Winfrey booked for Kimmel's Oscar special

Oprah Winfrey smiles as she listens to remarks by U.S. President Barack Obama as the president and First Lady Michelle Obama host the 2010 Kennedy Center Honorees at a reception in the East Room of the White House before going to the Kennedy Center on December 5, 2010. The recipients for the 33rd annual awards are singer and songwriter Merle Haggard; composer and lyricist Jerry Herman; dancer, choreographer and director Bill T. Jones; songwriter and musician Paul McCartney; and producer, television host and actress Oprah Winfrey. UPI/Gary Fabiano/Pool

Published: Feb. 16, 2012 at 6:37 PM

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 16 (UPI) -- Television icon Oprah Winfrey is to appear on "Jimmy Kimmel Live: After the Academy Awards" in Los Angeles, ABC said Thursday.

The Oscars for excellence in film for 2011 are to be handed out Feb. 26.

Winfrey, who will also appear at the 84th Academy Awards show, is the recipient of the academy's Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for her inspiring philanthropic efforts that have brought credit to the industry.

This year marks Kimmel's seventh consecutive Oscar special. The 2012 edition is expected to include appearances by Meryl Streep, George Clooney, Tom Hanks, Martin Scorsese, Helen Mirren, Charlize Theron, Don Cheadle, John Krasinski, Emily Blunt, Samuel L. Jackson and Cameron Diaz.

Academy Awards host Billy Crystal also will join Kimmel to kick off his post-Oscar show, while British rock band Coldplay will end the night with a Hollywood block-party performance on "JKL's" outdoor stage, ABC said.