Jerry Springer's death at the age of 79 rocked the entertainment industry earlier this week.
On Thursday, the TV legend's family confirmed that the "Godfather of Reality TV" had sadly passed away following a private battle with pancreatic cancer.
Following the upsetting news, Springer's close friend and spokesperson, Jene Galvin, told TMZ that Jerry had kept his cancer battle quiet - only telling his family and a circle of close friends. Galvin said he did this because he didn't want to worry people and just wanted to spend his remaining time with loved ones.
And ever since his passing, many outlets and social media users have been shining a light on some of Jerry's greatest moments.
Now, an interview has resurfaced in which Springer revealed the five words he wants to be etched on his tombstone following his death.
Speaking to E! back in 2018 in celebration of 25 years of The Jerry Springer Show, the beloved host revealed why he had continued to work on the show for so long and not retire, saying: "I just do it because it's fun to do, and I'm not that good at golf [...] I'm always afraid not to be working."
He then joked that he'd be around for the 50th anniversary of the show, before saying: "25 years from now, I think I won't be talkative. But if you just yell loudly [mimics yelling at the ground], 'Jerry, what do you think!'"
Springer then shared the five words he wants to be written on his tombstone, adding: "I know what I'm gonna put on my tombstone. 'I won't be right back.'"
The quip is a reference to the phrase Jerry would say on his show before cutting to a commercial break; "We'll be right back."
Earlier in the interview, Springer said the phrase is one of three things a host needs to nail in order to be successful in show business. The other two were "You did what?!" and "Come on out!"
Jerry also told E! about the two moments he realized The Jerry Springer Show had become a pop culture phenomenon.
"There were two cultural moments that impacted me, and I think one was being on The Simpsons and the other was being on the cover of Rolling Stone," he said.
Nevertheless, Springer also revealed in the interview that his show was a "circus" and had "no redeeming social value".
This is a notion Jerry had frequently shared late into his career, with the star even apologizing for his popular yet controversial talk show.
Just months before his death, Springer apologized for "ruining the culture" with the show, saying on David Yontef's Behind the Velvet Rope podcast in November 2022: "I just apologize.
"I’m so sorry. What have I done? I’ve ruined the culture," the host added, before joking: "I just hope hell isn’t that hot because I burn real easy. I’m very light-complected, and that kind of worries me."
Our thoughts continue to go out to Springer's family, friends, and fans at this time.