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In the midst of Oprah Winfrey kicking off her 24th season, the talk show host is talking up her recent interview with songstress, Whitney Houston.

Winfrey teases the upcoming episode, which airs September 14, by saying of their chat together, “I just wanted to be able to have an honest conversation with her. One woman to another woman. And the day of the interview I literally prayed about that all day long.”

While she doesn’t dish any details, Oprah reveals, “I just wanted a connection between the two of us. And that is what happened. And that is why I believe it’s one of the most, if not the most, powerful interviews I’ve ever done.”

Meanwhile, it was a star-studded outdoor event to kick off this year’s season of O’s talk show, featuring a public concert on Michigan Avenue in Chicago that included performances from Jennifer Hudson, Black Eyed Peas, Criss Angel, James Taylor, Rascal Flatts and more.

Oprah knows how to do it up right.

Gallery Info: Oprah Winfrey, Fergie, Black Eyed Peas, Criss Angel, James Taylor, Jennifer Hudson and Gary LeVox at the 24th season of The Oprah Winfrey Show kickoff party.