History of Kathie Lee Gifford in Timeline
Kathryn Lee Gifford is a multi-talented American television personality known for her work as a presenter, singer, songwriter, actress, and author. She is best known for co-hosting the popular talk show "Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee" alongside Regis Philbin for 15 years and later co-hosting the fourth hour of NBC's "Today" show with Hoda Kotb for 11 years. Her successful television career has earned her numerous accolades, including a Daytime Emmy Award in 2010.
March 19, 1924: Birth of Aaron Epstein
Aaron Epstein, Kathie Lee Gifford's father, is born on March 19, 1924.
January 20, 1930: Birth of Joan Cuttell
Kathie Lee Gifford's mother, Joan Cuttell, is born on January 20, 1930.
August 16, 1953: Birth of Kathie Lee Gifford
On August 16, 1953, Kathie Lee Gifford is born in Paris, France.
1971: High School Graduation and Enrollment at Oral Roberts University
Kathie Lee Gifford graduates high school and enrolls in Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to study drama and music in 1971.
1976: Marriage to Paul Johnson
Kathie Lee Gifford married composer, arranger, producer, and publisher Paul Johnson in 1976. The couple rose to prominence in Christian music, gracing the covers of Christian magazines.
1977: Debut Television Role on "Name That Tune"
Kathie Lee Gifford lands her first television role as a singer and sidekick to Tom Kennedy on "Name That Tune".
1978: Occasional Appearances on "Today"
Kathie Lee makes occasional appearances on the first three hours of "Today" and works as a correspondent for NBC News.
1978: Joining "Hee Haw Honeys" and "Good Morning America"
Kathie Lee's career gains momentum in 1978 when she joins the cast of "Hee Haw Honeys" and serves as a correspondent and substitute anchor for ABC's "Good Morning America".
1981: Separation from Paul Johnson
After a tumultuous period, Paul Johnson moved out of their shared residence in Woodland Hills, CA, in 1981, marking a turning point in their marriage.
1982: Divorce from Paul Johnson
Kathie Lee Gifford's marriage to Paul Johnson ended in divorce in 1982.
June 24, 1985: Replacing Ann Abernathy on "The Morning Show"
Kathie Lee Gifford replaces Ann Abernathy as co-host of "The Morning Show" on June 24, 1985.
1985: Kathie Lee Gifford Joins "The Morning Show"
In 1985, Kathie Lee Gifford starts co-hosting "The Morning Show" alongside Regis Philbin.
October 18, 1986: Marriage to Frank Gifford
Kathie Lee embarked on her second marriage on October 18, 1986, exchanging vows with Frank Gifford, a former American football player and renowned television sports commentator. This marked Frank Gifford's third marriage.
1986: Marriage to Frank Gifford
Kathie Lee marries Frank Gifford, a sportscaster and former NFL player, in 1986.
1988: "The Morning Show" Goes National as "Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee"
"The Morning Show" transitions into national broadcast as "Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee" in 1988, significantly boosting Gifford's national recognition.
March 22, 1990: Birth of Cody Newton Gifford
Kathie Lee and Frank Gifford welcomed their son, Cody Newton Gifford, into the world on March 22, 1990.
1990: Winning TV Guide's "Most Beautiful Woman on Television"
Kathie Lee Gifford wins TV Guide's "Most Beautiful Woman on Television" poll in 1990, securing a considerable margin over runners-up Jaclyn Smith and Nicollette Sheridan.
1991: Christening of Carnival Ecstasy
As a spokesperson for Carnival Cruise Lines, Kathie Lee Gifford christens the Carnival Ecstasy, the second ship in the Fantasy Class, in 1991.
August 2, 1993: Birth of Cassidy Erin Gifford
Cassidy Erin Gifford, daughter of Kathie Lee and Frank Gifford, was born on August 2, 1993.
1993: First Daytime Emmy Award Nomination
Kathie Lee Gifford and Regis Philbin receive their first joint nomination for Outstanding Talk Show Host at the Daytime Emmy Awards.
1994: Guest Appearance on "Seinfeld"
Kathie Lee Gifford appears as herself in an episode of the popular NBC sitcom "Seinfeld" in 1994.
April 1996: Congressional Testimony and Worker's Plea
During a congressional hearing in April 1996, Charles Kernaghan presented evidence of exploitative labor practices in factories producing Kathie Lee Gifford's clothing line. He shared a smuggled garment with her label and the testimony of Wendy Diaz, a worker subjected to harsh conditions. Diaz expressed her hope that Gifford would use her influence to improve their plight.
1996: Sweatshop Labor Allegations Surface
In 1996, Kathie Lee Gifford faced controversy when the National Labor Committee, a human rights group led by Charles Kernaghan, alleged the use of sweatshop labor in the production of her clothing line sold at Walmart. Despite a portion of the proceeds going to charity, the allegations sparked public scrutiny.
1998: Voice Acting in "Hercules"
Kathie Lee Gifford takes on voice acting, notably portraying Echidna in the 1998 TV series "Hercules."
February 24, 2000: Announcing Departure from "Live!"
After guest-hosting "Late Show with David Letterman," Kathie Lee Gifford announces her decision to depart from "Live!" on February 24, 2000.
July 28, 2000: Final Episode of "Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee"
Kathie Lee Gifford's final episode on "Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee" airs on July 28, 2000.
2000: The Heart of a Woman Album Release
In 2000, Kathie Lee Gifford released "The Heart of a Woman," an album showcasing her musical talents. This followed her earlier forays into musical theater, including contributions to "Hats" and the creation of "Under The Bridge."
2000: Departure from "Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee"
Kathie Lee Gifford departs from "Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee" in 2000 to explore new opportunities.
2000: Release of "The Heart of a Woman" Album
Kathie Lee Gifford releases "The Heart of a Woman," a studio album featuring the single "Love Never Fails," in 2000.
November 19, 2002: Death of Aaron Epstein
Kathie Lee Gifford's father, Aaron Epstein, passes away on November 19, 2002.
2004: Voice Acting in "Higglytown Heroes"
Kathie Lee Gifford lends her voice to the character of the Mail Carrier Hero in the children's show "Higglytown Heroes" in 2004.
September 2005: Joining "The Insider" as Special Correspondent
Kathie Lee Gifford joins "The Insider", a syndicated entertainment magazine show, as a special correspondent in September 2005.
December 2006: Playing Miss Hannigan in "Annie" at Madison Square Garden
Kathie Lee Gifford takes on the stage, playing Miss Hannigan in a concert performance of "Annie" at Madison Square Garden in December 2006.
April 16, 2007: Gifford Presents at Helen Hayes Awards
Kathie Lee Gifford participated as a guest presenter at the Helen Hayes Award Ceremony in Washington, D.C., on April 16, 2007, an event celebrating theatrical achievements.
2007: Saving Aimee Premieres
Kathie Lee Gifford's musical "Saving Aimee," about the life of evangelist Aimee McPherson, debuted in 2007 at the Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia.
March 31, 2008: NBC Announces Kathie Lee Gifford as Co-host of "Today's" Fourth Hour
On March 31, 2008, NBC announces Kathie Lee Gifford will be joining "Today" as co-host of the fourth hour, titled "Today with Kathie Lee and Hoda", marking her return to morning television.
December 2008: Key Pin It Real Debuts in Indiana
"Key Pin It Real," a junior high school musical written by Kathie Lee Gifford and David Friedman, premiered in Kendallville, Indiana, in December 2008. The production, held at East Noble High School, marked the debut of this coming-of-age story about a young girl named Key Pin.
March 27, 2010: Guest Appearance on "The Suite Life on Deck"
Kathie Lee Gifford, alongside her daughter Cassidy, makes a guest appearance on the Disney Channel's "The Suite Life on Deck" on March 27, 2010.
2010: Publication of "Just When I Thought I'd Dropped my Last Egg: Life and Other Calamities"
Kathie Lee Gifford publishes her autobiographical book, "Just When I Thought I'd Dropped my Last Egg: Life and Other Calamities," in 2010.
2010: Daytime Emmy Award Win
Kathie Lee Gifford receives her first Daytime Emmy Award as part of the "Today" team in 2010.
2011: Gifford and McDaniel Collaborate on It's a Wonderful Life Musical
In 2011, Kathie Lee Gifford partnered with John McDaniel to develop a musical adaptation of "It's a Wonderful Life." Gifford took on the role of lyricist, while McDaniel composed the music.
November 15, 2012: Scandalous Opens on Broadway
Retitled "Scandalous: The Life and Trials of Aimee Semple McPherson," Gifford's musical premiered on Broadway on November 15, 2012, with Carolee Carmello reprising her role as McPherson.
December 9, 2012: Scandalous Closes on Broadway
Kathie Lee Gifford's musical "Scandalous: The Life and Trials of Aimee Semple McPherson" concluded its Broadway run on December 9, 2012.
April 30, 2013: Tony Nomination for Carolee Carmello
Carolee Carmello received a Tony Award nomination for her portrayal of Aimee McPherson in Kathie Lee Gifford's musical "Scandalous," marking her third Tony nomination.
2014: Ratings Success for "Today with Kathie Lee and Hoda"
By 2014, "Today with Kathie Lee and Hoda" averages 2.15 million viewers, a notable increase from its 2008 ratings.
August 9, 2015: Death of Frank Gifford
Frank Gifford passed away from natural causes at the age of 84 on August 9, 2015, at his home in Greenwich, Connecticut.
2015: Appearance in "Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!"
Kathie Lee Gifford makes an appearance in the television film "Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!" in 2015.
2015: Death of Frank Gifford
Kathie Lee's husband, Frank Gifford, passes away in 2015.
September 12, 2017: Death of Joan Epstein
Kathie Lee Gifford's mother, Joan Epstein, passes away on September 12, 2017.
2017: "He Saw Jesus" Release
In a heartfelt tribute to her late husband, Kathie Lee Gifford released the song "He Saw Jesus" in 2017. Co-written with songwriter Brett James, the song's proceeds were donated to Samaritan's Purse, an international Christian relief organization.
March 2018: Release of "The Rock, the Road and the Rabbi"
Kathie Lee Gifford authors and publishes "The Rock, the Road and the Rabbi" in March 2018.
December 11, 2018: Kathie Lee Gifford Announces Departure from "Today"
On December 11, 2018, Kathie Lee Gifford announces her plan to depart from "Today" in April 2019.
2018: Filming "Then Came You" and "A Godwink Christmas"
Kathie Lee Gifford begins her film career, filming "Then Came You" with Craig Ferguson and a Hallmark Christmas movie, "A Godwink Christmas," in 2018.
April 5, 2019: Final "Today Show" Appearance
Kathie Lee Gifford makes her final appearance on "Today" on April 5, 2019, celebrated with a farewell party and a special video message from her children.
April 2019: Departure from "Today"
Kathie Lee Gifford officially departs from "Today" in April 2019.
2019: Kathie Lee Gifford Departs from "Today"
After 11 years, Kathie Lee Gifford leaves "Today" in 2019 to pursue a career in film.
2020: Release of "It's Never Too Late: Make the Next Act of Your Life the Best Act of Your Life"
Kathie Lee Gifford releases "It's Never Too Late: Make the Next Act of Your Life the Best Act of Your Life" in 2020.
April 28, 2021: Hollywood Walk of Fame Honors Kathie Lee Gifford
On April 28, 2021, Kathie Lee Gifford received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a testament to her contributions to television. Located at 6834 Hollywood Boulevard, her star is just a short distance from her former co-host Regis Philbin's star.
2021: Release of "The Jesus I Know: Honest Conversations and Diverse Opinions about Who He Is"
Kathie Lee Gifford publishes her book about faith, titled "The Jesus I Know: Honest Conversations and Diverse Opinions about Who He Is," in 2021.
