Diane Sawyer Recalls the Last Text Richard Simmons Sent Her — and the Classic Song He Quoted (Exclusive)

Diane Sawyer revealed the last messages she and Richard Simmons exchanged before his death.

Simmons died at his Los Angeles home on Saturday, July 13. He was 76.

The broadcast journalist, 78, says she and the late fitness guru previously had "wonderful conversations." Before his death, Simmons agreed to an interview with Sawyer, she says.

“I was truly moved by Richard’s complex insight into life and people, including himself — how we rise and how we fall,” Sawyer tells PEOPLE. “I will always think of the room full of flowers he sent me and how each bouquet having the same note: I trust you.”

“Richard’s last text to me was straight from the Carole King song ‘You’ve Got a Friend.’ Whenever you want to talk, just call out my name, and I'll be there," Sawyer says.

Simmons’ longtime publicist, Tom Estey, confirmed his death to PEOPLE on Saturday.

"The world has truly lost an angel," Estey told PEOPLE.

Two days before his death, Simmons spoke exclusively to PEOPLE in a rare interview, revealing how he was going to celebrate his 76th birthday on Friday, July 12.

"But the candle will probably be on a zucchini. You know, I'm a vegetarian," he said before adding that he would try "maybe one Pepperidge Farm Milano cookie."

"I feel good!" Simmons said. "I am grateful that I'm here, that I am alive for another day. I'll spend my birthday doing what I do every day, which is to help people."

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Simmons explained to PEOPLE that his “parents instilled” in him the need to help others, adding, “I was always embroidered with caring for people."

He said how “it's shocking” to hear what his struggling fans would tell him. “Especially when people I talk to are young and they feel they're not accepted. And they feel they're not loved. Then they want to take their own life. And trust me, I have made those phone calls.”

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Although Simmons had remained out of the public eye since 2014, he remained in contact with fans as he chose “to live a more private life,” Estey told PEOPLE in 2017, adding, “If he decides to come back, he’ll come back.”

Simmons planned on returning to the spotlight, his brother Lenny told PEOPLE, noting his brother “was very excited about all of his upcoming ventures he was working on.”

"I don’t want people to be sad about my brother," Lenny said. "I want them to remember him for the genuine joy and love he brought to people’s lives. He truly cared about people. He called, wrote and ed thousands of people throughout his career to offer help."

"So don’t be sad. Celebrate his life," Lenny continued.

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