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Who Is Kathie Lee Gifford?
Kathie Lee Gifford is a renowned television personality, singer, songwriter, and author, best known for her work as a co-host on popular morning shows. She initially pursued a career as a Christian singer before transitioning to television. Her big break came when she was invited to appear on Good Morning America after a producer heard her hosting a radio show. In 1985, she joined Regis Philbin on The Morning Show (later renamed Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee), where the duo’s chemistry made the show an instant hit. Gifford also co-hosted the fourth hour of NBC’s Today Show with Hoda Kotb for more than a decade, further solidifying her presence in the world of daytime television.
Early Life
Kathryn Lee Epstein was born on August 16, 1953, in Paris, France. Her father, Aaron Leon Epstein, was a U.S. Navy officer and jazz saxophonist, while her mother, Joan, was a former naval secretary and radio singer. Gifford and her two siblings, David and Michelle, grew up in various European countries due to her father’s military assignments. In 1957, the family returned to the United States and settled in Bowie, Maryland, where her father worked as a newspaper distributor and insurance agent.
Raised in a culturally Jewish environment, Gifford attended Methodist Sunday school and experienced a spiritual transformation at the age of 12 after watching a Christian film. This marked the beginning of her journey toward becoming a born-again Christian.
Christian Singing Career
At 17, Gifford won the Maryland Junior Miss pageant and met Anita Bryant, a Christian singer, during the national competition. Impressed by her talent, Bryant invited Gifford to work with her in Florida, where she spent a year performing at Southern Baptist churches. However, disillusioned by the hypocrisy she witnessed in Bryant’s personal life, Gifford eventually moved on from this chapter.
Bryant secured Gifford a full scholarship at Oral Roberts University, where she sang with the World Action Singers on Roberts’ television show. However, Gifford became disenchanted with the manipulative practices behind the scenes and left the university during her junior year. Following her departure, she used her scholarship funds to support herself and began writing, eventually publishing The Quiet Riot in 1976, which explored her spiritual reflections.
That same year, Gifford married Paul Johnson, a Christian music publisher, though their marriage lasted only six years. During this period, Gifford released three gospel albums and made regular appearances on religious TV shows, helping to establish her career in the Christian music industry.
“Live With Regis & Kathie Lee”
Kathie Lee Gifford’s career took off in the 1970s when she began working in television and music. Her early roles included a nine-month stint as Nurse Callahan on Days of Our Lives, as well as commercial jingles and TV pilots. Gifford’s first major television opportunity came in 1977-78 as the featured singer on Name That Tune, which led to further career opportunities, such as a part in Hee Haw Honeys and opening for comedians like Bill Cosby and Rich Little in Reno and Lake Tahoe.
In 1981, Gifford substituted as host on A.M. Los Angeles for two days, catching the attention of Susan Winston, an executive producer at Good Morning America (GMA). This exposure led to guest reporting and substitute hosting on GMA. By 1985, Regis Philbin, then hosting The Morning Show on WABC-TV, invited Gifford to join him as co-host after seeing her on GMA. Their dynamic chemistry was evident from the start, with Gifford famously calling Philbin a “jerk” in the first week. This playful banter became a signature feature of the show, and within two months, The Morning Show overtook The Phil Donahue Show in the tri-state ratings.
In 1988, the show was nationally syndicated as Live With Regis & Kathie Lee. The pair’s 15-minute “host chat” became a beloved segment, making Gifford a household name and America’s daytime TV sweetheart.
Personal Life and Controversies
In 1986, Gifford married former NFL star and ABC sports broadcaster Frank Gifford, whom she met on the set of GMA. The couple had two children, Cody and Cassidy. In 1996, Gifford faced controversy when it was revealed that her clothing line for Walmart was being produced in Honduras by child laborers. Gifford denied knowledge of these practices and became a vocal advocate against sweatshop labor. Despite her efforts, the scandal attracted significant media attention.
In 1997, Gifford faced further public scrutiny when The Globe published photos of her husband with flight attendant Suzen Johnson. The incident, though personally devastating, did not lead to a separation, but Gifford became more private about her family life, which had been a frequent topic of conversation on Live.
After 11 successful years on Live, Gifford announced in February 2000 that she would be leaving the show, citing a desire to focus on her family and her musical career. Her final appearance aired in July 2000, and in part, her decision to leave was influenced by her father’s terminal illness; Aaron Epstein passed away in November 2002.
Other Projects and Later Career
In addition to her television career, Gifford took on numerous endorsement deals, served as a spokeswoman for brands like Revlon and Carnival Cruise Lines, and authored an autobiography, I Can’t Believe I Said That! (1992). She also released several music albums, including The Heart of a Woman (2000) and Party Animals (2002), a collection of children’s songs.
Gifford returned to television in 2008, co-hosting the fourth hour of NBC’s Today show alongside Hoda Kotb. The duo became known for their lighthearted style, frequently sharing glasses of wine while discussing current events.
In 2015, Gifford faced personal loss with the death of her husband, Frank Gifford. He occasionally joined her on both Live and Today. After celebrating her 10th anniversary on Today in 2018, Gifford announced she would leave the show in the spring of 2019, bringing another chapter of her long and varied career to a close.