Kathie Lee Gifford Announces She Is Leaving 'Today' After 11 Years
By Hayden Brooks
December 11, 2018
Kathie Lee Gifford announced on Tuesday morning (December 11) that she will be leaving the fourth hour of Today and the emotions were at an all-time high, especially alongside co-host Hoda Kotb.
"I have something to share with everybody," the TV legend host told viewers. "It's bittersweet as these things always are. But, I have been here almost 11 years, I thought I would stay one year. Something happened along the way, fell in love with a beautiful Egyptian goddess. And now when it's our 11th anniversary, I will be leaving the Today show. It's an exciting time for me, and I'm thrilled about all the projects that are coming up, but it's also hard because the reason I stayed longer than a year is because I love everybody here so much."
Among one of the projects that Gifford is leaving the long-running daytime talk show to focus on include her 11-minute film, The God Who Sees, which is filming in Israel. "I want to thank everyone who has watched us all these years as well because we started out as a nothing burger and we were outside on the plaza and the wind was blowing and the cards were flying and it was a disaster," the host continued.
NBC News president Noah Oppenheim made the announcement to the staff prior to the broadcast in an e-mail. Gifford is scheduled to stay through the show's 11th anniversary on April 7, 2019.
"It’s bittersweet, as these things always are…”@kathielgifford announces she will be leaving TODAY on her 11th anniversary in April 2019. pic.twitter.com/YsHIq6c9ev
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) December 11, 2018
Photo: Getty Images