Kathie Lee Gifford isn't shy at all about giving Hoda Kotb oodles of love, and the feeling is mutual. Both on-air and in private, the veteran of 26 years of stellar morning TV credits her 11 years of success on “Today” to her connection with Hoda Kotb. After the constant sense of “laughter through tears” that filled Kathie Lee Gifford’s last month as co-host, no one knew just how quickly Hoda Kotb would be welcoming another beautiful baby girl into her heart, life, and home.
The new launch of “Hoda and Jenna” with Jenna Bush Hager just started and maternity leave has commenced immediately. Big sister, Haley Joy, didn't have any trouble at all in adapting to her tiny sibling at home. She even slept underneath the bassinet. She immediately knew her by name, greeting her as “Hope.”
The “Today” crew of anchors wasted no time in making beautiful Hope Catherine welcome. Gift baskets came together during a commercial break. In almost a New York minute, photos appeared of the whole bunch, bearing beautiful smiles.
Kathie Lee Gifford was fully aware that the baby girl was on the way, but she was already booked with commitments surrounding her project with Nicole C Mullen, “The God Who Sees.” She also understood the preciousness of this time between Hoda, her brand-new daughter, and Haley Joy.
She promised that a visit was coming,
Well, the time for that long-awaited visit came, as reported May 8 by E! News and TODAY on MSN, and the captured moment could not possibly be more precious. Everything Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb share has always come with perfect timing, love, and friendship, These special and sacred few minutes were no exception.
They knew it was coming
Kathie Lee killed it as she accepted her Daytime Emmy as Outstanding Informative Talk Show Host last Sunday (May 5). She hasn't missed a beat in her flawless comic timing in over 50 years, and she made time to share some very loving words with Hoda by phone on “Today” the next morning.
“I'm coming to see you,” Gifford pledged to Kotb.
Following some heartfelt congratulations on how good it felt to see her friend holding that golden hardware, Hoda Kotb assured that she was holding little Hope, and that “she's waiting for you!”
With deep affection, Hoda Kotb has expressed that “every good thing” that has come in her life since being an NBC has been related to Kathie Lee Gifford coming into her life “with both feet.” Even during the conversation on the phone, Kathie Lee referred to Hoda as her “beautiful Egyptian sunshine in a bottle.” She also sent warmest wishes for the new fourth-hour show.
More than enough love
Cody and Cassidy Gifford haven't made Kathie Lee a grandmother yet, but the serenity and peace of her smile certainly indicate that she is ready and waiting.
Hoda Kotb commented that she is amazed at how her heart just grew larger in love to welcome another daughter. Clearly, that heart grew wider again with the welcome of Kathie into her kitchen that looked like real-life rather than a magazine spread. Her caption on social media read: “Lookie who came to say hi!”
She closed with “love you kath xx.” Those little words never grow old.