Kathy Lee Gifford

Kathie Lee Gifford
Gifford at the 2008 Emmy Awards
Born	Kathryn Lee Epstein (1953-08-16) August 16, 1953 (age 63) Paris, France
Alma mater	Oral Roberts University
Occupation	TV presenter Talk show host Actress Singer-songwriter
Years active	1970–present
Spouse(s)	Paul Johnson (m. 1976; div. 1983) Frank Gifford (m. 1986; d. 2015)
Children	2 including; Cassidy Erin (b. 1993)
Website	KathieLeeGifford.com

Kathryn "Kathie" Lee Gifford (née Epstein, previously Johnson; born August 16, 1953) is an American television host, singer, songwriter, comedian, and actress, best known for her 15-year run (1985–2000) on the talk show Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee, which she co-hosted with Regis Philbin. 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 was that of Tom Kennedy's singer/sidekick on the syndicated version of Name That Tune, from 1974 to 1978.

She also appeared in television advertisements for Carnival Cruise Lines beginning in 1984. Gifford was married to sportscaster and former NFL player Frank Gifford from 1986 until his death in 2015.

On April 7, 2008, Gifford began co-hosting the fourth hour of Today alongside Hoda Kotb. She also occasionally appears on the first three hours of Today and is a contributing NBC News correspondent.

Gifford was born Kathryn Lee Epstein in Paris, France, to American parents, Joan (née Cuttell; born January 20, 1930), a singer, and Aaron Epstein (March 19, 1924 – 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. During high school, Gifford was a singer in a folk group, "Pennsylvania Next Right", which performed frequently at school assemblies. After high school graduation, Gifford attended Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, studying drama and music.