Oprah Hits the Airwaves

Sept. 25, 2006 — -- She has conquered television and made a splash on the magazine world.

Now, Oprah Winfrey's taking to the airwaves.

Today marks the debut of the "Oprah and Friends" network on XM Satellite Radio.

The talk-show queen and her best friend, Gayle King, will be featured on the 24-hour station.

Several contributors, including renowned poet Dr. Maya Angelou, personal-finance guru Jean Chatzky, and fitness expert Bob Greene, will also host shows.

For Winfrey, the radio channel marks a return to her roots.

"For me, being a part of XM Radio is a full-circle moment because I started out in radio when I was 16 years old and now I'm able to share the airwaves with my friends," Winfrey said.

On the show featuring Winfrey and King, listeners will get to hear private phone conversations between the two friends.

The two have talked nightly for decades.

On "Good Morning America," Winfrey told ABC News' Diane Sawyer that she looked forward to relaxing and chatting with her best friend.

"That's my come-down time," Winfrey said.

Sounding off is cathartic for King, too.

"I've had five therapists, and nobody has been better than her," King said.

Winfrey and King dish about their days just like all best friends do, though sometimes, their gossip is on a bigger scale.

In one of the excerpts to be broadcast on XM, King tells Winfrey about the horror of flipping through Us Weekly and finding her picture in a worst-dressed column.