'1954: Oprah was born on January 29,1954 in Mississippi to unmarried parents. Her father Vernon Winfrey was a coal miner. Her mother Vernita Lee was a housemaid.
By Jocie Garcia
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1973
Oprah graduated from Tennessee State University with a degree in Speech and Performing Arts. She became the first black TV news anchor reporter with WTVF-TV. -
1983
In 1983, Oprah moved to Chicago to host WLS-TV's low-rated half-hour morning talk-show, AM Chicago. -
1984
Within months after Oprah took over, the show went from last place in the ratings to overtaking Donahue as the highest rated talk show in Chicago. It was renamed as "The Oprah Winfrey Show". -
1986
The Oprah Winfrey Show was expanded to a full hour, and broadcast nationally beginning September 8, 1986. She starred in the movie 'Native Son' as Janet Thomason. -
1988
The International Television and Radio Society named Oprah Broadcaster of the Year. She bought an apartment in Chicago and a farm in Indiana. She appeared in the TV program Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special as herself . -
1989
Oprah's half brother, Jeffrey Lee died of AIDS. She played the role of Mattie Michael in the movie "The Women of Brewster Place". She received the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People's Entertainer of the year award. -
1992
Oprah was engaged to Stedman Graham, a public relations executive. She appeared in the TV program "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" episode "A Night at the Oprah". She also won the Best talk show Host Emmy award. -
1994
Oprah won Best Talk Show and Best Talk Show Host at the 21st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards .She became co-author of the book In The Kitchen With Rosie: Oprah's Favorite Recipes by Oprah Winfrey and Rosie Daley. -
2011
Oprah launched her own cable network, the Oprah Winfrey Network, or OWN. -
2012
Oprah's Next Chapter premiered on 1st January. Oprah chose Steven Tyler (of Aerosmith) as her first guest on the show. Unlike The Oprah Winfrey Show, Oprah has now decided to step out of the studio and into people's abodes to interview them. Oprah also visited Mumbai, India recently regarding the show. -
2005
Oprah was named by Time as one of the 100 most influential people of the year. She ranked in 9th place in public poll of the greatest Americans.She was named as the greatest woman in American history. She became the first black person listed by Business Week as one of America's top 50 most generous philanthropists. "The Color Purple" was made into a Broadway musical and she was one of the producers. -
2007
Oprah invested $40 million creating the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls near Johannesburg in South Africa. She received praise from Nelson Mandela for overcoming her own disadvantaged youth to become a benefactor for others and for investing in the future of South Africa. Also towards the end of the same year, Oprah endorsed President Barack Obama (then Senator) and joined him for campaign trails.
