Oprah Winfrey took the stage at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Tuesday night with a raucous standing ovation.

Some people waited outside for more than two hours for the chance to hear the media magnate and celebrity speak. The star stepped on stage wearing a classic Calgary white cowboy hat.

"I love Canada and when they first called asked if I wanted to come I was like, ‘Oh great. I get to go to Lake Louise. It's going to be so much fun!' Y'all should have invited me in July for that Stampede," said Winfrey.

"Can't you see me in the chuckwagon races? There in my little chuckwagon. I could do it. Come back in July? OK!"

Winfrey spoke about her past and how it led her to where she is today.

She acknowledged the evening was not cheap, even for people in the back of the sold-out stadium.

Tickets for the event started at $125.25 and went to a maximum of $434.75.

Based on ticket sales, more than 40 per cent of people in attendance do not live in Calgary, said Gisele Danis of Tourism Calgary.

“We saw a lot of American visitation, northern Alberta, southern Alberta, Saskatchewan, exactly where we wanted to see the folks come in [from].”

Winfrey spoke in Edmonton on Monday night and wraps up her Canadian tour Thursday in Vancouver.