Oprah Winfrey, one of the most famous and beloved daytime talk-show host in history and possibly one of the most influential women in the world, brings her show to Vancouver, B.C. on January 24, 2013.

Born into poverty, she began in radio during her high school years, and eventually worked her way into co-anchoring the evening news of her local area by the time she was in her late teens. After she had moved into the talk-show format and had taken a third place show to the top of the rankings, she launched her own company (Harpo Productions) and became syndicated on an international level.

Popularizing the tabloid format pioneered by Phil Donahue, Oprah is often credited with bringing about a more personal and intimate form of the talk show genre. Within months of taking the reins of AM Chicago, her ratings had overtaken Donahue, then a giant in the talk show medium. In fact, by 1986, the newly re-named Oprah Winfrey Show was more than doubling Donahue’s national audience, making hers the number one rated talk show on the U.S. airwaves.

Though her show was considered a tabloid style show in its early years, by the 1990s it had transformed into much broader and deeper subjects, such as charity work, substance abuse and women’s health issues, such as cancer. She also became known for her immense charitable donations, and giving away large prizes like cars and lavish vacations to her audience members.

Oprah has also appeared in movies, getting an Academy Award nomination for her work as “Sofia” in Steven Spielberg’s “The Color Purple“. She also starred in “Beloved”, which she also produced.

Besides hosting and acting, Oprah has also branched out, co-founding the Oxygen television network, and eventually, worked out a deal to bring Winfrey’s OWN network to cable television.

She has also found time to publish five books, including a weight loss book co-written with her own personal trainer, Bob Greene.

From her rather poor beginnings to her rise to the top of a multi-media empire, Oprah Winfrey has become a living icon in the world of daytime television. Get tickets and attend one of her shows to understand exactly why she has become one of the most loved hosts in the history of television.