2010: The Year in OprahThe Year in OprahThrough her illustrious career Oprah Winfrey has gone from interviewing newsmakers to being one of the biggest. In 2009 she announced that she would be retiring from "The Oprah Winfrey Show" after 25 years. From then Oprah has made some bold moves to shift her brand into a new era. This year she announced new original programming for her cable channel, called OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network, donated millions to public schools and gave her audience gifts to last them a lifetime.As we get closer to bidding our favorite talk show host goodbye, here's a look at Oprah in 2010.The Year in OprahOprah is loved even in the land down under. The queen of daytime talk recently gifted 300 audience members with all-expenses paid trip to Australia.The Year in OprahOprah was an honoree at this year's Kennedy Center Honors for innovative career in the media. "It feels like an elevated kind of award and there aren't many in this category," she told the Washington Post. "They look at your work, your life work, who you are as a human being and the spirit of who you are."The Year in OprahIn July, Oprah was honored with the Minerva Award for for creating her Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa and the Oprah Angel Network. She would later give $6 million away to public school through the Angel Network. We can't think of anyone more deserving.The Year in OprahShortly after announcing her retirement from daytime TV, Oprah, who had been working on her own cable channel (called the OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network)announced original programming for the channel's Jan. 1, 2011 launch.The Year in OprahIt always helps to have friends in high places. Oprah co-chaired this year's Costume Institute Gala Benefit in a stunning Oscar de la Renta (pictured) dress that took some 250 hours, four dressmakers, three fittings and "hundreds and hundreds of ruffles" to create.The Year in OprahIn June Oprah (pictured with Morgan Freeman) was there to honor her friend, director Mike Nichols, at the AFI Life Achievement Award.The Year in OprahIn March Oprah hosted the first-annual "Live Your Best Life" Weekend in New York City to raise money for charity.The Year in OprahA former Oscar-nominee herself, Oprah presented at the 2010 Academy Awards ceremony. Coincidentally, comedian Mo'Nique won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for "Precious," a film Oprah for which Oprah was an executive producer.The Year in Oprah"We all know that when Oprah Winfrey says, "I like it" ... What does that mean? That means you can purchase a small island anywhere in the world, if you like," said comedian/actress Mo'Nique of Oprah's backing belief in her abilities on the movie "Precious." Here's what you had to say: Elaine commented via Facebook: "I appreciated her interview with Barbara Walters last night." Phinell wrote via Facebook: "Her interview with JK Rowlings was awesome, but the My Favorite Things show blew me away."