Oprah Winfrey To Join '60 Minutes'

NEW YORK, NY — Oprah Winfrey will return to the small screen this fall when she becomes a special contributor to CBS' newsmagazine show "60 Minutes," the network announced Tuesday morning.

Winfrey's return to television comes more than seven years after her eponymous and long-running show aired its final episode.

"I’ve been a big admirer of '60 Minutes' since my days as a young reporter," Winfrey said in a statement. "I’m so excited and proud to join forces with this historic news program, which for me represents the bastion of journalistic storytelling.

Winfrey began her career in broadcasting as a reporter in Baltimore before eventually hosting "The Oprah Winfrey Show," which is the highest-rated talk show in U.S. history. Throughout her career, Winfrey has launched her own network, magazine and production company, in addition to numerous other projects and philanthropic efforts.

CBS did not release details about Winfrey's planned involvement with the program on Tuesday. Winfrey said she intended to use the show "to look at what separates us, and help facilitate real conversations between people from different backgrounds."

"There is only one Oprah Winfrey," Jeff Fager, executive producer of "60 Minutes," said in a statement. "Her body of work is extraordinary, including thousands of interviews with people from all walks of life. She is a remarkable and talented woman with a level of integrity that sets her apart and makes her a perfect fit for '60 Minutes.' I am thrilled that she will be bringing her unique and powerful voice to our broadcast."

Image via Vic on Flickr