Earlier this month, legendary television personality Kathie Lee Gifford left the “Today” show after she spent eleven years hosting the fourth hour with her good friend and cohost Hoda Kotb. Now, Kathie Lee’s two children Cody, 29, and Cassidy, 25, are opening up to “Today” about their relationship with their mom as well as about the bond she has with Hoda.
Cody and Cassidy said that even though Kathie Lee was in the spotlight throughout their time growing up, she always worked hard to maintain their privacy and be there for them.
“To us, she is a legendary mom,” the siblings said.
Cassidy went on to talk about just how kind her mom is to others.
“Her kindness is something she leads with … she’s one of the kindest people on the plant,” she said, later adding that one of the best life lessons her mom taught her was, “If you have a pulse, you have a purpose … always be the kindest person there.”
Though Cody and Cassidy were born into a famous family with lots of wealth, Kathie Lee always taught them to work hard in life.
“You have to go and earn whatever is given to you,” Cody said.
He added that one piece of advice that Kathie Lee passed down to them from her own father was, “Find something you love to do and then figure out a way to get paid for it.”
The pair also talked about how much their father Frank Gifford, who passed away in 2015, loved their mother.
“What I learned through my dad’s eyes about my mom was just how proud he was of her,” Cody explained.
Cody and Cassidy said that Hoda was one of the people that Kathie Lee leaned on after Frank’s death, and that the two have become best friends.
“When Hoda came into our lives, there’s this little spark, this little flame inside of mom – we’ve all seen it – that radiates outward,” they said.
While Cody and Cassidy would like to see their mother take a break, they know that the energetic Kathie Lee has no intention of slowing down.
“We love you, Mama. And I just can’t wait to see how God blesses you in this next step,” they concluded.
Check out their tribute to Kathie Lee below!
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