It’s been a little over a year since Kathie Lee Gifford said goodbye to her long-running gig on "Today" and her life in New York City, relocating to Nashville in April 2019. Recently, she made a special return visit to the NBC morning show, where she candidly discussed how the loss of her beloved husband, Frank Gifford, and the overwhelming loneliness she experienced afterward played a major role in her decision to start anew in Music City.
"This home of mine in Connecticut, where Frank and I raised our beautiful children and shared so many happy years—it became a completely different place when I was living there alone," Kathie, 66, revealed during the January 23 episode of "Today." "The dogs were wonderful companions, but let’s be honest, they can only do so much. It went from being this vibrant, lively, joyful space filled with the sounds of our kids, the smell of food cooking on the grill, and just pure life—to feeling like a house of memories that were starting to weigh on me."
Life After Loss: A New Chapter in Nashville
Kathie Lee, the former star of "Kathie Lee and Hoda," shared with cohosts Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager how life has been since the passing of her late husband, Frank. “It started to feel like a place where joy had gone missing, like a mortuary with just me there alone," she confessed. "I realized I needed to make a fresh start for myself or I’d be consumed by the sadness. The loneliness was so heavy, it was almost suffocating. It was crippling.”
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Even though Kathie Lee could find distractions during her days, she couldn’t shake the weight she felt when she returned home at night. “I lived for coming in and being with you guys in the morning because that was the one time I felt alive," she admitted to Hoda. "But then I’d go home to that emptiness again. I asked myself, 'Where is there life in abundance?' And the answer was clear: Nashville.”
A Bright Future Filled With Weddings
Despite the challenges she faced before her move, Kathie Lee is now looking forward to a future filled with joy and celebration. “I’ve got three big weddings this year, and I couldn’t be more excited,” she marveled on "Today," referring to her son Cody’s upcoming marriage, her daughter Cassidy’s engagement, and of course, Hoda’s own nuptials. “Life is all about moving forward, not dwelling on what we’ve lost. If you focus too much on what’s gone, it’ll consume you and rob you of the life you still have ahead.”
Love Finds Its Own Time
While Kathie Lee has rediscovered happiness in her new life, there’s one thing still missing—romantic love. It’s been almost five years since Frank passed away at the age of 84, yet Kathie Lee isn’t in any rush to find someone new.
“God will bring someone into my life when the time is right, and I’ll be thrilled,” Kathie Lee sweetly shared in an exclusive interview with "Closer Weekly." “I’m not actively looking for it. Love will find me when it’s meant to.”
