Kathie Lee Gifford spent decades as a bubbly television personality. But a series of health issues changed her demeanor in the worst way. The former Today Show host opened up about her mental health struggles and wanting to die amid several serious, “debilitating” health issues. Keep reading to find out more about the heartbreaking time in her life.
Former Today Host Kathie Lee Gifford Wanted To Die Amid Serious Health Issues
Kathie Lee Gifford co-hosted the Today Show’s fourth hour for eleven years. She left in 2019 and was replaced by Jenna Bush Hager. Before moving to the NBC news program, Kathie Lee co-hosted LIVE alongside Regis Philbin for years.
She’s lived a quieter life after leaving television. The former Today host writes religious non-fiction. Her latest book in the Ancient Evil, Living Hope series came out in 2025. Kathie Lee Gifford suffered the heartbreaking loss of her husband, Frank Gifford, in 2015. But that pain was nothing compared to the pain of her recent health struggles.
She underwent a hip replacement, suffered a broken pelvis, and developed cataracts all in a year. Kathie Lee Gifford was plagued with hip pain for years before going under the knife in 2024. She fell at her home during the recovery and broke her pelvis. The talk show host, 72, also broke her arm and had cataract surgery around the same time. It was all too much for her.
Kathie Lee Gifford opened up to PEOPLE magazine about how the “debilitating” pain put her in a deep depression. “When I look back on all of these years in this industry, I go, ‘I can’t believe I didn’t fall apart years ago,’” she said about her long career.
She recalled something her late husband said near his final days. “Frank said to me before he passed, ‘When I go somewhere, I know what people are expecting from me. I want to be Frank Gifford when I go out.’” She continued, “I want to be Kathie Lee, the person they expect. I don’t want to disappoint people. But when you’re in pain, it’s so debilitating, and everything’s a grimace. I’ve had emotional pain many times in my life, but never this chronic physical pain where you literally want to go home to Jesus.”
Kathie Lee Gifford admitted that she wanted to die from the pain.
“I wanted to die a few times. I wasn’t going to hurt myself. I wasn’t going to kill myself. I just didn’t want to be here — as blessed as I am.”
How She’s Doing Now
Kathie Lee Gifford’s family has expanded in the last few years. She now has five grandchildren. In fact, they were a main reason why she had the hip replacement. “I couldn’t carry them, I couldn’t love on them, I couldn’t run and play with them,” she says. “All I could do was sit there and sing and write silly songs with them,” she told PEOPLE.
With the help of physical therapy and stem cell therapy, Kathie Lee Gifford is now able to play with her grandchildren. “I’m hoping, Lord willing, that I have many, many years with them,” she said.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7.
Jennifer Havener grew up in a small town in Upstate New York. She earned her B.A in Writing & Literature from Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado. She always knew watching reality TV shows and soap operas, particularly ‘Days of Our Lives’, would come in handy someday. When she’s not writing, she’s playing with her dogs, Lola and Ruger
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