Oprah Winfrey is an icon in every definition of the word. Being a legend in the history of daytime television, her programs have single-handedly entertained entire countries of people. She has changed lives and inspired the careers of many. However, it is important to remember that even icons get inspired by those before them.
For Winfrey, Phil Donahue was who inspired her to go into the line of work that she did. While some would stay quiet, she has done no such thing and has been very vocal about how thankful she is to the host for how he affected her. From telling it to his face, to voicing it after his passing.
Oprah Winfrey’s Life Was Changed By Phil Donahue
During a segment of her show, Oprah Winfrey was interviewing Phil Donahue when she decided to stray away from the usual format and talked about how his success affected her career. The talk show host started by mentioning that she has expressed gratitude towards Donahue more than she can count.
Over the years, you’ve probably heard me say that I wouldn’t have my career as I know it if it weren’t for you. Did you know you were paving the way for a black woman?
![Oprah Winfrey with The Color Purple cast [Photo Iris Schneider via Wikimedia Commons]](https://fwmedia.fandomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/25094539/Oprah-Winfrey-with-The-Color-Purple-cast-Photo-Iris-Schneider-via-Wikimedia-Commons.jpeg)
I have to be honest—we were so busy trying to keep the feather in the air that the last thing we worried about was other people’s careers.
Interestingly enough, Donahue mentioned that he was not thinking of other people when he was trying to make a name for himself. They were barely able to make ends meet, so they could not be focused on changing lives. While many may be upset with such an answer, there is a lot of meaning behind his words.
We started locally in Dayton with two cameras and no stars—we could only afford to fly in two guests a week. We had no couches, no announcers, no band and folding chairs, no jokes. I wasn’t saying, “Come on down!” We knew we were visually dull, so we had to go to issues—that’s what made us
Being more focused on surviving and maintaining relevance, the legend did not ever realize that he would pave the way for other talk show hosts by simply not giving up.
Phil Donahue’s Passing Has Not Changed Oprah Winfrey’s Feelings
After years of being an icon, it was recently announced to the world that the legendary Phil Donahue has passed away. After a battle with an illness, he passed on surrounded by all those who deeply cared for him.
He spent his life hosting The Phil Donahue Show, changing lives through the 6,000 episodes that he aired. While his passing has caused an eerie silence within the community, Oprah Winfrey spoke up about how much he meant to her one more time.
There wouldn’t have been an Oprah Show without Phil Donahue being the first to prove that daytime talk and women watching should be taken seriously,
In an Instagram post, the talk show host talked about how her show simply would not exist if it hadn’t been for Donahue. She stated that he paved the way for her platform, creating a safe space for daytime talk shows and the appearance of women in them. He helped get their voices heard and create an entirely new genre of reality television that continues to be one of the most popular sources of news.
He was a pioneer. I’m glad I got to thank him for it.
She also added that she was grateful that she got the opportunity to thank him for the impact that he had on her life personally. It is safe to say that the world is deeply affected by Donahue’s passing.
