Justin Bieber and Oprah Winfrey. Credit: George Burns/OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network.

For Beliebers, Christmas came early this year. Justin Bieber opened up in an interview with Oprah Winfrey that aired on "Oprah's Next Chapter" Sunday night, talking about his rise to fame, struggles growing up in the spotlight, and, yes, Selena Gomez.

The interview, conducted in October, covered Bieber's ascent from Canadian YouTube hit-driver to international pop sensation. Winfrey compared the 18-year-old to the Beatles and Michael Jackson, and cooed that he was her biggest interview since 1993.

RELATED: Oprah Tells Bieber to 'Rethink' Marrying by 25 Despite all the hype, Bieber seemed incredibly down to earth, saying of his fame, "it's definitely not normal and there's so many sacrifices that I've had to do, but at the end of the day, I've been able to do so much."

He admitted the downfalls. "I really don't have a lot of friends," he said. "I have three close friends." He confessed that he often feels lonely, saying, "You just feel sometimes that you need someone to be there with you. I get days where I'm just down and gloomy."

Humble and quick to smile, Bieber gamely answered Winfrey's questions, ticking off his "favorite things" on command. Album: Boyz II Men's "II" or Michael Jackson's "Thriller." Cereal: Crunch Berries or Frosted Mini-Wheats. Restaurant: T.G.I. Friday's. TV Shows: "Smallville" and "Friends." Celebrity crush, besides Gomez, who was undeniably his girlfriend when the interview was shot, "Beyonce," he said. "She's amazing to me."

Winfrey didn't hesitate to bring up Gomez, Bieber's girlfriend of more than a year. They reportedly broke up earlier this month but were spotted together at an American Music Awards after party last week.

RELATED: Justin Bieber's Top 6 AMA Moments "I am all about genuine people, and I feel like she's just one of the most genuine people," Bieber said. "She just has a good heart. And I can talk to her about anything."

Even though paparazzi swarm their dates together, Bieber said he's never wanted to leave her side. "I never make her separate from me because I don't ever want her to feel like I'm ashamed with her," he said. "If we getaway, we're getting away together, at least."

But whether or not she's in his life, his fans will have to get used to a woman being on his arm.

"People are mean and people say mean things," Bieber said of online fans who posted death threats after his relationship with Gomez went public. "But at the end of the day, I still have to be happy. I can't be single my whole life."

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