Kathie Lee Gifford’s Life After Today: What’s the TV Legend Been Up to Since Her 2019 Departure?

Kathie Lee Gifford has remained one of television’s most beloved figures, but after stepping away from Today in 2019, the TV legend has taken her life in a whole new direction. The 72-year-old icon has been busy with a variety of new ventures, including acting, writing, and focusing on her family. Here’s a look at what Gifford has been doing since she said goodbye to her morning show duties.

A Surprising Return to Today

Kathie Lee Gifford may have left the Today show, but she hasn’t disappeared from the spotlight. The former host has made occasional surprise appearances on the show, proving that her bond with her old co-host Hoda Kotb is as strong as ever. In January 2025, when Kotb bid farewell to the show to spend more time with her family, Gifford surprised her during the farewell episode, popping out from backstage after Kotb thought she was too busy to attend. The two shared a heartfelt toast over glasses of wine, reminiscent of their past fun-loving mornings on air together.

A New York Times Bestselling Author

Since leaving Today, Gifford has become an even more prolific writer. She has authored several faith-based books, including The Rock, The Road, and the Rabbi, which explores her journey through Israel, and Herod and Mary, focusing on biblical figures. Most recently, in March 2026, Gifford released Nero and Paul: How the Gospel of Grace Defeated the Ruler of Rome, which quickly became an Amazon bestseller. In an interview, Gifford described the book as an epic thriller that imagines the stories of the Bible with added details, saying, “I’m an entertainer at heart, a filmmaker, and a songwriter, so imagining the details is what I do.”

Kathie Lee Gifford’s Musical Journey

Music has always been a part of Kathie Lee Gifford’s life. Even after leaving Today, Gifford continued her musical pursuits, releasing the album The Way in 2022. The EP features songs that tell stories from the Bible, accompanied by music that complements the narratives. She previously co-wrote and performed the song He Saw Jesus in 2017, which was dedicated to her late husband Frank Gifford.

Dating Again, but No Plans to Marry

While widowhood has been a challenge for Gifford since the passing of her husband Frank in 2015, she has returned to the dating scene. However, she’s clear that she does not plan on remarrying. “You aren’t supposed to marry everyone you fall in love with,” Gifford told People in May 2025. “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.”

The Joys of Grandmotherhood

One of the greatest joys in Gifford’s life is being a grandmother. By 2026, she had five grandchildren. Her daughter Cassidy and son-in-law Ben Wierda welcomed Finn in 2023 and Rosie in 2025, while Gifford’s son Cody and his wife Erika Brown are parents to Frank, Ford, and Faith, born between 2022 and 2025. “I think that’s one of the most joyful things in my life, watching my children be such amazing parents,” Gifford shared in a January 2026 interview. “If Frank and I did anything right, it would be that.”

What’s Next for Kathie Lee?

Kathie Lee Gifford’s life after Today has been anything but quiet. Whether it’s her writing, music, acting, or time spent cherishing her family, Gifford continues to inspire fans around the world. As a grandmother, a bestselling author, and a strong woman who has endured personal loss, Gifford proves that there’s no slowing down for this TV legend.