Ellen DeGeneres has opened up about her decision to end her eponymous talk show in an emotional monologue.
On May 12, the 63-year-old media mogul made headlines with news that she would be ending her show after an 18-year run.
Addressing her devoted viewers, DeGeneres explained why she's bowing out of the show as part of the monologue for a yet-to-be-aired episode. She told fans: "Today I have an announcement to make. It’s a big one. Today I’m announcing that next season, season 19 is going to be my last."
On her decision to wrap up her show, DeGeneres said it was a question of "timing".
She explained: "The truth is, I’ve always trusted my instincts. And my instinct told me it’s time."
Check out her emotional monologue below:Degeneres recalled: "In 1997, I knew it was time to come out on my sitcom and live my truth. Back then, I had a vivid dream that a bird flew out of a cage and needed to set itself free."
In jest, she added: "Well last night I had a dream that a bird, a beautiful bird with bright red feathers, came to my window and whispered, 'You can still do stuff for Netflix'."
The comic continued: "The past 18 years have changed my life. You’ve changed my life. I am forever grateful to all of you for watching, for laughing, for dancing... sometimes crying.
"This show has been the greatest experience of my life and I owe it all to you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you."
DeGeneres went on to explain that she had discussed the decision with her wife, actress Portia de Rossi.
She said: "I talked to Portia. I talked to myself. A few times I was talking to myself and Portia thought I was talking to her. The point is, I need to take a break from talking."
The TV legend, who has decided to bring the show to an end in 2022, explained: "I always knew in my heart that season 19 would be my last." Degeneres then went on to explain why 19 is such a "great" number to end on.
She said: "First of all, the 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote. This may be controversial, but I believe women should be allowed to vote," she jokingly added. "There, I said it. Also, on the periodic table, 19 is the atomic number for potassium."
The heartfelt monologue will air in today's episode of The Ellen Degeneres Show.
Degeneres announced her decision to end her long-running show during an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.
She told the outlet: "When you’re a creative person, you constantly need to be challenged – and as great as this show is, and as fun as it is, it’s just not a challenge anymore."
It comes nearly a year after she became the center of a media storm following rumors that her show perpetuated a "toxic work environment".
