Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford co-host the fourth hour of The Today Show each weekday morning. On Sunday, Kathie Lee Gifford’s husband Frank Gifford passed away suddenly at the age of 84. He died of natural causes.
On The Today Show this week, Hoda Kotb has shared her memories of Frank Gifford. Among them are some very sweet things he said to her about his wife, Kathie Lee.
Recalling the first time she ever met Frank Gifford, Hoda Kotb talked about his words of wisdom for clicking with his famous wife.
“Frank said to me, ‘I know a little something about a hit show because I had one on ‘Monday Night Football,’ and he said, ‘Let me tell you how you can have a hit show with Kathie Lee: You have to trust her with everything you have,'” Hoda Kotb said. “She is the most trustworthy person I have ever known. I never forgot that. That showed how much love he had for her.”
Hoda Kotb visited with Kathie Lee Gifford just hours after Frank Gifford passed away.
“She asked for people not to come to her house yesterday, so I left the airport and drove to her house,” Kotb said. “When I got there she looked at me and she said, ‘I’m so glad you never listen to me.’ You know how she talks about her faith and I know she lives her faith and I believed it, but I’ve got to tell you I didn’t believe it more than I did yesterday when I saw her after that. Frank had passed away hours before and she said she was rejoicing in his life. When she said it, you felt it.”
This is how I will remember #frankgifford — always making us laugh. But today I am heartbroken — love u klg xoxo pic.twitter.com/ro4qYwynY0
— Hoda Kotb (@hodakotb) August 9, 2015
Kathie Lee Gifford is blessed to have a friend like Hoda Kotb in her life right now. Although she has her strong Christian faith, having a dear friend on hand to hug her and cry with her–and even rejoice with her–is a blessing in itself.
Today, we lost a member of the 4th Hour family. Rest in peace, Frank Gifford. Our prayers are with @KathieLGifford. pic.twitter.com/WZIZKnKtKJ
— Kathie Lee and Hoda (@klgandhoda) August 9, 2015
Hoda Kotb will no doubt continue to provide comfort for Kathie Lee Gifford in the difficult days ahead.