NEW YORK — Kathie Lee Gifford has wrapped up 11 years with NBC’s “Today” show with laughs, tears and — of course — wine.
The 65-year-old received a standing ovation from the audience after rapper Flo Rida opened the program Friday. Co-host Hoda Kotb credited Gifford for their success.
Her former “Live With Regis and Kathie Lee” co-host, Regis Philbin, saluted Gifford in a video. He said the best part of his TV life were the “15 years I spent with you.”
Gifford screamed when mystery guest Barry Manilow appeared and joined him as he sang “Can’t Smile Without You.”
Her children, Cody and Cassidy, called her a legendary mom.
.@kathielgifford talks about how she’s feeling on her final #TrydayFriday #CheersToKLG pic.twitter.com/hnJkhrmZ2d
— Kathie Lee and Hoda (@klgandhoda) April 5, 2019
Gifford has hosted the fourth hour of the show for the past decade with Hoda Kotb. Yesterday, Kotb welcomed her co-host to the Rockefeller Center plaza as her final week winds down. It was a sweet re-creation of the pair’s first show together … matching coats and all.
Gifford announced in December that she’d be leaving the show.
“It’s an exciting time for me and I’m thrilled about all the projects that are coming up, but it’s also hard,” she said, breaking the “bittersweet” news. “I’ve been in this business for 120 years and never worked with a more beautiful group of people who just give, give, give every day, ” she said that day.
In February, frequent fill-in co-host Jenna Bush Hager was named to replace Gifford in the often boozy, fun-filled final hour of the program.
Kotb and Gifford have spent this week laughing, crying and reminiscing about their years together on Today.
Gifford discussed her future plans with Jimmy Fallon this week on The Tonight Show.
