Here's The Reason Why Dr. Phil Writes Yearly Thank You Notes To Oprah!

Dr. Phil McGraw still makes out time to write letters to Oprah Winfrey every year. Known as one of the most famous faces on television, the author hosts the famous long-running "Dr. Phil" show. The 71-year-old also holds a doctorate in clinical psychology, although he stopped renewing his license years ago. 

Winfrey and McGraw originally created the "Dr. Phil" show as a segment of "The Oprah Winfrey Show." After its success and popularity, "Dr. Phil" was released as a stand-alone production. The talk show debuted on September 16, 2002.

McGraw recently admitted that at least once a year, he made sure he wrote and sent out a thank you letter to Winfrey, a gesture the tv personality revealed she wasn't used to. According to McGraw, his life was "great" before meeting Winfrey; however, she made a huge impact. 

McGraw just revealed one of the most impactful people in his life. The show host made an appearance on "The Kelly Clarkson Show" and revealed that he made it a point of order to write Winfrey a letter at least once a year for her impact on his career. 

The 71-year-old admitted that this was a move he hadn't failed to make in the past 26 years. He said, "It's just been really important to me, every year to stop, sit down and write her a letter, and say, 'Thank you for the impact you've had on me and my family. And I've done it every year for 25 or 26 years."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nX7hFFyRBtU

According to McGraw, Winfrey always appreciated the tv personality's acts of gratitude. He recalled when he sent her a "huge flower arrangement and a thank you note" after his first book launch on her show. "I think she had been on the air 17 years at that point and called me and said, 'You know, out of all the things that I've done, all the books and stuff, this is the first time anybody has ever said thank you," McGraw said.

Like Winfrey, McGraw revealed that not being appreciated was something he was used to now as someone who has had his own talk show for 20 years. He said, "And now I've had my show for 20 years, I understand what she means."

The 71-year-old also talked about the significance of the letters to him. He added, "I've got this value, 'don't forget who brung you to the dance,' and I've never let her think I forgot who brung me to the dance."

Previously in 2020, McGrew mentioned Winfrey's impact on his life and, via ET, thanked the tv producer. "She truly has been a mentor," he said. "And you cannot underestimate the power of Oprah. But the real value is having the friendship with Oprah. She's just been a great friend and a great supporter to both Robin and me and my whole family."

McGraw and Winfrey were reportedly friends as far back as the late 1990s. The duo met each other before the 71-year-old had his own talk show. According to the tv host, he was a regular face on Winfrey's popular talk show before eventually launching his own show.

The author continued, "Oprah and I met in the late '90s when she was in trial, and I was on the trial team, then I started doing the show, and started doing the show a lot. And we launched the ['Dr. Phil'] show, and it really changed my life a lot." 

While Winfrey made a huge impact on McGraw's life, the tv personality revealed that his life before her was already "great." However, the tv producer "changed a lot of things" for him. He said, "I had a great life when I met her, and I've got a great life now, but she changed a lot of things."

McGraw previously had a successful career in psychology but walked away from the practice sometime in the 1990s. The tv-personality then co-founded Courtroom Sciences Inc. This was a firm tasked with helping people involved in a lawsuit prepare to face a jury before going to trial. 

McGraw's new line of work led him to Winfrey when the actress was in the middle of a lawsuit against her by the Texas beef industry. Via Closer Weekly, he said, "She and I had a lot of late-night talks at 2 or 3 o'clock in the morning."

The long hours finally paid off at the end of the trial. Winfrey won the case and then introduced McGraw during one of her shows. The tv host recalled, "She said, 'I want you to meet the man that gave me back to myself because I lost myself.'" McGraw revealed that he was "very flattered" and happy to know he made an impact.