Kathie Lee Gifford Opens Up About Her Relationship Status

Kathie Lee Gifford, the beloved former TODAY co-host, has officially confirmed her single status, putting to rest rumors about a new partner. In an insightful interview with People on April 24, Gifford candidly discussed the end of her recent relationship and her new outlook on life. “My new mantra was going to be my joy is non-negotiable. I’ll negotiate time. I’ll negotiate money with you. But my joy, I can’t,” she explained, highlighting the importance of personal happiness. “I was in a relationship for several years that just ended recently. And you know, it’s always hard because when you love someone, you love someone deeply. It’s something you miss when it doesn’t last.”

Lessons Learned and Moving Forward

Reflecting on her past relationship, Kathie Lee shared valuable lessons learned and a renewed perspective on love. “You aren’t supposed to marry everyone you fall in love with. And I don’t want to love easily,” she said. “I’ve been loved three times in my entire life. It’s the people who have meant something deep and powerful in your life that are the hardest things to get over.”

This revelation comes shortly after her conversation with “Entertainment Tonight,” where she firmly stated, “You don’t know what’s going on in my personal life. You don’t know. Nobody does,” when interviewer Rachel Smith referred to her as single. She further emphasized her desire for privacy, saying that if she ever finds love again, the world would only know much later. “I’m so convinced that if the Lord brings another beautiful man into my life, I am not going to talk about it,” she said. “We’ll probably get married privately and tell the world a year later so that nobody’s opinion matters.”

Kathie Lee humorously pointed out that she wasn’t wearing a wedding ring, holding up her left hand and joking, “as naked as a left hand could be.” She also dismissed any chances of her participating in reality TV dating shows, saying, “I’m not getting in the hot tub with anybody. And I don’t believe that I could, in a matter of weeks, fall madly in love with somebody. For me, it would never work that way.” Instead, she light-heartedly suggested, “I vote for Hoda!” referencing her former co-host Hoda Kotb.

Kathie Lee’s Journey Through Love and Loss

Kathie Lee’s romantic history includes a long marriage to Frank Gifford, a former New York Giants player, from 1986 until his passing in 2015. Together, they have two children, Cassidy, 30, and Cody, 34.

In 2019, Kathie Lee shared her experiences of slowly starting to date again during a visit to TODAY with Hoda & Jenna, describing it as “surreal.” Later in 2021, she revealed she had a “very sweet man” in her life, noting that “He’s good for me, and I’m good for him.” Without divulging much, she maintained that keeping details private helped preserve the specialness of the relationship.

By August 2022, Gifford subtly hinted at having someone special in her life, reinforcing her preference for discretion. “I have someone very special in my life,” she told People. “I’ve discovered that by not talking about it, it stays special.”

This candid yet private approach to her love life underscores Kathie Lee Gifford’s desire to keep personal happiness at the forefront, while gracefully navigating the public’s curiosity about her relationship status. Despite the speculations about Kathie Lee Gifford’s new partner, she remains focused on her own joy and well-being.