Kathie Lee Gifford spent a long time as a bubbly tv persona. However a sequence of well being points modified her demeanor within the worst means. The previous As we speak Present host opened up about her psychological well being struggles and eager to die amid a number of critical, “debilitating” well being points. Preserve studying to search out out extra in regards to the heartbreaking time in her life.
Former As we speak Host Kathie Lee Gifford Wished To Die Amid Critical Well being Points
Kathie Lee Gifford co-hosted the As we speak Present’s fourth hour for eleven years. She left in 2019 and was changed by Jenna Bush Hager. Earlier than shifting to the NBC information program, Kathie Lee co-hosted LIVE alongside Regis Philbin for years.
She’s lived a quieter life after leaving tv. The previous As we speak host writes non secular non-fiction. Her newest e-book within the Historic Evil, Dwelling Hope sequence got here out in 2025. Kathie Lee Gifford suffered the heartbreaking loss of her husband, Frank Gifford, in 2015. However that ache was nothing in comparison with the ache of her current well being struggles.
She underwent a hip substitute, suffered a damaged pelvis, and developed cataracts all in a 12 months. Kathie Lee Gifford was plagued with hip ache for years earlier than going underneath the knife in 2024. She fell at her residence throughout the restoration and broke her pelvis. The discuss present host, 72, additionally broke her arm and had cataract surgical procedure across the similar time. It was all an excessive amount of for her.
Kathie Lee Gifford opened as much as PEOPLE journal about how the “debilitating” ache put her in a deep despair. “Once I look again on all of those years on this trade, I’m going, ‘I can’t consider I didn’t disintegrate years in the past,’” she stated about her lengthy profession.
She recalled one thing her late husband stated close to his last days. “Frank stated to me earlier than he handed, ‘Once I go someplace, I do know what individuals are anticipating from me. I need to be Frank Gifford once I exit.’” She continued, “I need to be Kathie Lee, the individual they anticipate. I don’t need to disappoint folks. However once you’re in ache, it’s so debilitating, and the whole lot’s a grimace. I’ve had emotional ache many instances in my life, however by no means this persistent bodily ache the place you actually need to go residence to Jesus.”
Kathie Lee Gifford admitted that she wished to die from the ache.
“I wished to die a number of instances. I wasn’t going to harm myself. I wasn’t going to kill myself. I simply didn’t need to be right here — as blessed as I’m.”
How She’s Doing Now
Kathie Lee Gifford’s household has expanded in the previous couple of years. She now has 5 grandchildren. In actual fact, they had been a fundamental purpose why she had the hip substitute. “I couldn’t carry them, I couldn’t love on them, I couldn’t run and play with them,” she says. “All I might do was sit there and sing and write foolish songs with them,” she informed PEOPLE.
With the assistance of bodily remedy and stem cell remedy, Kathie Lee Gifford is now in a position to play together with her grandchildren. “I’m hoping, Lord prepared, that I’ve many, a few years with them,” she stated.
If you happen to or somebody you realize is combating psychological well being challenges, emotional misery, substance use issues, or simply wants to speak, name or textual content 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7.
Jennifer Havener grew up in a small city in Upstate New York. She earned her B.A in Writing & Literature from Naropa College in Boulder, Colorado. She at all times knew watching actuality TV reveals and cleaning soap operas, significantly ‘Days of Our Lives’, would turn out to be useful sometime. When she’s not writing, she’s taking part in together with her canines, Lola and Ruger