Kathie Lee Gifford is a singer and actress who became a household name during her eleven-year tenure on Live with Regis & Kathie Lee. Gifford joined the cast of The Today Show on April 7, 2008. She co-hosts the fourth hour of the show with Hoda Kotb.
On April 11, 2009, Zac Efron appeared as Cody Gifford during a Saturday Night Live stetch about The Today Show. Gifford confronted the High School Musical star on The Today Show on April 13, 2009, informing Efron, "[Cody] is way younger than you, way taller than you and way better looking! Thank you very much!"MSNBC: Kathie Lee Gifford Takes On Efron (April 13, 2009)
"Everyone Has a Story" Lawsuit
TMZ.com reported on December 4, 2008, that Gifford and NBC were being sued by Harold Johns, a musician, because he claims they stole his ideas for a segment on Today called "Everyone Has a Story." Viewers of Today send in their life stories and Gifford pens a showtune about them for the "Everyone Has a Story" segment.TMZ.com: Lawsuit: Kathie Lee's Music Ruined My Life (December 4, 2008)
Allegedly, Johns pitched the idea around Hollywood in 2007, but no one was interested. He claims the idea was then given to Today. He is seeking $100 million in his lawsuit.TMZ.com: Lawsuit: Kathie Lee's Music Ruined My Life (December 4, 2008)
Kathie Lee Gifford Career Highlights
- 1982: Joined Good Morning America as a correspondent
- 1985: Became the co-host of The Morning Show along with Regis Philbin
- 1988: The Morning Show became the nationally syndicated program, Live with Regis & Kathie Lee
- 2000: Left Live With Regis and Kathie Lee
- 2008: Became co-host of the fourth hour of the The Today Show along with Hoda Kotb
References
Fast Facts
-
Birth name
Kathryn Lee Epstein
-
Born
August 16, 1953
-
Birth place
Paris, France
-
Parents
Aaron Leon Epstein was an American Naval officer and her mother, Joan Epstein, was a Naval secretaryBiography.com: Kathie Lee Gifford
-
Siblings
David and Michelle
-
Fact:
Epstein family settled in Bowie, Maryland, in 1957
-
Fact:
Became a born-again Christian when she was 12Biography: Kathie Lee Gifford
-
Fact:
Grew up in a Jewish environmentBiography: Kathie Lee Gifford
-
Fact:
Won the Maryland Junior Miss pageant when she was 17Biography: Kathie Lee Gifford
-
Fact:
-
Fact:
-
Fact:
Johnson was her Bible study group leaderBiography.com Kathie Lee Gifford
-
Fact:
-
Fact:
-
Fact:
-
Fact:
Gave birth to daughter, Cassidy Gifford in 1993Biography.com: Kathie Lee Gifford
-
Fact:
-
Fact:
Frank Gifford had an affair with a TWA flight attendant in 1997Biography.com: Kathie Lee Gifford
-
Fact:
Later discovered that the tabloid paid Johnson $75,00 to seduce GiffordBiography.com: Kathie Lee Gifford
-
Emmy nominations
