O.K., you're gonna laugh. Yes, once again, I got my inspiration today from Oprah and one of the guests on The Oprah Winfrey Show. I should probably call up Harpo Productions and propose an Inspiration Network partnership to help promote their 20th season all year. The minute we returned from our summer adventures, I asked Tim to set up a TiVo Season Pass to all her shows. Now, as Oprah's 20th season begins, I'm hooked. So is Tim. (Not that Oprah needs promoting! However, Oprah's 19th season was my first introduction to witnessing the Queen of TV and the Queen of Soul in action. Knowing that we were new to Oprah less than a year ago, I have to believe there other men and women out there who are still missing out.)

For nineteen consecutive seasons, The Oprah Winfrey Show has remained the number one talk show, winning every sweep since its debut in 1986. The show is produced in Chicago by Harpo Productions, Inc. It is syndicated to 215 domestic markets by King World and to 117 countries by CBS Paramount International Television. So, even if you are in Europe, you can get the show produced and hosted by the ninth most powerful woman in the world.

Oprah's mission?

Winfrey says:

I am guided by the vision of what I believe this show can be. Originally our goal was to uplift, enlighten, encourage and entertain through the medium of television. Now, our mission statement for The Oprah Winfrey Show is to use television to transform people's lives, to make viewers see themselves differently and to bring happiness and a sense of fulfillment into every home.

The great advantage to television these days is the ability to record a program and watch it when we able.

This Saturday morning, we were up early to tune into The Weather Channel and the status of Hurricane Rita.

After breathing a sigh of relief and a saying a prayer of thanks that it was no where near the catastrophe we feared, I turned to TiVo's "Now Playing List" to watch Oprah's Friday show.

The minute our ten-year-old, Jessie heard Kelly Clarkson's voice she bolted downstairs to listen to one of her favorite performers.

Kelly Clarkson on "The Oprah Winfrey Show"

Two minutes later, our seven-year-old, Niki was downstairs.

Niki said:

I thought you were watching American Idol. I was looking forward to sleeping in this morning, but I didn't want to miss out on getting a chance to see Kelly.

After the third intro rewind, the whole family was glued to the tube listening to and watching one of our favorite young female performers on the planet.

When Clarkson won American Idol three years ago, we were not yet fans of the show. After the middle of the second annual competition, we've become such die-hard fans that we traveled all the way from San Francisco to Manchester, New Hampshire this summer for the American Idol concert.

Meanwhile, separate from the fanfare of American Idol, our girls have become huge Kelly Clarkson supporters. And just as we have become Oprah-inspired, Tim and I admit to not only becoming Kelly Clarkson fans but recent investors. We've bought every CD she's produced. In fact, I've gotten so into Kelly Clarkson I even incorporated her song Breakaway into an iMovie I recently created chronically my "Spring" trip to Hong Kong with sixteen other moms. Talk about a "breakaway."

In addition, we've just begun promoting her music through Google Ads which we make available via our marketplace.

On Friday, September 23rd 2005, Kelly Clarkson sang two songs on The Oprah Winfrey Show.

Clarkson's vocal performance and her physical presence was something from above.

After singing her first song, Breakaway, Kelly gave praise to Jesus. It was then that I knew it must be the Holy Spirit working through her that brought me to tears as we heard this unique, pure voice and watched a young, twenty-three year-old soulful white girl "bring it."

After performing Breakaway with her band, Kelly spoke with Oprah.

Oprah began her one-on-one with a proclamation:

Triple platinum!

And the song has been on the chart for one year.

"I know, I know, I know," Kelly responded. "I don't know why, but thank you, Jesus!"

Oprah asked, "Is that like every dream you ever had?" Kelly affirmed, "Yes, and more." Clarkson continued:

At the VMAs, I was in the same category. I won there with Mariah Carey and Gwen Stefani. I was in the same category as them, so that was winning to me.

"To have your name called with theirs?!" Oprah exclaimed.

"I know, I know, I know. So I flipped out!" Clarkson humbly admitted.

Clarkson was referring to MTV's Video Music Awards. Last month, she won awards Best Female Video and Best Pop Video for her hit "Since U Been Gone".

On Tuesday, September 20th she earned three nominations for the 2005 American Music Awards.

Winfrey brought Kelly back to her roots, to the days when she was a cocktail waitress in Texas. Oprah did so, I believe, to inspire all the other talented cocktail waitresses in the world to "break away".

When asked what was the first thing Kelly bought after she got some money, Kelly told the story of making good on a promise she made to her friend, Jessica. Kelly's friend was the one responsible for telling her about the competition and for encouraging her to go for it. In fact, Kelly -- as a joke -- told Jessica she would buy Jessica her dream car when she won.

And that she did!

Jessica's dream car? A Chevy Corvette.

Kelly credited her family, her friends, her band (with whom she has been for three years) and her faith for being able to deal with the sudden shift from a "career" as a cocktail waitress to fame, fortune, Triple-Platinum sales and award-winning success as a soulful singer who sells out stadiums.

Oprah asked her if all the "media stuff" bothers her.

Oprah said, "I know I'm a person who's been bugged for years about the up and down weight thing."

Kelly spontaneously responded, "Oh, honey, I get that all the time."

Oprah admitted to how it used to really bother her.

Kelly told Oprah it doesn't bother her. When asked why, Kelly responded:

This is my thing. They always say that and they try to make girls feel like that.

I grew up in church. I have a very great faith about me, so I'm centered in that. And that's all I need. So, I don't need to impress people with that. One month I'll feel like working out. And the next month I'll eat Ding-Dongs.

Oprah resonated with that statement big-time.

Pointing to herself, Oprah said with a smile on her face, "Who ya talkin' to?!"

The audience, of course, ate up Oprah's response and the way she delivered it.

Whomever was watching also couldn't help but love Kelly and the soulful rapport Oprah instantly had with this young, thriving talent. Two soul sisters. Very different in their appearance and their path. But every bit a positive influence and inspiration - thanks in great part to their belief that they are merely a vehicle.

When Oprah welcomed Kelly again to the stage, later in the show for an encore performance, Tim asked the girls, "What do you hope she will sing?"

Niki said, "Since U Been Gone."

Jessie didn't mind what she sang. She was just excited to hear her perform.

Kelly's encore choice on "Oprah"? Her new hit single - set to be released on September 27th - "Because of You."

For a schedule of Kelly's upcoming tour dates in New York, Australia, New Zealand, Texas, Nevada, California and Washington, please go to:

For further details about Kelly's appearance on Oprah and additional pictures, please go to:

Inspire & Be Inspired.

Here's to healthy, adventuresome, soulful, "letting your light and God-given talent shine bright" living!

~ Jennifer Carolyn King, Rugged Elegance, LLC