Following rampant speculation, it's finally official: Rosie O'Donnell was announced as a co-host for season 18 of "The View" Thursday.
The show's Twitter account posted the following message to fans: "It's official! ABC confirms Rosie O'Donnell returns as a co-host of 'The View' w/ moderator Whoopi Goldberg for Season 18."
Earlier this week, E! News confirmed that the comedienne was close to closing a deal with the long-running morning talk show.
O'Donnell, who was a host for just one tumultuous season back in 2007, is set to fill one of the empty chairs left by Sherri Shepherd and Jenny McCarthy.
NEWS: Former "View" host shocked by Shepherd's exit
O'Donnell famously exited the talk show in 2007, one month before her contract was set to expire, after a heated argument with fellow co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck, who also later exited "The View" and now works for Fox &Friends.
"I didn't want to argue for a living," O'Donnell later said on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" of her decision to leave. "I didn't come back because the director and the producer did a split screen, and they had to prepare that in advance. I felt there was setup egging me into that position."
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However, it seems that her feelings changed as she returned to the program for the first time back in February of this year.
Barbara Walters said at the time, "I am happy to welcome her back to the program. She is always a lively and engaging guest and a part of the show's successful history."
