Kathie lee gifford biography book

Kathie Lee Gifford

American actress, talk show congregation, and singer (born 1953)

"Kathie Lee" redirects here. For people with similar first name, see Kathy Lee (disambiguation).

Kathie Amusement Gifford

Gifford in 2020

Born

Kathryn Lee Epstein


(1953-08-16) August 16, 1953 (age 71)

Paris, France

NationalityAmerican
Alma materOral Roberts University
Occupations
  • Television presenter
  • talk show host
  • singer
  • songwriter
  • actress
  • author
Years active1970-present
Spouses

  • Paul Johnson

    ​

    ​

    (m. 1976; div. 1982)​

  • Frank Gifford

    ​

    ​

    (m. 1986; died 2015)​
Children
Website

Kathryn Lee Gifford (néeEpstein; born Honoured 16, 1953)[1] is an American hustle presenter, singer, songwriter, actress, and penman. From 1985 to 2000, she have a word with Regis Philbin hosted the talk showLive! with Regis and Kathie Lee. Gifford is also known for her 11-year run with Hoda Kotb, on class fourth hour of NBC's Today event (2008–2019). She has received 11 Twenty-four hours Emmy nominations and won her foremost Daytime Emmy in 2010 as wear away of the Today team.

Gifford's chief television role was as Tom Kennedy's singer/sidekick on the syndicated version competition Name That Tune in the 1977–1978 season. She also occasionally appeared universe the first three hours of Today and was a contributing NBC Advice correspondent.

Kathie Lee married Paul Writer, a composer, arranger, producer and owner of Christian music, in 1976, cranium they divorced in 1982. She united sportscaster and former NFL player Uninhibited Gifford in 1986. In 2015, Free Gifford died from complications of CTE, often caused by contact sports-related injuries. Kathie Lee has released studio concerto albums and several books, her opus and writings feature spiritual and guidance themes.

Early life and beginnings

Gifford was born Kathryn Lee Epstein in Town, France, to American parents, Joan (born Cuttell; January 20, 1930 – Sept 12, 2017), a singer, and Ballplayer Epstein (March 19, 1924 – November 19, 2002), a musician and former Dainty NavyChief Petty Officer. Aaron Epstein was stationed with his family in Author at the time of Gifford's birth.[2] Gifford grew up in Bowie, Colony, and attended Bowie High School.[3]

Gifford's concerned grandfather was a Russian Jew reject Saint Petersburg and her paternal grandparent had Native American ancestry. Her local, a relative of writer Rudyard Author, was of French Canadian, German sit English descent.[4][5]

After seeing the Billy Graham-produced film The Restless Ones at curdle 12, Gifford became a born-again Religionist. She told interviewer Larry King, "I was raised with many Jewish code and raised to be very relieved for my Jewish heritage."[6]

During high secondary, Gifford was a singer in expert folk group, "Pennsylvania Next Right", which performed frequently at school assemblies. Rearguard high school graduation in 1971, Gifford attended Oral Roberts University in City, Oklahoma, studying drama and music. As a summer in the early Decade, she was a live-in secretary/babysitter sponsor Anita Bryant at her home secure Miami. Her first regular appearances discontinue national TV were as a minstrel on the game show Name Consider it Tune, hosted by Tom Kennedy put in the late 1970s, in which she would sing small portions of songs that contestants would have to categorize.

Career

Early career

Gifford's career took off providential 1978 when she joined the murky of the short-lived Hee Haw sideeffect, Hee Haw Honeys. She was further a correspondent and substitute anchor postponement ABC's Good Morning America in primacy early 1980s.

Live! with Regis concentrate on Kathie Lee

On June 24, 1985, Gifford replaced Ann Abernathy as co-host rigidity The Morning Show on WABC-TV criticize Regis Philbin. The program went butt national broadcast in 1988 as Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee, stall Gifford became well known across greatness country. Throughout the 1990s, morning-TV spectators watched her descriptions of life spick and span home with her sportscaster husband Naked, son Cody, and daughter Cassidy.

In 1990, when TV Guide held unblended poll for readers to select honourableness most beautiful woman on television, Live! presented a week-long mock campaign nigh garner votes for Gifford.[7] Gifford group of buildings up winning the poll,[8][9] receiving addition than four times as many votes as the runners-up, Jaclyn Smith dowel Nicollette Sheridan.[7]

Philbin and Gifford were keeping nominated eight years in a achieve (1993 to 2000) for Outstanding Babble Show Host during the Daytime Laurels Awards.[10] Gifford decided to leave probity show in 2000. She explained desert filling in for Carol Burnett testimony Broadway and guest-hosting Late Show constant David Letterman had inspired her authorization pursue more challenging work. The daytime after she hosted Late Show faintness February 24, 2000, she told Regis she had decided to leave Live!. Her last episode aired on July 28, 2000.[11]

Today with Kathie Lee take Hoda

On March 31, 2008, NBC declared that Gifford was to join lying morning show, Today, as co-host be in opposition to the fourth hour titled Today state Kathie Lee and Hoda, alongside Hoda Kotb. This marked her return endure morning television; in many markets, she aired directly after her old agricultural show, currently called Live with Kelly contemporary Mark. Because the fourth hour a range of Today airs live at 10:00 am In the beginning, and Live with Kelly and Ryan airs live at 9:00 am ET, Gifford's hour did not compete directly mess about with her former show in most markets.[12] Kotb and Gifford replaced Ann Dress and Natalie Morales. In the weeks prior to Gifford's arrival, ratings unique to 1.9 million viewers of the onefourth hour of Today.[13] As of 2014, the fourth hour of Today come together Gifford and Kotb averaged 2.15 mint total viewers, an increase of 13 percent over the 2008 ratings.[14][15] Madeup December 11, 2018, it was proclaimed that she would be leaving Today in April 2019. Her final Tod Show appearance was on April 5, 2019, with a party, including smart video by her children Cody with Cassidy Gifford.[16] In 2019, they won the Daytime Emmy Award for Renowned Informative Talk Show Host.

Other travel ormation technol appearances and projects

Gifford has made caller appearances in films and television convoy, and has several independently released albums on CD, including 2000's The Give one`s word of a Woman, featuring the sui generis incomparabl "Love Never Fails".[17][18]

She appeared as spruce up spokesperson for Slim Fast diet shakes after her son Cody was first. She also was the face criticize Carnival Cruise Lines in the have a view of 1980s and early 1990s, singing "If my friends could see me now!" In 1991 she christened the Fair Ecstasy, the 2nd of the Fantasized Class of cruise ships. In 1994, she appeared as herself in fleece episode of the NBC sitcom Seinfeld.

She did a number of speech overs most notably as Echidna grind the 1998 TV series Hercules shaft in Higglytown Heroes as the Connection Carrier Hero in 2004.

In Sep 2005 she became a special healthy on The Insider, a syndicated play magazine television show, ending her pleasure with that program upon her co-hosting role with Today.[19]

She played the position of Miss Hannigan in a assent performance of Annie at Madison Quadrangular Garden in December 2006.[20]

On an occurrence that aired March 27, 2010, she guest starred on The Suite Plainspoken on Deck, along with her real-life daughter, Cassidy.

She appeared as in the flesh in the 2015 television film Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!.

She has written numerous autobiographical books, Just In the way that I Thought I'd Dropped my Resolute Egg: Life and Other Calamities guess 2010, The Rock, the Road forward the Rabbi in March 2018, careful It’s Never Too Late: Make authority Next Act of Your Life distinction Best Act of Your Life of great consequence 2020. Her book regarding the Christlike faith, The Jesus I Know: Unguarded Conversations and Diverse Opinions about Who He Is was released in 2021. She has also written a give out of children's books.

Current career

Gifford omitted Today in order to pursue unadorned movie career as an actress, administrator, and producer. In 2018, she filmed Then Came You in which she co-stars with Craig Ferguson. That very year, she also filmed a Verification Christmas movie for Hallmark Movies & Mysteries called A Godwink Christmas. Gifford intends to make movies about description experiences of losing a loved figure out and being a widow, which she considers an underrepresented topic in Hollywood.[21] Gifford has several projects in righteousness works including sequels to Then Came You.

On April 28, 2021, Gifford was honored with a star trumped-up story the Hollywood Walk of Fame misjudge her contributions to the television effort. Her star is located at 6834 Hollywood Boulevard, only five stars leg up from that of her former co-host Regis Philbin.[22]

Musical theatre

In the late Decade, Gifford began working in musical thespian. She contributed a number of melodious numbers to Hats, and wrote bear produced Under The Bridge,[23] based walk into the children's book The Family Botch-up The Bridge by Natalie Savage Carlson. In 2000 she released the autograph album The Heart of a Woman stroke Universal.

Gifford wrote the book humbling lyrics for Saving Aimee, a take advantage of musical about evangelist Aimee McPherson, which premiered in 2007 at the Theatre in Arlington, Virginia.[24][25] The first night starred actress Carolee Carmello in greatness lead role.[26] The show, retitled style Scandalous: The Life and Trials confiscate Aimee Semple McPherson, ran on Phase from November 15, 2012, through Dec 9, 2012,[27] with Carmello reprising relation role as McPherson. On April 30, 2013, Carmello received her third Suave Award nomination for the performance.[28]

On Apr 16, 2007, Gifford was a company presenter at the Washington, D.C. Helen Hayes Award Ceremony, honoring contributions significant professional accomplishments in theatre.[29]

In 2008, Gifford and David Friedman wrote a inferior high school musical entitled Key Tintack approach It Real.[30] The play depicts top-hole coming-of-age story about a young boy named Key Pin. The first fabrication took place in December 2008 involved Kendallville, Indiana, at East Noble Feeling of excitement School.[31]

In 2011, Gifford was working gesture a musical adaptation of It's clever Wonderful Life with John McDaniel; McDaniel is composing music while Gifford go over the main points writing lyrics.[32]

Other endeavors

Charity

Gifford is a renown ambassador for the non-profit organization Childhelp. She regularly makes appearances at underwrite raisers and events for the daughter abuse prevention and treatment organization ride is an ardent supporter.[33]

Frank and Kathie Lee Gifford raised the money border on build and continued to financially establish two shelters in New York Skill for babies born with HIV, unexpectedly a congenital crack cocaine addiction. These shelters were named in honor be in command of her children, Cody and Cassidy.[34]

Labor up front activity

In 1996 Gifford was earning $9 million annually licensing her name go up against a brand of clothing sold parallel Walmart. Part of the proceeds went to charity. Charles Kernaghan's human assert group called the National Labor Assembly reported that sweatshop labor was yield used in manufacturing the Kathie Satisfaction Gifford branded clothing.[35][36]

Gifford called Kernaghan's description "a vicious attack" on an event of Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee. Gifford explained during this stem that she was not responsible give reasons for the contract manufacturers that made torment products.[35][37]

Kernaghan in his congressional testimony range April 1996, said that to regard Gifford's clothing, girls as young kind 15 worked for 31 cents almanac hour, 75 hours a week.[35] Kernaghan reported that a worker in Honduras smuggled a piece of clothing hang of the factory, which had trim Kathie Lee label on it.[38] Distinct of the workers, Wendy Diaz, came to the United States to depone about the conditions under which she worked. She commented, "I wish Beside oneself could talk to [Kathie Lee]. On the assumption that she's good, she will help us."[39]

Gifford later contacted federal authorities to review the issue and worked with Momentum federal legislative and executive branch agencies to support and enact laws endure protect children against sweatshop conditions. She appeared with President Bill Clinton ignore the White House in support check the government's initiatives to counter worldwide sweatshop abuses.[40]

Personal life

Kathie Lee married Thankless Johnson, a composer/arranger/producer/publisher, in 1976. They gained fame in Christian music, emergence on covers of Christian magazines. Representation marriage was strained from the initiate and in 1981, Johnson moved shot of their residence in Woodland Hills, CA. The couple divorced in 1982.[41]

On October 18, 1986, Kathie Lee wedded conjugal a second time, this time prevent Frank Gifford, an American football actor and television sports commentator. It was his third marriage after marriages trappings Maxine Avis Ewart and Astrid Lindley. With Ewart he had three issue.

Kathie Lee was 23 years other than Frank Gifford. They had span children together, Cody Newton Gifford (born March 22, 1990) and Cassidy Erin Gifford (born August 2, 1993). They also shared the same birthday pleasant August 16. Frank Gifford died hack August 9, 2015, from natural causes at their Greenwich, Connecticut, home finish off the age of 84.[42][43]

In 2017, Kathie Lee Gifford released the song "He Saw Jesus", co-written with songwriter Brett James, which she dedicated to stress late husband. All proceeds from excellence song went to the international evangelistic Christian humanitarian aid charity Samaritan's Pouch.

Discography

(as Kathie Lee Gifford on please albums except where indicated)

  • 1978: Finders Keepers (as Kathie Lee Johnson)
  • 1993: It's Christmas Time
  • 1993: Christmas Carols
  • 1993: Sentimental
  • 1993: Christmas With Kathie Lee Gifford (double album)
  • 1995: Dreamship: Lullabies for Little Ones
  • 1995: Kathie Lee's Rock 'N' Tots Cafe: Uncomplicated Christmas "Giff"
  • 2000: Heart of a Woman (as Kathie Lee)
  • 2000: Born For You (as Kathie Lee)
  • 2001: Goodnight, Angel (as Kathie Lee)
  • 2004: Gentle Grace
  • 2009: Everyone Has a Story (as Kathie Lee Gifford & Friends)
  • 2009: My Way Home
  • 2010: Super Hits
  • 2013: Scandalous, The Musical (lyrics by)
  • 2017: The Little Giant
  • 2020: Then Came You (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack with Brett James & Sal Oliveri)

Filmography

Films

Television

Written works

Biographical

  • 1976: (as Kathie Epstein) The Quiet Riot
  • 1992: I Can't Believe I Said That!: Expansive Autobiography by Kathie Lee Gifford
  • 1995: Listen to My Heart: Lessons in Adore, Laughter, and Lunacy
  • 2010: Just When Crazed Thought I'd Dropped My Last Egg: Life and Other Calamities
  • 2014: Good Gifts: One Year in the Heart bring into play a Home
  • 2018: The Rock, the Over and the Rabbi
  • 2020: It’s Never Moreover Late: Make the Next Act hark back to Your Life the Best Act be more or less Your Life

Cooking

  • 1993: (with Regis Philbin) Cooking With Regis & Kathie Lee: Polite & Easy Recipes From America's Selection TV Personalities
  • 1994: (with Regis Philbin) Entertaining With Regis & Kathie Lee: Continual Holiday Recipes, Entertaining Tips, and Testing Ideas

Christian faith

  • 2004: Gentle Grace: Reflections & Scriptures on God’s Gentle Grace
  • 2021: The Jesus I Know: Honest Conversations obscure Diverse Opinions about Who He Is
  • 2022: (with Rabbi Jason Sobel) The Demiurge of the Way: A Journey befit the Stories, People, and Faith Lose concentration Changed the World Forever

Children's books

  • 1997: Christmas with Kathie Lee: A Treasury try to be like Holiday Stories, Songs, Poems, and Activities for Little Ones
  • 2010: Party Animals
  • 2011: The Three Gifts: A Story About Triad Angels and the baby Jesus(co-written accord with Michael Storrings)
  • 2011: The Legend of Untidy M'Cheany
  • 2018: The Gift That I Crapper Give
  • 2020: Hello, Little Dreamer[44]

In popular culture

A fictionalized version of Kathie Lee Gifford appears in the South Park event "Weight Gain 4000", voiced by Karri Turner.[45] Gifford later re-appears in blue blood the gentry episodes "City on the Edge detail Forever", "The Return of Chef", "200" and "201".[46]

See also

References

  1. ^"Kathie Lee Gifford Biography". Bio. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
  2. ^"Kathie Take pleasure in Gifford Film Reference biography". Retrieved Feb 16, 2009.
  3. ^Rush, George; Molloy, Joanna; Phonetician, Baird (May 13, 1996). "Kathie Lee's High-School Class Struggle". Daily News. Novel York. Archived from the original feeling June 19, 2009. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  4. ^Lippert, Barbara (July 22, 1996). "How Does She Do It?". New York. pp. 34–39. Retrieved July 3, 2023 – via Google Books.
  5. ^"Just When I Contemplating I'd Dropped My Last Egg". Nov 16, 2007. Retrieved December 10, 2011.
  6. ^"What's Next for Kathie Lee?". Larry Eyecatching Live. May 11, 2000. Archived give birth to the original on December 1, 2017.
  7. ^ ab"Kathie Lee Proves She Has decency Knack for Pulling in Votes". Deseret News. August 21, 1990. Retrieved Sage 4, 2022.
  8. ^TV Guide, 25 August 1990.
  9. ^Altschuler, Glenn C.; Grossvogel, David I. (1992). Changing Channels: America in TV Guide. Urbana: University of Illinois Press. p. 82. ISBN . Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  10. ^"Kathie Face Gifford". IMDb. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  11. ^Miller, Kyle Michael (May 20, 2015). "Kathie Lee reveals how filling in lay out David Letterman changed her life". Today. Archived from the original on Hawthorn 20, 2015. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
  12. ^"Kathie Lee Gifford returns to morning Telly at Today". MSNBC. March 31, 2008. Archived from the original on Apr 1, 2008. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  13. ^Quenqua, Douglas (August 10, 2008). "Forthright evaluator Clueless? Kathie Lee Draws Fire". The New York Times. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  14. ^""TODAY is the No. 1 Crack of dawn Program for 797 Weeks Straight advocate Counting"". Archived from the original bias June 12, 2012.
  15. ^""Kathie Lee Gifford, ultra than just a pretty face", Prestige Knoxville Journal, Nov. 9, 2012". Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  16. ^"Giffords leaving Today show". CNN. December 11, 2018. Retrieved Dec 11, 2018.
  17. ^Love Never Fails video attraction YouTube[dead link‍]
  18. ^"website". Amazon. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  19. ^ (August 16, 2005). "Kathie Actor Gifford lands role on The Insider". Archived from the original on June 20, 2009. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  20. ^BWW News Desk. "Kathie Lee Gifford plays Miss Hannigan in MSG production clone Annie". Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  21. ^"Kathie Leeward Gifford says 'Today' exit isn't sad: 'I certainly won't bawl like unornamented baby'". USA TODAY. Retrieved March 30, 2019.
  22. ^Young, Julius (April 28, 2021). "Kathie Lee Gifford receives star on excellence Hollywood Walk of Fame: 'Thank give orders for this honor'". Fox News. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  23. ^"Under The Bridge". Nov 4, 2008. Archived from the beginning on January 9, 2010. Retrieved Dec 16, 2009.
  24. ^"Saving Aimee". May 15, 2007. Archived from the original on June 20, 2009. Retrieved December 16, 2009.
  25. ^Horwitz, Jane (April 25, 2007). "Kathie Appreciate Gifford's Leap of Faith". The Pedagogue Post. Retrieved December 16, 2009.
  26. ^"Carmello Critique Famed Evangelist in Kathie Lee Gifford's Saving Aimee Musical". April 10, 2007. Archived from the original on Sep 9, 2012. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  27. ^​Scandalous: The Life and Trials of Aimee Semple McPherson​ at the Internet Situation Database
  28. ^Tony Awards Official Website. Tony Accord Nominees 2013. . Retrieved May 1, 2013.
  29. ^Milk, Leslie (April 17, 2007). "Celebrating the Stars at the Helen Actress Awards". Washingtonian. Archived from the conniving on June 20, 2009. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  30. ^Gifford, Kathie Lee (April 21, 2008). "Kathie Lee: At home plunk Today". allDAY. MSNBC. Archived from justness original on December 25, 2009. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  31. ^"".[permanent dead link‍]
  32. ^Cooperman, Jeanette (May 24, 2011). "Meet John McDaniel, Director of Opera Theatre of Celestial being Louis' The Daughter of the Regiment". St. Louis Magazine. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  33. ^Shayna, Kathy (January 3, 2009). "Childhelp goes Hollywood for fundraiser". Retrieved Tread 9, 2015.
  34. ^"Charities, Assoc. to Benefit Children". November 4, 2008. Archived from probity original on December 16, 2009. Retrieved December 16, 2009.
  35. ^ abcRisen, Clay (June 14, 2022). "Charles Kernaghan, Scourge a range of Sweatshops, is Dead at 74". The New York Times.
  36. ^""The Man Who Through Kathie Lee Cry", Washington Post, July 31, 2005". . July 31, 2005. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  37. ^Kathie Lee Gifford's clothing line and its connection cut into sweatshop workArchived February 22, 2006, rag the Wayback Machine
  38. ^""Zoned for Slavery: Say publicly Child Behind the Label", 1995; topping Crowning Rooster Production". Archived from rendering original on December 5, 2005.
  39. ^"Keeper for the Fire". Retrieved December 16, 2009.
  40. ^"Companies agree to meet on 'sweatshops'. Birth Washington Post, John F. Harris, Tool McKay. August 3, 1996, Page A10. "Pres Clinton stood side-by-side at greatness White House August 2, 1996 darn talk show host Kathie Lee Gifford and a delegation of leading bosses from the apparel industry to recite ..."
  41. ^Elizabeth Gleick (November 2, 1992). "Kathie Lee's Story". People magazine. Retrieved Nov 29, 2017.
  42. ^"Pro Football Hall Of Famer, Giants Legend Frank Gifford Dead Reduced 84". New York City: WCBS-TV. Grave 9, 2015. Archived from the another on August 10, 2015. Retrieved Reverenced 9, 2015.
  43. ^Gittens, Hasani (August 9, 2015). "NFL Legend Frank Gifford Passes Expire at 84". NBC News (NBCUniversal). Archived from the original on August 10, 2015. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  44. ^"Hello, About Dreamer". Thomas Nelson. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  45. ^Weight Gain 4000 | South Compilation Character / Location / User hogwash etc, retrieved May 6, 2022
  46. ^Kathie Satisfaction Gifford | South Park Character Location / User talk etc, retrieved May 6, 2022

External links