The billionaire megastar opened up in an interview on the Harry Connick Jr show about prayer and faith, and responded to criticism of what her beliefs are.

She explained: "You know what my prayer is? My prayer is, 'Use me'.

"I used to pray that prayer every day. When you pray that prayer you will be met with the answer."

The talk show host, actress, producer, and philanthropist also shared a time in her life that she doubted her abilities.

During this time, she said the song by Judson W Van DeVenter helped her to trust God would help her.

Speaking about the hymn, she said: "This song is so important to me because I never wanted anything more than I wanted to be in the film The Color Purple.

"And I had been told that I wasn't going to be in the film.

"And I had gone away and I was running around on the track one day and I was just praying and often this is what I know happens - when you can surrender it to the power that's greater than yourself, whatever it is you've been pushing up against, whatever it is you've been fighting, you release it to that which is greater, which is God and things show up."

Ms Winfrey said she prayed and sang the song and then got a call that Stephen Spielberg - the director of the big-screen adaptation of the book - wanted to meet her in his office.

She made her on-screen debut as Sofia on the 1985 film shortly after landing her own talk show.

Ms Winfrey ended her segment on the talk-show by singing 'I surrender all' as the presenter played on the piano and with a full band.