Oprah fest closes down Chicago's magnificent mile

Thousands of Oprah Winfrey’s fans gathered in Chicago to help the talk show host celebrate the 24th season of her show with a public taping that included performances from the Black Eyed Peas and Jennifer Hudson.

“Hello Chicago!” Winfrey said as she came on stage to a cheering crowd for a taping that shut down the famous downtown street Michigan Avenue – known as the Magnificent Mile for its upscale shopping – to traffic from early Monday through to this morning.

“Isn’t this the most fabulous city in the world? I see you all the way down the Magnificent Mile.”

The Black Eyed Peas sang their hit single I got a feeling as the crowd performed a choreographed dance. Hudson, who is from Chicago, performed her song Spotlight as Winfrey stood on the side singing along and dancing.

“It feels good to be home,” Hudson told the crowd.

Diane Stimson lined up at 5.30am, nearly 12 hours before the taping started. The 43-year-old Chicago resident called Winfrey an inspiration.

“She worked her way to the top, and she made it,” Stimson said. “She gives us all hope.”

Winfrey’s production company, Harpo Productions, said it would cover all costs for police, paramedics and sanitation at the outdoor taping, which was also to feature Rascal Flatts, James Taylor and magician Criss Angel. The Oprah Winfrey Show normally is taped at the Harpo studios on Chicago’s near west side.