The gold-standard friendship between Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King all started out with a snow storm.

The friendship between Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King has been held up for years as the top tier example of what true friendship looks like. The two have been friends for forty-six years. A question that has been on the minds of many for years is getting an answer now. How did this nearly half a century long friendship find its foundation? In an exclusive with People the story is being told, and, apparently, it all started out with a snow storm.

At the time, the two women were in their early twenties, both working for the same news station. Oprah was working there as a News Anchor while Gayle King was there as a production assistant/writer. While the two did not know each other that well at the time, they both saw the weather reports. It did not look good. That's when Oprah offered Gayle a place to stay for the night. She told People, We ended up talking all night long," says Winfrey, who spotted King a toothbrush and a dress for work the next day...We've literally been friends ever since." It makes sense that this long standing friendship began with an act of kindness.

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Since that night, the two have always known that they can count on each other no matter what. Winfrey shared that when, "This is my Gayle," is said, she really takes that to mean, "long-term, standing in the gap, no matter what I'm here for you."

The two of them continue to impress the world with their open hearts and absolutely true friendship. The interview can be read here.

Tags: oprah winfrey Gayle King