Kathryn Lee Gifford (born Epstein, previously Johnson; born August 16, 1953) is an American television host, singer, songwriter, author, comedian, and actress. She is the co-host, with Hoda Kotb, of The Kathie Lee and Hoda Show, the fourth hour of NBC Today. She is best known for her 15-year run (1985–2000) on the talk show Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee, which she co-hosted with Regis Philbin. She has received 11 Daytime Emmy nominations and won her first Daytime Emmy in 2010 as part of the Today team. Gifford's first television role had been as Tom Kennedy's singer/sidekick on the syndicated version of Name That Tune, from 1974 to 1978. She also occasionally appears on the first three hours of Today and is a contributing NBC News correspondent.Kathie Lee married Paul Johnson, a Christian composer/arranger/producer/publisher in 1976. After their divorce in 1982, she married sportscaster and former NFL player Frank Gifford in 1986. He died in 2015. Kathie Lee has released a number of studio albums and written a number of books.For earlier works, see Kathie Epstein.
Studied drama and music at Oral Roberts University.
Was accused of running Honduras sweatshops in 1996, related to her clothing line.
(March 2000) Threatened to sue the National Enquirer for articles printed about her children.
She was born the same year as Frank Gifford s oldest son, Jeff Gifford.
Named Maryland Junior Miss at age 17.
Has homes in Greenwich, CT; Key Largo, FL; Nantucket, MA; and a ski condo in Colorado.
Was a high school cheerleader.
Born at 11:30pm-CET
Mother, with Frank Gifford , of two children: son Cody Gifford and daughter Cassidy Gifford (b. 1993).
Attended high school in Bowie, MD.
Tried out for the part of Tiffany Welles on "Charlies Angels" and was told she wasnt pretty enough. Shelley Hack got the part and was later replaced because she wasnt a good enough actress.
Dropped out of Oral Roberts University, during her junior year, with no plans to finish.
Named her dog, Regis, after her famous former co-star, Regis Philbin.
Has released several Christian music albums over the years. 2000s The Heart of a Woman was her first pop release.
Releases her albums on her own label, Lamb Records. Her two most recent albums are Goodnight, Angel and Party Animals.
Her brother is Rev. David Paul Epstein, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Manhattan (catty-corner from Carnegie Hall).
Mrs. Giffords father, Aaron Leon Epstein, died on November 19, 2002. He had been terminally ill for the past few years, and his illness was one of the reasons Mrs. Gifford decided to leave "Live with Regis and Kathie Lee" in 2000, after more than a decade as host.
Mrs. Giffords dog Chardonnay, a white poodle given to her by husband Frank in 1988, was found dead from a coyote attack on January 28, 2003.
Worked for a time as Anita Bryant s assistant.
She was the main topic of a Season 1 "South Park" episode, "South Park" {Weight Gain 4000 } .
Has a Maltese Pomerantz named Bambino Vino Gifford.
Godmother of Kendall Jenner and Kylie Jenner.
Longtime friends of Caitlyn Jenner and Kris Jenner.
Stepmother of Kyle Gifford, Jeff Gifford and Vicky Gifford Kennedy.
Release of her book, "Listen to My Heart: Thoughts and Meditations on Being a Mother, and Conversations with My Son".
Release of the book, "Regis and Kathie Lee: Their Lives Together and Apart" by Norman King.
(January 2005) "Under the Bridge", her musical theater adaptation of the Natalie Savage Carlson s book, "The Family Under the Bridge", opens at the Zipper Theater on W37th Street in New York.
(April 2009) Release of her book, "Just When I Thought Id Dropped My Last Egg: Life and Other Calamities".
Release of her cookbook, "Cooking with Regis & Kathie Lee" by Kathie Lee with Regis Philbin and Barbara Albright.
Release of her book, "I Cant Believe I Said That!: An Autobiography" by Kathie Lee with Jim Jerome.
Release of her cookbook, "Cooking with Regis & Kathie Lee" by Kathie Lee with Regis Philbin and Barbara Albright.
Her paternal grandfather was a Russian Jewish immigrant. Her other ancestry is English, German, and French.
Good friend of Regis Philbin.
Her mentor was Tom Kennedy.
Mrs. Gifford on what she does first thing in the morning: "Brush my,teeth and say good morning to the picture of my Daddy sitting next to,my sink. ",What a dire time to be attracted to men.
Over the years my mom has become a self-taught Biblical scholar. .
