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Move over, Tony Robbins: Oprah Winfrey launches arena tour of uplift

By Greg Braxton

Most heads of a television network feel the duties and responsibilities of running such an enterprise can be all-consuming.

Oprah Winfrey, who is the chief executive of OWN, doesn't believe that.

With OWN on relatively steady footing after a shaky start, Winfrey has taken on film roles ("Lee Daniels' The Butler") and is considering starring in a drama on Broadway.

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Now the former daytime talk-show host who specialized in uplift and enlightenment is taking her act on the road.

Winfrey and a slate of special guests are scheduled to headline an "unprecedented" multi-city arena tour this fall, with stops being touted as a "transformational weekend."

"Oprah's The Life You Want Weekend" is intended to spotlight Winfrey's philosophy of uplift and betterment of life.

"All of my life, I have wanted to lead people to an empathy space, to a gratitude space," Winfrey said in a statement. "I want us all to fulfill our greatest potential. To find our calling, and summon the courage to live it.

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Each tour stop is to span two days. On Friday nights, Winfrey will "take the stage, bringing her personal story and insights to life in a one of a kind intimate evening. Then on Saturdays, Winfrey will lead a day-long gathering of thousands with hand-picked leaders and pop culture icons" including Iyanla Vanzant, star of OWN's "Iyanla: Fix My Life," "Eat Pray Love" author Elizabeth Gilbert and pastor Rob Bell, the statement said.

Author and "pioneer in mind-body medicine" Deepak Chopra is also scheduled to participate in selected cities on the tour, which is being produced by Winfrey's Harpo Studios and William Morris Endeavor Entertainment. Olay and Toyota are presenting sponsors.

The tour is set to kick off Sept. 5-6 at Atlanta's Philips Arena, and then travel to several other cities, including Washington, Houston and Newark, N.J. The only California date on the current schedule is Nov. 14-15 at SAP Center in San Jose.

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