Diane Sawyer's Last Day on 'Good Morning America'

Dec. 12, 2009— -- "For one more time, 'Good Morning America.' I'm Diane Sawyer."

After nearly 3,000 shows, Diane Sawyer said "Good Morning America" for the last time today as anchor of the broadcast. Sawyer opened the show with grateful words for her fellow anchors and the "GMA" audience.

"I'm going to try to take the advice of that immortal philosopher, Dr. Seuss, who said, 'Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.' And this morning I am beaming at all of you. My heart is smiling. And the privilege of sharing my mornings with all of you has been more than I can say."

Calling Sawyer "the queen of television," co-anchor Robin Roberts said, "Thank you for your leadership, your guidance and your love for us all."

Sawyer, 63, takes over the "World News" anchor chair Dec. 21, succeeding Charles Gibson, who will retire Dec. 18.

New members of the "GMA" family, anchor George Stephanopoulos and news anchor Juju Chang, who begin Monday, stopped by the show today.

"I am scared to death," Stephanopoulos said. "I'm excited. I love 'GMA.' I love the 'GMA' audience."

The studio audience at today's show was composed of "GMA" staff members. "It's a wonderful thing to be here with people we know and love," Sawyer said during the show.

She also shared a personal essay, looking back on her own most memorable moments.

When her travels for "GMA" are added up, Sawyer said, "I've circled the globe 14 times."

346,205 miles flown

13.9 around the world

5 continents

22 countries

Diane on 'GMA':
First Day: Jan. 18, 1999
Total shows: 2,881

Diane's Emmy Awards:
Hall of Fame Member
16 Awards
47 Nominations

Presidents interviewed:
Gerald Ford
Jimmy Carter
George H.W. Bush
Bill Clinton
George W. Bush
Barack Obama

World leaders interviewed:
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iran
Bashar Al-Assad, Syria
Saud Al-Faisal, Saudi Arabia
Felipe Calderon, Mexico
Fidel Castro, Cuba
Saddam Hussein, Iraq
Hosni Mubarak, Egypt
Manuel Noriega, Panama
Boris Yeltsin, Russia