When Kathie Lee Gifford made the emotional announcement that she was leaving the Today show, her millions of devoted fans eagerly wondered what the future held for her. It turns out, the iconic TV presenter met Richard Spitz and embarked on a new chapter in her life. Let's dive into her incredible journey of love, heartbreak, and resilience.
Two Marriages That Shaped Kathie Lee's Life
Kathie Lee's romantic journey began with her first marriage to Paul Johnson, which lasted from 1976 to 1983. In her heartfelt 2020 memoir, It’s Never Too Late, she opened up about the complexities of her early years in matrimony.
Looking back, Kathie Lee shared, “I was a virgin on my wedding night with Paul, and I still considered myself one when he left me five years later. It’s challenging even now to articulate why I stayed in a sexless marriage for so long. Certainly, I wouldn’t make that choice again. But back then, divorce carried a heavy stigma, and no one in my family had ever been divorced. I believed wholeheartedly that God could mend our marriage, and I prayed daily for His intervention.”
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Years after their divorce, Kathie Lee unexpectedly crossed paths with Paul in public. Despite the past, she maintained grace and kindness.
“He never once explained why he left me the way he did or why he even married me in the first place, and I didn’t press for answers,” Kathie Lee wrote. “I hugged him goodnight and wished him well in life. And I still mean it.”
Kathie Lee's second love story unfolded when she met Frank Gifford while working on Good Morning America. Their meeting was nothing short of memorable.
“I first laid eyes on Frank Gifford one early morning at Good Morning America. I was walking down a hallway and spotted the most incredible set of buns I’d ever seen in my life,” she recalled during a November 2020 Today segment. “He was leaning over a sink putting in contact lenses, and without missing a beat, I shouted out, ‘Have I got an operation for you!’ To which he cleverly replied, ‘Yeah, with the fool on either end.’”
Kathie Lee and Frank were married from 1986 until his passing in 2015 at the age of 84. Together, they had two wonderful children, Cody and Cassidy Gifford. After Frank's death, the family revealed that he suffered from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).
“The NFL gave my father a life, but it also brought dangers,” Cody explained in the documentary Requiem for a Running Back. “Football was an all-consuming passion for him. It’s hard to imagine walking away from something you’ve loved and lived for your entire life.”
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The Encounter That Changed Everything: Kathie Lee Meets Richard Spitz
After bidding farewell to the Today show in April 2019, Kathie Lee relocated to Nashville, Tennessee, where she found love again with her neighbor, Richard Spitz. Their connection blossomed naturally.
“She treasures his companionship,” a close friend of Kathie Lee shared with Closer in December 2023. “I wouldn’t be surprised if Kathie Lee and Richard tie the knot in the near future.”
What Happened to Kathie Lee and Richard's Relationship?
Unfortunately, Kathie Lee and Richard's romance didn't last. Sources close to the Hollywood Squares alum confirmed that they parted ways.
“Kathie Lee was deeply affected by the loss of her second husband, Frank Gifford, and found comfort in her relationship with Richard,” an insider revealed to Closer in March 2024. “She feared she would never experience love again, but she did—for a brief period.”
“Now, with their relationship over, she’s enduring another heartbreak and feeling apprehensive that at 70, her time for love has passed,” the source added.
Kathie Lee has leaned on her close friend and Today co-star Hoda Kotb during this challenging time.
“Hoda has been reaching out to her every day and is planning a visit to Nashville soon,” an insider shared. “Kathie Lee is navigating some tough emotions right now after the breakup, but she’s receiving love and support from those who care about her.”
