King is fortunate enough to be the Garfunkel to Oprah's Simon, and is the editor-at-large of her best pal's magazine.

On her own, King has a career in the broadcasting industry that spans nearly 30 years and has earned her 3 Emmys. She has worked for news programs in Baltimore, Hartford, and Kansas City, as well as hosting The Gayle King Show on Sirius XM radio from 2006-2011. In 2012 she was named co-anchor of the revamped CBS This Morning show alongside Charlie Rose.

King is a mother of two, and raised both of her children in Hartford, Connecticut. Oprah is godmother to Gayle's two children with ex-husband Bill Bumpus (his real name), and set up a nanny fund so that Gayle could continue her professional career.

King has famously been BFFs with Winfrey since 1976, and continues to reap the heaping ($$$) benefits of a friendship with the Queen of All Media. While the exact nature of their friendship has endured much speculation, both insist the relationship is strictly platonic. Gayle routinely makes appearances on Oprah's talk shows, and each is a very vocal supporter of the other's work. They are known to vacation together, and have extended phone conversations daily. Since the nascence of their friendship in Baltimore, they have never again lived in the same city at the same time.

While much has been said about King living in the shadow of the sun, she continues to carve her own career in the broadcasting and media industry.

[Image via Getty]