The Stunning Transformation Of Oprah & Gayle

Oprah made the first move, inviting Gayle to wait out a bad Baltimore snowstorm at her place. Although they had spent hours together in the newsroom every day, they weren't yet friends. "Anchors and PA's do not socialize — the newsroom hierarchy," Gayle explained. "This [gesture] is something that's so unique to Oprah and truly not surprising to who she is," Gayle shared, of Oprah's warmth and generosity.

As fate would have it, after borrowing clothes and chatting all night long, the two forged the beginnings of a life-long bond. Gayle discovered, "Oprah and I had the same sensibilities. We liked the same kind of music. We thought smart —" Oprah jumped in, "smart and articulate —" Gayle continued, "was not a bad thing."