans to star in a nighttime talk show, Oprah's Next Chapter, sometime in late 2011.

Related: VIDEO: Oprah and her BFF Gayle King go camping!

Though the 57-year-old Winfrey has long admitted she's not a fan of surprises, the daytime vet has left the final two episodes of her daytime series in the hands of her show's production team.

"I'm allowing for [Harpo president] Sheri [Salata] and the team to plan two days of full surprises," Winfrey told The Hollywood Reporter. "I've given up control for the last two days. It's a lot to relinquish. I had to pray on that… and get a guarantee from Sheri there would be no strippers or dancing people coming out of shells."

All new episodes of The Oprah Winfrey Show will air starting April 7.

By Allison Corneau for UsMagazine.com. For more Channel Surfing, click here.

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