Gayle King Opens Up About Oprah, Infidelity, Career Pressure and Starting Over
Gayle King brought warmth, candor and plenty of sharp one-liners to Call Her Daddy, sitting down with Alex Cooper for a wide-ranging conversation about friendship, betrayal, ambition, aging, motherhood and the confidence that comes with experience.
The veteran journalist discussed her nearly 50-year friendship with Oprah Winfrey, the painful end of her marriage, her most intimidating interviews and why she has no plans to retire. Throughout the episode, King’s stories returned to one central idea: preparation matters, but so does having people who help you see clearly when life becomes overwhelming.
Preparation is my superpower.
— Gayle King
The viral question that started it all
Cooper opened by revisiting the pair’s previous viral moment, when King asked her about her favorite sex position with her husband during a CBS Mornings appearance. King said the question was not a calculated attempt to shock viewers; she simply believed Cooper would understand the joke and the setting made it work.
Cooper recalled the studio appearing to go into chaos as the question landed, while King maintained that anything can be asked if it is delivered to the right person, in the right environment and with the right tone.
Anything can be asked. It depends.
— Gayle King
The discipline behind the morning show
King described the punishing schedule behind her work on CBS Mornings. Her alarm goes off at 3:24 a.m., followed by three snoozes, a bath, hair and makeup, meetings and the live broadcast. She joked that her smartwatch mainly helps her track how little sleep she is getting.
Even after years of early mornings, King said she still loves the work. She also spoke about performing on Broadway later that evening, explaining that some opportunities are worth staying up late for—even on a school night.
How curiosity shaped her career
Before becoming a household name, King worked as a production assistant at a local television station in Baltimore. She believes her curiosity and genuine interest in other people helped her stand out.
King recalled receiving a note from her fourth-grade teacher describing her as bright but excessively talkative. Rather than viewing that quality as a liability, she came to see it as part of the instinct that made her a natural interviewer.
Her advice to young professionals was practical: make sure your boss knows your name, prepare thoroughly and remain proactive rather than waiting to be told what to do.
When you get a job, make sure the boss knows your name—but in a good way.
— Gayle King
She added that preparation gives people something to rely on when an interview, meeting or assignment does not go according to plan.
A 50-year friendship with Oprah
King and Oprah Winfrey first met in Baltimore, when King was a production assistant and Winfrey was an anchor. During a snowstorm, Winfrey invited the young King to stay at her home. They spent the night talking, discovering shared opinions and forming a friendship that has lasted five decades.
King said their bond was built on trust, loyalty and the freedom to discuss both major life events and trivial everyday details. She described true friendship as a small, protected circle in which betrayal is not a concern.
All you need is one.
— Gayle King
King also rejected the idea that she exists in Winfrey’s shadow. She said she sees herself “in her light,” while recognizing that they have different personalities and ambitions. King loves people, lights and action; Winfrey is perfectly content at home with a book. Their differences, rather than competition, have allowed each woman to live her own life.
I never see myself in her shadow. I always say I see myself in her light.
— Gayle King
The pair’s friendship has included both celebration and emergency reality checks. King recalled Winfrey warning her not to bring a former high-school boyfriend into her home after reconnecting with him decades later. King ignored the advice, only to learn that the man had secretly photographed her sleeping and attempted to sell the pictures to the National Enquirer.
Her conclusion was simple:
The goal, basically, the whole rule is always trust Oprah.
— Gayle King
When friendship becomes an anchor
King and Cooper spoke about the importance of having someone who can remain steady when the other person is struggling. King said a healthy friendship involves a continual exchange of support: sometimes one person is the anchor, and sometimes the roles reverse.
They also discussed how women are often encouraged to view one another as rivals, particularly in professional environments. King argued that one woman’s success does not diminish another’s, and that jealousy often comes from insecurity rather than genuine competition.
King said she and Winfrey were initially oblivious to the sexism and racism around them as they built their careers. With hindsight, they could identify experiences they had not understood at the time, but their focus had been on working hard and doing the job well.
The betrayal that changed everything
The most emotionally intense section of the interview came when King described discovering that her former husband was having an affair with a woman they both knew. The warning signs began with a moment on a tennis court, when King noticed an intimacy in the woman’s voice as she spoke to her husband.
Still, King did not believe anything was wrong until a cancelled flight brought her home unexpectedly. The alarm was set, her husband appeared wearing only a towel and the other woman was found hiding behind a door in King’s bath sheet.
I can’t believe that you are here and that you are doing this.
— Gayle King
Because her young children were in the house, King tried to keep the confrontation controlled. When the alarm went off, police arrived, recognized her as a local news anchor and even asked for an autograph—while King attempted to conceal the crisis unfolding inside her home.
She called Winfrey, the only person she initially told. Winfrey urged her to contact the other woman’s husband. When he accused King of being “delusional and out of touch with reality,” she responded by naming the clothing she had found, pointing to evidence in her bed and ending the call with a blunt dismissal.
You saw what you saw. You did nothing wrong.
— Gayle King
King said the experience was especially disorienting because the people involved attempted to make her doubt her own perception. Cooper connected the story to the experience of many women who are made to feel irrational after discovering betrayal.
Why she eventually left
King and her husband tried counseling, divorced and later reconciled. But she eventually realized he had not changed. She began checking the car hood, searching through his phone and monitoring his movements—behaviors she disliked in herself.
I didn’t like who I was. Who wants to live like that?
— Gayle King
A therapist told King the marriage could continue only if she became a doormat. She also came to understand that her husband resented her professional success. King had built a career of her own, yet felt pressure to make herself smaller within the relationship.
Today, she says she wants a partner who is proud of her and who lifts her up. She has also reached a place where she can attend family events with her former husband and his new partner without allowing the past to control the moment.
Speaking up at work
King shared examples of sexism and racism she encountered in her career, including comments about her hair and an offensive note about her body after she returned from maternity leave. Earlier in her career, she did not always feel empowered to challenge inappropriate behavior.
Now, she is direct. If an executive speaks to her disrespectfully, she is willing to close the door and say that there is a better way to communicate.
I now have no problem speaking up if somebody is being inappropriate or out of line with me.
— Gayle King
King and Cooper acknowledged, however, that workplace advice must account for power and financial realities. Someone starting a first job may not have the same freedom as an established professional. King encouraged younger workers to understand the environment, work hard and navigate difficult situations without compromising their core boundaries.
The interview that tested her composure
King also revisited her tense interview with R. Kelly, conducted after she watched a documentary about the sexual-assault allegations against him. She said she believed most people who come forward with such allegations and entered the interview prepared to ask difficult questions.
Kelly became visibly angry, raised his voice and struck his hands. King remained still because she believed that making a sudden movement might cause him to leave. Security was present, but she wanted to complete the interview.
I wasn’t done with the interview.
— Gayle King
Only after watching the footage later did King realize how threatening the moment appeared. She said she could remain composed because of her experience, but admitted she would have been more rattled earlier in her career.
Aging without slowing down
Despite receiving a journalism icon award, King said retirement is not on her mind. She described being able to continue working at a high level as a blessing and said she is living “full gallop.”
She also pushed back against the idea that women’s best years are limited to youth. King recalled thinking her mother was old at 50, then rejecting an AARP magazine when she reached that age herself. Now, she wishes she had embraced the milestone sooner.
You can thrive. You can be juicy like a peach. You can still have a great, great life.
— Gayle King
Dating, desire and a little Tom Brady
King said she would like to meet someone—not necessarily remarry, but share her life with a partner who thinks she is fun to be around. Her ideal date includes a restaurant and a movie, followed by conversation about the film.
Her preferences were delivered with characteristic humor: she likes a man with a sense of humor, a kind personality and, physically, “big” features. Smoking is a deal breaker, while a man who is genuinely kind and fun is essential.
Tom Brady came up repeatedly as a playful example of the type of younger man she might find appealing. King also named Hugh Jackman and CBS Sports broadcaster Jim Nantz as examples of charming, nice men.
I would like to meet somebody that you think thinks you’re fun to hang out with.
— Gayle King
The parenting lesson she is proudest of
When asked what she is most proud of, King pointed to her children, Kirby and Will. She said they were raised with privilege but grew into happy, healthy and considerate adults.
King described making sure her children worked when they were old enough, established identities separate from their famous family connections and learned not to expect everything simply because it was available. She also joked about being an involved—possibly “helicopter”—parent while refusing to feel guilty about imperfect meals, store-bought cupcakes or missing a child’s first steps.
Her parenting philosophy is rooted in presence rather than perfection: be there for the important moments, stay involved and do not let other parents define what good parenting looks like.
Don’t let anybody make you feel guilty. I refuse to do that.
— Gayle King
Final takeaway
King’s conversation with Cooper was funny, frank and unexpectedly moving. Her stories about Oprah showed the sustaining power of a loyal friendship; her account of infidelity demonstrated how difficult it can be to trust your own instincts after betrayal; and her career reflections revealed the value of preparation, persistence and learning to speak with authority.
At 71, King remains curious, ambitious and open to new experiences. She is still working before dawn, still asking difficult questions and still looking forward to what comes next—including the possibility of meeting a genuinely kind man who can make her laugh.
And if Cooper’s baby needs a name, King made one suggestion clear: Gayle works for a boy or a girl.
This recap is based on Gayle King’s appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast. For the full episode, click on the YouTube link at the top or listen wherever you get your podcasts.
