Rare Red Carpet Glimpses Of Oprah Winfrey And Longtime Partner Stedman Graham

Some Hollywood couples live out their relationship entirely in front of the cameras, while others choose to keep a low profile. Oprah Winfrey and long-time partner Stedman Graham fall into the latter category. The couple have been going strong since 1986, and despite never tying the knot and Oprah Winfrey unapologetically staying childless by choice, they've stuck together and made it work for them. 

Neither Winfrey or Graham speak much about their relationship, only touching upon it once in a while over the years. However, when it is brought up, it serves to merely highlight how close their bond is, and why their decision to keep their romance away from public scrutiny was the right decision for the couple. And the rare occasions they appear on the red carpet together only cements our belief as to why they're one of the few relationships in Hollywood that we think will last.

One of the earliest red carpet appearances for the couple, Winfrey and Graham stepped out to attend the opening night of musical "Don't Get God Started" in 1987. Both of them wore tailored outfits, with Graham sticking to a gray striped suit, while the media mogul lived it up in a structured glitzy blue blazer over a button-down black dress with a plunging neckline. 

It was only a year into their romance, but they appeared super close, with Graham even making a surprise appearance on a segment of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" that same year. 

The couple made another red carpet appearance in 1989 for the 16th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards. Graham kept it safe in a light gray suit with a black-gold tie, while Winfrey wore a black velvet dress with exaggerated shoulder pads and flowery motifs all over the fabric. 

They were all smiles during the awards show despite the media speculation surrounding their relationship at the time, with rumors of infidelity on Stedman's part being flung around. However, the rumors eventually turned out to be false, and the couple came out of it stronger together. 

Stedman Graham decided to accompany Oprah Winfrey to the 21st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards in 1994, with the businessman opting for a sharp suit. Winfrey chose a dreamy white dress with a pleated flowery skirt. The nine-time Emmy nominee had much to smile about as in 1992, Graham proposed and she accepted.

Although the couple never did end up walking down the aisle, they ultimately decided their relationship already worked as it was. "It's what Gary Zukav defines as a spiritual partnership: partnership between equals for the purpose of spiritual growth," Winfrey wrote on Oprah Daily in an article describing their relationship.

In 2006, Stedman Graham and Oprah Winfrey made a rare appearance together for a charity gala. Winfrey was dressed head-to-toe in a white suit and heeled sandals, while Graham chose a gray suit. 

By this point, Graham had largely avoided the red carpet. And after being harangued by the tabloids for years, it's a decision Winfrey wholeheartedly supported. "I stopped making as many public appearances with Stedman because I realized that every time there's a new photograph, there's a new story," Winfrey shared on Gwyneth Paltrow's "The Goop Podcast", per Yahoo Entertainment. 

It was clear the couple weren't going to let the paparazzi get in the way of enjoying each other's company, as the pair chose to attend the 2015 Oscars together. Stedman Graham looked particularly dapper in his crisp, tailored black suit and bowtie. On the other hand, Oprah Winfrey oozed glamour in her figure-hugging pale pink silk wrap dress. The pair couldn't keep their hands off one another throughout the event. Truly, they were the picture of contentment. 

Oprah Winfrey and Stedman Graham's last recorded red carpet appearance was for the 2019 Tyler Perry Studios Grand Opening Gala, as seen above. Winfrey was dressed in a form-fitting dark blue gown that showcased her figure, while Graham wore a black suit. That same year, the notoriously private businessman spoke out about their relationship and why it's lasted so long.

"I want her to be the best she can possibly be and she's done a pretty good job of doing that," Graham shared on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," per Vogue. This is why we think Graham and Winfrey's relationship is equal to these five celebrity marriages we think will stand the test of time.