Kathryn Lee Gifford (née Epstein; born August 16, 1953) is an
American television presenter, singer, songwriter, occasional actress
and author. She is best known for her 15-year run (1985â€"2000) on the
talk show Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee, which she co-hosted with
Regis Philbin. She is also known for her 11-year run with Hoda Kotb,
on the fourth hour of NBC's Today show (2008â€"2019). 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 only in the 1977â€"1978 season. She also occasionally appeared on
the first three hours of Today and was a contributing NBC News
correspondent.Kathie Lee married Paul Johnson, a
composer/arranger/producer/publisher of Christian music, 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
studio albums and written books.Gifford was born Kathryn Lee Epstein
in Paris, France, to American parents, Joan (born Cuttell; January 20,
1930 â€" September 12, 2017), a singer, and Aaron Epstein (March 19,
1924 â€" November 19, 2002), a musician and former US Navy Chief Petty
Officer. Aaron Epstein was stationed with his family in France at the
time of Gifford's birth. Gifford grew up in Bowie, Maryland, and
attended Bowie High School.
American television presenter, singer, songwriter, occasional actress
and author. She is best known for her 15-year run (1985â€"2000) on the
talk show Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee, which she co-hosted with
Regis Philbin. She is also known for her 11-year run with Hoda Kotb,
on the fourth hour of NBC's Today show (2008â€"2019). 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 only in the 1977â€"1978 season. She also occasionally appeared on
the first three hours of Today and was a contributing NBC News
correspondent.Kathie Lee married Paul Johnson, a
composer/arranger/producer/publisher of Christian music, 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
studio albums and written books.Gifford was born Kathryn Lee Epstein
in Paris, France, to American parents, Joan (born Cuttell; January 20,
1930 â€" September 12, 2017), a singer, and Aaron Epstein (March 19,
1924 â€" November 19, 2002), a musician and former US Navy Chief Petty
Officer. Aaron Epstein was stationed with his family in France at the
time of Gifford's birth. Gifford grew up in Bowie, Maryland, and
attended Bowie High School.
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