Gayle King admits she “groveled” for her latest interview with press-shy Jay-Z.

King told Access Hollywood that even her BFF, Oprah Winfrey, advised her to give up on getting an interview with the megastar.

“Even Oprah said, ‘You are making a damn fool of yourself. Stop asking him. He doesn’t want to do it.’ But I couldn’t let it go,” Gayle said. “I don’t know why he said yes or why he changed his mind … I’m just grateful that he did.”

When they met, Jay-Z talked about his profession, family, and the internet argument about whether a person should pick $500,000 over lunch with him. Jay-Z and King toured “The Book of HOV,” a Brooklyn Public Library exhibit about his career, exclusively. CBS broadcast the rare interview.

What were you persistent about that eventually worked out in your favor?