Oprah Holds Back Tears as Gayle King Rockets Into Space With Blue Origin

Oprah Winfrey was overcome with emotion as she watched her longtime best friend, Gayle King, launch into space aboard a Blue Origin rocket, calling the moment “one of the most extraordinary” of their decades-long friendship.

King, 69, joined five other civilians on Blue Origin’s latest New Shepard mission, which launched from a site in West Texas on Monday morning. The brief but historic flight marked King’s first venture into space, making her one of only a handful of journalists—and one of even fewer Black women—to travel beyond Earth’s atmosphere.

Winfrey, who previously described herself as “terrified” about the mission, was seen cheering and wiping away tears as she watched the launch live.

“I have never been more proud,” she said in a social media video, posted shortly after liftoff. “To see her rise—literally—is one of the most extraordinary things I’ve ever witnessed.”

The mission lasted about 10 minutes, with the crew experiencing several minutes of weightlessness before returning safely to Earth. King, ever the reporter, described the journey as “life-changing” and “more beautiful than I could have imagined.” She added that the view of Earth from space had given her a new perspective, saying, “You realize how small we are, and how connected everything is.”

Winfrey wasn’t the only one watching closely. Social media lit up with clips of the launch and reactions from celebrities, fellow journalists and fans. Many praised King for taking on such a bold challenge at nearly 70 years old, while others were moved by the visible support from Winfrey, who has known King since the 1970s.

Blue Origin, the space exploration company founded by Jeff Bezos, described the mission as a celebration of “human potential and exploration.” In a statement, the company said: “Gayle King and her fellow astronauts remind us that the dream of space travel is not just for scientists or billionaires — it’s for everyone.”

In a post-flight press conference, King said she was still processing the experience but credited Winfrey with giving her the courage to go through with it.

“She kept telling me, ‘You can do this,’ even when I wasn’t so sure,” King said. “Having her support meant everything.”

The mission is already being hailed as a pop culture milestone—a rare crossover between daytime television royalty and private spaceflight history. And for Winfrey and King, it’s yet another chapter in a long friendship.

The mission also marked a symbolic moment for diversity in space exploration, with King joining a small but growing list of women and people of color who’ve traveled beyond Earth. Fans noted the cultural significance of seeing a prominent Black journalist make the journey—and the powerful image of Winfrey cheering her on.