Kathie Lee Gifford is a notable American television presenter, singer, songwriter, actress, and author. She gained popularity among TV audiences for her excellent on-screen chemistry with co-anchor Regis Philbin and Kathie Lee and Regis on the famous live show ‘The Morning Show.’
She also co-hosted the fourth hour of the ‘Today’ show with Hoda Kotb for over a decade. Moreover, she is a four-time Emmy Award winner and a former co-host of the fourth hour of “TODAY” alongside Hoda Kotb. Another famous American game show in which she worked is Name That Tune.
Additionally, she has appeared in various TV series and films, released albums, and authored numerous biographical, children’s, cooking, and Christian faith books. This article will discuss Kathie Lee Gifford’s life, Career journey, relationship, net worth, and other essential details. So, let’s go into the details.
| Real Name | Kathryn Lee Gifford |
| Date of Birth | 16 August 1953 |
| Age | 70 years old |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Television presenter, talk show host, singer, songwriter, actress, and author |
| Spouse | Paul Johnson (m. 1976; div. 1982)
Frank Gifford (m. 1986; died 2015) |
| Height | 5’5″ |
| Weight | 68 kg |
| Body Measurements | 40-30-38 inches |
| Net Worth | $60 million |
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Early Life and Career Beginnings
Kathie Lee Gifford was born in Paris, France to American parents. Her mother was a singer and her father was a musician who had previously served as a Chief Petty Officer in the United States Navy. At the time of her birth, her father was stationed in France. She spent her childhood in Bowie, Maryland and attended Bowie High School.
Her paternal grandfather hails from Saint Petersburg and is of Russian Jewish descent, while her paternal grandmother has Native American ancestry. Her mother, who had French Canadian, German, and English roots, was related to writer Rudyard Kipling.
When she was 12 years old, she became a born-again Christian after watching the Billy Graham-produced film “The Restless Onest”. Although she was raised with Jewish traditions, she was grateful for her Jewish heritage.
While in high school, She was a member of a folk group called “Pennsylvania Next Right,” which often performed at school assemblies. After graduating from high school in 1971, she studied drama and music at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In the early 1970s, she worked as a live-in secretary/babysitter for Anita Bryant in Miami for a summer.
She made her first regular television appearances as a singer on the game show “Name That Tune,” which was hosted by Tom Kennedy in the late 1970s. On the show, she would sing a few lines of a song, and contestants had to identify them.
Career Journey
Kathie Lee Gifford began her career in the 1980s. She rose to prominence after co-hosting “Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee” for more than ten years. Later on, She co-hosted the fourth hour of “Today” titled “Today with Kathie Lee and Hoda” until April 2019. Further, She has been nominated for 11 Daytime Emmy Awards, winning her first in 2010 as a part of the Today team.
Apart from hosting TV shows, She is also known for doing voice overs, such as Echidna in the TV series “Hercules” (1998) and the Mail Carrier Hero in “Higglytown Heroes”(2004).
In addition to her career, She has authored several autobiographical books, including “Just When I Thought I’d Dropped My Last Egg: Life and Other Calamities” in 2010, “The Rock, the Road and the Rabbi” in March 2018, and “It’s Never Too Late: Make the Next Act of Your Life the Best Act of Your Life” in 2020.
She released a book about the Christian faith titled “The Jesus I Know: Honest Conversations and Diverse Opinions about Who He Is” in 2021. Additionally, she has written several children’s books.
She left her co-hosting role on “Today” to pursue a career in acting, directing, and producing movies. In 2018, she co-starred with Craig Ferguson in “Then Came You” and filmed a Hallmark Christmas movie called “A Godwink Christmas.”
She has appeared in various films, including Dudley Do-Right and Adventures of Serial Buddies, as well as TV series such as Seinfeld, Women of the House, Touched by an Angel, The Tom Show, Style & Substance, Hollywood Squares, Younger, and many more.
She also made a name for herself in musical theatre, working on several musicals and a musical adaptation of “It’s a Wonderful Life” with John McDaniel. In 2021, she was honored with a Hollywood Walk of Fame star for her contributions to the television industry.
Personal Life
Kathie Lee Gifford was previously married to Johnson, a composer, arranger, producer, and publisher, in 1976. They became famous in Christian music and were featured on the covers of Christian magazines. However, their marriage was not smooth from the beginning, and in 1981, Johnson moved out of their residence in Woodland Hills, CA. The couple eventually got divorced in 1982.
Later, on October 18, 1986, She tied the knot with Frank Gifford for the second time. Frank was an American football player and television sports commentator. It was his third marriage, as he had previously been married to Maxine Avis Ewart and Astrid Lindley, with whom he had three children.
Moreover, She was 23 years younger than Frank Gifford. They had two children, Cody Newton Gifford, (March 22, 1990), and Cassidy Erin Gifford, (August 2, 1993). Interestingly, they both shared the same birthday, August 16. Unfortunately, Frank Gifford passed away on August 9, 2015, due to natural causes at their home in Greenwich, Connecticut. He was 84 years old.
In 2017, She released a song called “He Saw Jesus,” co-written with songwriter Brett James, which she dedicated to her late husband.
Kathie Lee Net Worth
By 2024, Kathie Lee Gifford’s net worth had risen to $60 million due to her successful television host, actress, and singer career.
