Oprah Winfrey reveals Barbara Walters was ‘one of the reasons’ she did not have children

Oprah Winfrey shared that the influence of the late Barbara Walters played a role in her choice to remain childless.

In an upcoming Hulu documentary titled “Barbara Walters Tell Me Everything,” as reported by The Daily Beast, the TV personality, who is now 71 and displayed a slimmer figure at the 2025 Tony Awards, shared her thoughts on the subject.

Back in 1968, I was beyond elated when my beloved idol, Walter, decided to adopt his precious daughter, Jacqueline, alongside his cherished partner, Lee Guber. Alas, it was in the year 2022 that this magnificent soul departed at the venerable age of 93.

Yet, it’s worth mentioning that Barbara experienced some turbulence in her relationship with Jacqueline, which escalated to the point where Barbara’s own daughter left home as a teen for about a month.

Oprah mentioned how the influential figure had previously urged her to consider having children, saying something like, “She once shared with me that there is no greater joy than parenthood, and ‘You might want to give it some thought.’

‘And I was like, “Okay, but I’m looking at you, so, no,”‘ the former talk show host continued. 

Oprah characterized Barbara’s bond with her daughter as intricate and intense, mentioning this dynamic as one of the factors that led her to decide against having children.

Walters made a name for herself with her trailblazing journalism journey that started back in the 1960s, as she joined the team of the Today show.

1974 saw her take on the role as co-host of the program, making her the first female news show host in America to do so.

During her career, Barbara conducted interviews with numerous well-known personalities including past U.S. presidents, Fidel Castro, Monica Lewinsky, the iconic actresses Katherine Hepburn and Barbra Streisand.

Oprah Winfrey further elaborated that she empathized with Barbara’s professional ambition, and discussed the necessity of compromises in balancing work and family life.

She remarked, “You are blazing a trail in your profession, striving to shatter traditional norms not just for yourself, but also for future women. It may require change or compromise to achieve this.

‘I decided not to have children because I recognized that doing a job well and being a good parent both require significant sacrifices. To excel in either role means giving up something else.’

Oprah went on to say, ‘I’ve never heard or read a story that Barbara Walters wouldn’t pass up. In other words, I’ve never seen Barbara Walters tell anyone else, “Go ahead, take this story.”‘

Oprah Winfrey and Barbara Walters formed a strong bond during their successful careers, and after Walters’ passing in 2022, Oprah honored her with a touching tribute.

In my opinion, I owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to the extraordinary Barbara Walters. If it weren’t for her pioneering spirit and unwavering determination, I might never have had the opportunity to shine in the limelight, nor would many other remarkable women gracing our television screens during evening, morning, and daily news programs today.

She truly served as an inspiration. My very first television audition, I kept her in my thoughts throughout the entire process.

Oprah expressed thanks as well, stating, ‘Pleased that she served as such an influential and generous mentor. Thankful for having known her. Thankful for being able to walk in her footsteps.’

The talk show host has previously opened up about not having kids and also not getting married. 

She has been in a relationship with Stedman Graham since 1986, but the couple never tied the knot. 

In the interview with People, Oprah expressed no regrets whatsoever about her decision not to become a mother.

She additionally expressed that appearing on the Oprah show provided her with an insight into the true extent of the duty and self-sacrifice that being a mother entails.

Reflecting on my interactions, I’ve come to understand, “Wow, I’m conversing with quite a number of individuals who seem to be grappling with challenges. I believe their struggles stem from the fact that they didn’t receive the necessary guidance and awareness from their parents about the profound impact and responsibility that comes with parenthood.

In the documentary, Walters could be heard saying, ‘I was in my 30s when Jackie was born.

My daughter is such a gift; she completes my world. To put it into perspective, I was already appearing on the Today show, had gone through three miscarriages before her, but now with her in my life, I have everything.

However, as Jacqueline matured, her bond with the person weakened, and it was discovered that her daughter had a drug problem too.

Barbara confessed that she often felt remorseful concerning her single child, adding that she hadn’t fully grasped the challenges due to the fact that her child’s other parent was a famous figure.

She commented, ‘We faced challenges in our school years. Eventually, around the age of 16 or so, she decided to leave home instead.’

In the ABC News Studios documentary, at one point, Barbara disclosed that her daughter had tried various drugs, consuming practically any pill she could ingest.

A friend close to the deceased celebrity, Cynthia McFadden, shared that both Jackie’s father and a governess were present in her household.

Yet, she remembered that the TV figure often admitted she had made errors as a mother on various occasions.

Over time, as Barbara grew older, I couldn’t help but sense a wobble in our relationship. She never shared enough details with me to fully grasp her perspective, yet it appeared to me that an old rift between her and Jackie had resurfaced.

In the year 2003, during a chat with NBC News, Jacqueline shared memories of her youthful escapades. As a teenager, she often secretly left home and visited nightclub Studio 54. Additionally, she admitted to using substances such as marijuana and methamphetamines.

She expressed gratitude for surviving, stating that she had once feared death, during an interview with the media. She also shared details of her adoption experience, explaining that being abandoned by her biological parents significantly contributed to her struggles with drug addiction.

In the past, I used marijuana, which was commonly known as ‘crank’ back then but is now referred to as methamphetamines. Quaaludes were quite prevalent too, along with Valium. These substances helped suppress other emotions.”

The revised version aims to maintain the original message while improving clarity and readability for a broader audience.

Jacqueline explained, ‘However, the solution didn’t address the problems I initially faced; instead, they grew larger and I found myself increasingly estranged from my mother’s sphere of influence. I believed leaving home would alleviate all my troubles.’

The Barbara Walters documentary titled “Tell Me Everything” will debut on the streaming platform Hulu on June 23rd.

According to the summary, it explores the crucial impact that a broadcasting legend had on journalism history and serves as an inspiring model for women in the profession.

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2025-06-13 07:19