{"id":134216,"date":"2025-08-10T11:29:13","date_gmt":"2025-08-10T11:29:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/134216\/"},"modified":"2025-08-10T11:29:13","modified_gmt":"2025-08-10T11:29:13","slug":"kathie-lee-gifford-shares-why-shes-rejoicing-for-hoda-kotb-on-husband-franks-death-anniversary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/134216\/","title":{"rendered":"Kathie Lee Gifford Shares Why She\u2019s \u2018Rejoicing\u2019 for Hoda Kotb on Husband Frank\u2019s Death Anniversary"},"content":{"rendered":"

Kathie Lee Gifford<\/strong><\/a> shared a range of emotions in a poignant Instagram post about two very important people in her life.<\/p>\n

The former Live! With Regis and Kathie Lee co-host, 71, acknowledged that Saturday, August 9, was the 10th anniversary of her late husband Frank Gifford<\/strong>\u2019s death in 2015, in addition to being her former Today cohost Hoda Kotb<\/strong><\/a>\u2019s 61st birthday.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday is a day for rejoicing! First of all, I rejoice for my precious friend, Hoda Mama, on the occasion of her Birthday,\u201d Kathie Lee wrote<\/a>. \u201cShe is one of the most spectacular people I have ever known and I adore her and I want all her dreams to come true.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kathie Lee then addressed the solemn anniversary of losing her late husband Frank, who passed away from natural causes on August 9, 2015. (Kathie Lee and Frank were married for 29 years and shared two children: son Cody Newton<\/a>, born in March 1990, and daughter Cassidy Erin, born in August 1993.)<\/p>\n

Kathie Lee Gifford Reacts to Hoda Kotb\u2019s \u2018Bittersweet\u2019 Exit From \u2018Today\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cThe second thing that I rejoice about, is that my precious husband, Frank, went home to Jesus 10 years ago today and he has been at peace and filled with joy and glory since that very day. I find comfort in that,\u201d she wrote. \u201cSo, I\u2019m rejoicing in the Lord and how He cares for His loved ones, for His children. Bless all of you today. And I hope you can find the same kind of Shalom in your lives.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Gifford family announced shortly after Frank\u2019s death that the former NFL star suffered from \u201cthe debilitating effects of head trauma,\u201d including Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (C.T.E.). Frank played in the NFL for 12 seasons for the New York Giants, and later became a sports analyst on ABC\u2019s Monday Night Football and Wide World of Sports.<\/p>\n

\"GettyImages-96990760<\/p>\n

Kathie Lee Gifford, Frank Gifford and Hoda Kotb. Ben Hider\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

\u201cDuring the last years of his life, Frank dedicated himself to understanding the recent revelations concerning the connection between repetitive head trauma and its associated cognitive and behavioral symptoms \u2014 which he experienced firsthand,\u201d the family told The New York Times<\/a> in November 2015.<\/p>\n

Since Frank\u2019s death, Kathie Lee and her children have become advocates for C.T.E. research. Frank was previously married to college sweetheart Maxine Avis Ewart<\/strong> \u2014 with whom he shared three children \u2014 and fitness trainer Astrid Lindley<\/strong> before tying the knot with Kathie Lee in 1986.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Kathie Lee\u2019s birthday tribute to her Hoda came eight months after her longtime friend and coworker quit NBC\u2019s Today. (The duo cohosted the fourth hour of Today for 11 years before Kathie Lee left the show in 2019. Hoda hosted her final Today show<\/a> in January 2025.)<\/p>\n

Kathie Lee Gifford Says Howard Stern Called to Apologize After 30-Year Feud: \u2018He\u2019s a Very Odd Duck\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n

When Us Weekly asked Kathie Lee in June if she\u2019d consider coming back to Today as Hoda\u2019s replacement<\/a>, the Daytime Emmy winner explained: \u201cI\u2019ve been back as a guest often because I\u2019ve always got a new book out or a new movie or a new something that I\u2019m working on.\u201d<\/p>\n

She continued, \u201cI still have great friends there. A lot of the crew are still the same. And I miss Hoda so, so much. [But] I live in Tennessee most of the time now. I have for about seven years already.\u201d<\/p>\n

Today airs on NBC from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. ET.<\/p>\n