[hostess] Well, it's about a year ago almost exactly, can you stop talking? (I was, let me)Let me introduce, that's right (right there.), Oprah Winfrey-- a symboled royalty on the lawn of a great house in California, the queens of courage, resilience, fears, love and hope. African American legends celebrated by the young black woman who came to say to them 'thank you for showing us how to fly by flying'. Coretta Scott King, Patti La Belle, Diana Ross, Maya Angelou, (we don't have enough time) Tina Turner, (we don't have all the names for the other people) we don't have enough time for that, and you can see it all on Oprah Winfrey's Legends Ball Special, it is for everybody (wow). What a bridge to the past and the future!

[Oprah Winfrey] Woo, you know it was a year ago that I wasn't sleeping this time last year, because I, I sent out the invitations and there had been the RSVP's and then there'd been the people who said they weren't able to come. But I wasn't sure that people would actually show up, and so there is at moment were, I don't know if there, if there, this is really going to happen. And I have to tell you, singularly one of the happiest moments of my life is the moment when they all start coming into my living room. Nothing like it ever.

[hostess] And not knowing who's gonna be there?

[Oprah Winfrey] Nobody (they're going) knew who is coming (ah) there, (ah)

[hostess] : And that was amazed when they see some one walk in. (yeah) ...there like 'Oh'.

[Oprah Winfrey] There's a wonderful moment that you'll see er, Monday night where Halle Berry turned and I was standing there, she said 'is that Tina Turner?' (sure.) And they actually captured that. I go 'yeah that's it. Halle meet Tina.' (yeah, it was great) (And I love it ) I live to sing your songs (yes, yes).

[hostess] Anyway, the young * all got together to pay tribute and tell these women, as you said, why wait (yes), until the memorial to tell somebody what they meant in you life.

[Oprah Winfrey] That's why I loved it so much, because, you know, we've lost Rosa Parks and we've lost Coretta Scott King, but both of those women knew how much they meant to me and how much they meant to all of us, because I had a chance to say it.

[hostess] Anyway, I say this is for everybody, (it is) (yes) everybody who has wanted a connection to the past and the future, who's wanted to feel surrounded by love and hope.

[Oprah Winfrey] You know what it is, I say watch with your girl friends, I'm telling everybody (that's true) to have a party, (you should) because what this, I was able to do this in a really big way, 'cause I live a very big life, but I think what happens when other people see it you will want to honor the people who have meant something to you, and everybody can do that in their own way, and to do it while they yet live (Amen), don't waste the roses on the casket, give them to people while they live.