Kathie Lee Gifford is officially done with the Today show. April 5 was the host’s last day on air with Hoda Kotb and the rest of the NBC gang. Click through the gallery to watch the 65-year-old’s tearful goodbye and for all the info on her last show.
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Kathie Lee and Hoda, 54, wore matching red dresses for the occasion. The show kicked off with a live performance by Flo Rida.
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The departing host also surprised the entire audience with free four day cruises.
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Regis Philbin even appeared via video to congratulate Kathie Lee for her tenure on the show. He said, “Kathie Lee, the best part of my TV life was with the 15 years I spent with you from 1985 to 2000. We stayed friends through the entire game, and it was a lot of fun. Where you are right now, I know you’re going to be moving on to a great new career making movies and, since I’ve seen the first one, I know you’re going to be a great success. I really mean it!”
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Wrestler John Cena, actor Dean Cain and actor Ryan Eggold also all made appearances to wish her bon voyage. John, 41, even led Kathie Lee and Hoda in a trivia game about their time together. They’ve hosted the fourth hour of the morning show together since 2008.
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As part of the celebration, Barry Manilow performed his hit song “Can’t Smile Without You” for the host.
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“God brought Hoda into my life for all kinds of different reasons," Kathie Lee said of her best friend. "I was supposed to learn from her. She was supposed to learn from me. We were supposed to share life together."
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At the end of the show, they brought out the crew to toast Kathie Lee, including
Al Roker,
Craig Melvin,
Dylan Dreyer and
Jenna Bush Hager.
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Photo credit: Getty Images
At the end of the show, they brought out the crew to toast Kathie Lee, including
Al Roker,
Craig Melvin,
Dylan Dreyer and
Jenna Bush Hager.
At the end of the episode, Kathie Lee, 65, said, “I have 30 seconds to say what has taken me a lifetime to say, Jeremiah 29 says, ‘I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a future and a hope.’ That's not just true for me, you guys, that's true for everybody watching. Trust Him. Let Him love you like He wants to love you.”
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Photo credit: INSTARImages
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Photo credit: MEGA
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Photo credit: Getty Images
What do you think of Kathie Lee’s final goodbye? Sound off in the comments!
Kathie Lee and Hoda, 54, wore matching red dresses for the occasion. The show kicked off with a live performance by Flo Rida.
The departing host also surprised the entire audience with free four day cruises.
Regis Philbin even appeared via video to congratulate Kathie Lee for her tenure on the show. He said, “Kathie Lee, the best part of my TV life was with the 15 years I spent with you from 1985 to 2000. We stayed friends through the entire game, and it was a lot of fun. Where you are right now, I know you’re going to be moving on to a great new career making movies and, since I’ve seen the first one, I know you’re going to be a great success. I really mean it!”
Photo credit: Getty Images
Wrestler John Cena, actor Dean Cain and actor Ryan Eggold also all made appearances to wish her bon voyage. John, 41, even led Kathie Lee and Hoda in a trivia game about their time together. They’ve hosted the fourth hour of the morning show together since 2008.
Photo credit: Getty Images
As part of the celebration, Barry Manilow performed his hit song “Can’t Smile Without You” for the host.
“God brought Hoda into my life for all kinds of different reasons," Kathie Lee said of her best friend. "I was supposed to learn from her. She was supposed to learn from me. We were supposed to share life together."
Photo credit: INSTARImages
At the end of the show, they brought out the crew to toast Kathie Lee, including
Al Roker,
Craig Melvin,
Dylan Dreyer and
Jenna Bush Hager.
Photo credit: Getty Images
At the end of the episode, Kathie Lee, 65, said, “I have 30 seconds to say what has taken me a lifetime to say, Jeremiah 29 says, ‘I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a future and a hope.’ That's not just true for me, you guys, that's true for everybody watching. Trust Him. Let Him love you like He wants to love you.”
Photo credit: INSTARImages
What do you think of Kathie Lee’s final goodbye? Sound off in the comments!
Photo credit: Getty Images
