5 Things to Know About Kathie Lee Gifford

kathie lee gifford
Photo: AARP

Kathie Lee Gifford has just moved to the area to pursue her musical interest and writing endeavors. Gifford is known for hosting the “Regis and Kathy” daytime talk show and most recently the “Today Show” fourth hour with Hoda. We found some other things that you may not have known about Gifford.

1Kathie Lee Has European Roots

Kathie Lee was born in Paris, France. Her father, Aaron Lee Epstein was a Naval officer stationed in Paris when she was born. The family returned to the United States when Kathie Lee was four-years-old.

2She Represented Her State in a Junior Miss Pageant

In 1970, Kathie Lee won the Jr. Miss Pageant in her home state of Maryland. She then traveled to Mobile, Alabama for the National competition. However, she didn’t get to compete for the crown as she was disqualified for talking to a man according to Zimbio.

3Before TV Hosting She Had a Role on a Soap Opera

The former TV host of the “Today Show” with Hoda made her acting debut on the NBC soap opera “Days of Our Lives.” From starting as an extra she became Nurse Callahan for nine months. It was 1976, Gifford was 22-years-old playing the role of a nurse trying to get a hospital patient to eat reported People.

Katie Lee Gifford
credit-Facebook

4A Spokesperson for Multiple Companies

Most recently, Gifford has become the spokesperson for local company TAKL. But previously she represented Ultra Slim-Fast diet shakes and was also the face of Carnival Cruise Lines, Home Furnishings Council and Revlon in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

5Released Her First Album in 2000

Gifford released her first pop album in 2000 just after leaving the “Regis and Kathie Lee” daytime show. Her first album was titled Heart of a Woman, she followed that release with a children’s album. In 2009, she released My Way Home followed by a musical adaptation of David and Goliath she co-wrote called “My Little Giant” in 2017. Gifford recently shared she moved to Franklin to focus on music and just released a music video short film with Nicole C Mullen.