TV personality Ellen DeGeneres used her much loved show to thank Barack Obama for being such an inspiration to both her and her country on the final day of his Presidency. 

Today will see the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, but DeGeneres turned her attention to the wonderful work done by Obama in the White House over the past eight years. She said:

"I want to personally thank him for changing my life. I am a legally married woman because of him and so is my wife. His courage and compassion created equality for everyone. He moved us forward and made more happen in the past eight years than I ever dreamed possible. I love him. I love Michelle.”

Back in November, Obama gave DeGeneres the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her incredible influence on the gay rights movement and during the ceremony, he said:

"It's easy to forget now, when we've come so far... just how much courage was required for Ellen to come out on the most public of stages almost 20 years ago," he said during the award ceremony at the White House. What an incredible burden that was to bear - to risk your career like that - people don't do that very often. And then, to have the hopes of millions on your shoulders."

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Watch footage of DeGeneres and Obama here: