Barbara Walters is hanging up her microphone in 2014 after 37 years with ABC News, the network announced Sunday night. 

Walters -- who will hand down the official word Monday morning on "The View" -- will continue to work on that show, and her various other news projects, through next summer.

In a statement, Walters said, "I am very happy with my decision and look forward to a wonderful and special year ahead both on 'The View' and with ABC News."

She continued, "I created 'The View' and am delighted it will last beyond my leaving it."

Walters had a health scare in January when she suffered a cut on her forehead after falling on a stair. Rumors of Walters' retirement have been swirling for months, but she had consistently brushed them off.

 

Barbara Walters is clearly ticked off over the stories detailing her plans to retire in 2014 ... because she ranted about it on "The View" this morning ... and even took a dig at little ol' us.

"There were many reports last week saying that I was retiring from ABC, and there was an assumption that I would be making an announcement today,” Baba said ... "However, here I am, and I have no announcements to make."

Then came the shot at TMZ -- "I do want to say this, that if and when I might have an announcement to make, I would do it on this program, I promise, and the paparazzi guys, you will be the last to know.”

We're flattered ... but someone is clearly holding a grudge from 2011 ... when we broke the story that Walters told President Obama she'd be hangin' it up back in 2012 and Barbara didn't realize she was talking into an open mic.

Babs' people later told us ... Walters has been joking about retirement since the Clinton administration.

BTW -- Walters may have been angry about last week's reports, but during her little rant this morning, she never actually disputed them.

Just sayin' ...

The end is near for Barbara Walters ... 'cause the head chick on "The View" is reportedly saying sayonara to her TV career in 2014.

We know Barbara has been contemplating retirement for a while -- and in 2011, told President Obama she planned to retire in 2012.

A honcho at ABC News told TMZ at the time that Barbara has joked about retiring every year since the Clinton Administration ... but now, it seems the legendary newswoman may finally be serious about it.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Walters will make the official announcement in the coming weeks ... with her last broadcast taking place in May, 2014.

We reached out to Barbara's people for comment -- so far, no word back.

Barbara Walters has seen it all in her career, except for one thing -- CHICKEN POX ... until now.

The 83-year-old news legend announced ... she's officially suffering from a case of the scratchies ... roughly 75 years after most people catch the viral infection.

Walters -- who was already recovering from a head injury she suffered during Inauguration weekend -- was obviously absent from "The View" this morning ... so Whoopi broke the news.

"We want to give you an update on Barbara," Goldberg said ... "You all know that she fell and cut her head 10 days ago, and then was running a temperature, but it turns out it is all the result of a delayed childhood."

"Barbara has the chicken pox. She'd never had it as a child. So now she's been told to rest, she's not allowed any visitors. and we're telling you, Barbara, no scratching,

Whoopi added, "We love you. We miss you. We just don't want to hug you."

Barbara Walters is straight-up insulted that Lindsay Lohan canceled an interview with her to chat with Jay Leno instead -- claiming Lindsay's people didn't even have the courtesy to explain why she pulled out.

Barbara spoke out on "The View" this morning, saying, "If they'd said to me 'You know, Barbara, she isn't up to the kinds of questions that you might ask' ... If they had told me that, I wouldn't feel quite as disappointed as I do today."

Lindsay had previously been scheduled to do an interview with Walters on "20/20" but the actress canceled -- and Barbara claims Lindsay's people gave her a BS excuse ... that LiLo just wasn't feeling "up to it."

Next thing Barbara knew, Lindsay's people had booked her on Leno instead -- and she's insinuating ... it's because Leno won't ask the hard-hitting questions Barbara wanted to. 

Lindsay's Leno interview is supposed to air next week.

She refused to talk to Barbara -- but you'll recall, Lindsay opened up about her family problems on TMZ Live just last month. The interview was explosive.

Mariah Carey just made it clear -- TMZ was dead on when we reported Nicki Minaj threatened to shoot her.

Barbara Walters reported on "The View" today she spoke with Mariah, who said she was concerned because "Nicki walked off the set and multiple people heard Nicki say, 'If I had a gun I would shoot the bitch.'"



Walters says Mariah told her, for safe measure, she's hired extra security.

And, Walters adds, Mariah said Nicki has not apologized but told her she loves her ....HOWEVER, Nicki said they might be fighting again on "American Idol."

For her part, Nicki just tweeted, "I don't call tmz n Barbara Walters cuz I stand on my own two feet.  Never needed an army. God is good.  Insecurity is as cruel as the grave."

Minaj continued, "I guess it hurts 2 have the producers tell u to ur face that nicki is the best judge we've had since simon. Awww, poor u. Keep them lies cmn." So much for the truce.

As for Keith Urban (who was caught smack in the middle of the crossfire Monday) he told Extra yesterday he felt like "the UN" -- but added, "I love it, I gotta say. I love working with passionate people. I love artists. Everyone just sort of expressing themselves. It’s a very alive and very invigorating work environment."

Anderson Cooper just BLASTED Star Jones ... claiming the former "View" host was talking out of her lying, irrelevant ass when she claimed Anderson's gay announcement was a ratings ploy.

Cooper was shooting a segment of "Anderson Live" with Bravo bigshot Andy Cohen ... when Cohen asked A.C. if he felt any different after coming out publicly back in July.

That's when Anderson dropped the truth bomb:

"I will say and I actually haven't mentioned this, the only thing that did kind of annoy me and actually it annoyed my mom who brought it up to me, Star Jones of all people."

He continued, "I haven't thought about Star Jones in I don't know how long. I was unaware she was even on TV still ... but she apparently shows up on a morning show."

"Out of the blue Star Jones ... said this was a ratings ploy by me to boost ratings."

On the show, which airs today, Cooper says Jones couldn't have been more wrong -- 'cause he was on assignment in Africa when he decided to quietly make the announcement in an email to a journalist friend, who posted the letter online.

"If I was wanting to boost ratings, I would have waited to announce it on 'A Very Special Episode' that would have been promo'd for weeks and weeks and there would have been commercials ... 'Anderson's Huge Announcement.'"

"As memory serves, in terms of boosting ratings, I seem to recall [Star] hocking her wedding every single day to get free products when she was on 'The View' and I seem to recall her lying about her gastric bypass surgery and making everybody else lie about it as well. So for her to suddenly emerge out of the shadows and suddenly attack me for this, I couldn't believe it."

Cooper says he invited Star to his show to discuss her comments, but she turned him down.

"I would think she would want as much publicity as possible given her penchant for wanting publicity."

Snap.

Whoopi "Cushion" Goldberg strikes again -- tearing ass this morning on "The View" so loudly ... she nearly put a hole in her seat.

Whoop doesn't even attempt to hide it either, claiming, "Excuse me, I think I just blew a little frog outta there!" The guest on the show -- Claire Danes -- clearly has no idea what to do with herself.

It's nothing new for the gas-woman -- during an interview with Dr. Oz back in May, Whoopi admitted she farts all the time on her show. Gotta respect her honesty.


10:56 AM PT: A rep for ABC tells us, the fart "was clearly a joke and all in good fun. Secretly we hoped it would get posted on YouToot."

Barbara Walters just told President Barack Obama she's retiring next year ... this according to a source who heard Barbara say it.

Barbara just finished interviewing the Prez at the White House.  According to the source, during a break in the action, Barbara leaned over to Obama and said, "I need one more interview with you because I'm retiring next year."  Here's the thing .. Barbara's mic was open when she said it, and lots of people were listening.

Barbara still does specials for the network, in addition to "The View."  Her "Most Fascinating People" show aired last night -- Obama was NOT on her list.

We called ABC News for comment, but so far ... nothing.


12:00 PM PT: Jeff Schneider, Sr. VP of ABC News, just got off the phone with Walters and told us,  "Barbara has joked that she is retiring every year since the Clinton Administration. Anyone who just did a day trip to Syria, 90-minute prime time special and an interview with the President and First Lady hardly sounds like someone retiring from anything." 

We asked if she fibbed to Obama to get another interview, and Schneider laughed, saying, "She's one of the greatest bookers who ever lived."

Sherri Shepherd might be a queen of daytime TV on "The View" -- but she won't be crowned queen of "Dancing With the Stars" any time soon ... TMZ has learned.

Sources close to Shepherd tell TMZ she's been approached by "DWTS" for this upcoming season -- and they've been "aggressively courting her."

But Shepherd is getting married later this month -- during hiatus from "The View" -- and we're told once she goes back to work ... there just won't be time for "DWTS."

Guess Sherri's wedding will be the best shot to see her waltz ... or paso whatever.

Paris Hilton couldn't handle some tough questions from Barbara Walters on "The View" this week -- and threw a tantrum backstage after it was all said and done.


Walters went after Paris for bitching about having to do 200 hours of community service. And Babs scoffed at Paris' claim she wanted to help women by doing charity work. Walters wondered aloud why Paris didn't show any of her charity work on her show: "Why not present that side of yourself, if indeed it exists?"

After the segment, Paris and her dad, Rick, berated producers backstage over the tone of the interview, so says the NY Post. A rep for the show confirmed the incident, but Paris was mum.

Paris had reason to feel blue. The ratings for "The World According to Paris" -- not so hot.