Oprah Winfrey Surprises Best Friend Gayle King with Epic Birthday Party — and Nearly Gives Her a ‘Heart Attack’

Oprah Winfrey surprised her best friend Gayle King with an epic birthday bash that she did not see coming. 

Winfrey, 70, posted a video of the occasion on Instagram on Saturday, Dec. 14, in which the pair could be seen walking into a venue, before King jumped back in surprise when greeted by cheers from her loved ones.

The video then cuts to a room full of guests singing “Happy Birthday” to a still-shocked King.

“My bestie of 50 years is turning 70 so we gathered everyone that loved her to celebrate,” said Winfrey in the post’s caption. “Hard thing to surprise her, O the stories we have made up, the lies we have told to keep this a secret.”

“Happy birthday @gayleking, sorry we almost gave you a heart attack,” added the star to King, whose actual 70th birthday is on Dec. 28.

Earlier this year, Winfrey marked the same milestone birthday, but with a much more low-key celebration.

The mogul turned 70 on Jan. 29, and she spent the big day with a jog along the beach. In an Instagram video documenting the moment, Winfrey wrote, “Celebrating 70 with a run on the beach. #healthisthebestgift. Thank you for all the birthday love 🥳.”

At the time, King celebrated Winfrey’s special day by sharing a sweet video of Winfrey on Instagram. In it, Winfrey could be seen enjoying some quality time with King’s grandson during a getaway. 

“Happy to say at 70 @oprah is still a very good reader!” said King in her caption. “While Favorite grandson Luca is too young to understand how special this moment was during Christmas vacation, it’s not lost on me.”

King then revealed what Winfrey wished for most on her big day.

“When asked how she wanted to spend her birthday, she said, ‘No gifts, no parties, no surprises!’ Her preference was to sit by the fire with a good book and savor the fragrance of her life! Happy birthday Oprah!!”