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  • Beyonce Knowles, Dakota Fanning, ... | May 23 and 24, 2011 Hollywood came to Chicago's United Center for a blowout celebration that would air over two days, and was full of…
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The Long Goodbye

May 23 and 24, 2011

Hollywood came to Chicago's United Center for a blowout celebration that would air over two days, and was full of surprises for the woman of honor. A long list of A-listers turned out to pay homage: Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes, Beyoncé, Tom Hanks, Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith, Jerry Seinfeld, Jamie Foxx, Simon Cowell, Halle Berry, Queen Latifah, Rosie O’Donnell, Diane Sawyer, Patti LaBelle, Josh Groban, Tyler Perry, Dakota Fanning, Usher, and, yes, Michael Jordan. Beyoncé performed ''Run the World (Girls)'' and Maya Angelou read a piece she'd written about Oprah's life while Alicia Keys accompanied, playing an instrumental ''Superwoman.'' Stevie Wonder sang a song he said he had originally composed for his mother but never finished. Oprah seemed particularly moved when Stedman Graham, Oprah's longtime companion, spoke sweet words of thanks to her, and Aretha Franklin gave one stellar performance of ''Amazing Grace.''

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