Kathie Lee Gifford has provided a heartfelt insight into her life since the passing of her husband, Frank Gifford, as she reflects on their 29-year marriage and the lessons she has learned through widowhood. As the eleven-year anniversary of Frank’s death approaches, Kathie Lee, now 72, has shared that she is not seeking a new romantic relationship and has no plans to marry again.
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In an interview with PEOPLE, Gifford stated emphatically, “I am not dating anybody right now, and I don’t want to date.” She acknowledged that, while she once considered the possibility of another relationship, her late husband will always hold a special place in her heart. “Frank will always be the love of my life,” she affirmed. “If God wants to do something miraculous, like give me another great love, then I’m open to it.”
The couple first crossed paths in 1982 when Kathie was hosting *Good Morning America*. Frank was a renowned football star, 23 years her senior, and they married in 1986, welcoming two children together: son Cody in 1990 and daughter Cassidy in 1993. Their marital journey, while filled with joyful moments, also faced significant challenges, including a highly publicised infidelity scandal involving Frank in 1997. Kathie Lee chose to reconcile after a brief separation, which, she notes, has resonated with many of her fans, prompting many to share their own stories of overcoming marital difficulties.
Reflecting on the day Frank passed away from a heart attack on 9 August 2015, Kathie Lee revealed the tragic circumstances. “Cody was home from school, and we tried to resuscitate him,” she recounted. However, she took solace in the knowledge provided by the emergency medical technicians: “They said, ‘Mrs. Gifford, we just want you to know your husband, he never suffered. He never saw the ground he fell on.’”
After Frank’s death, posthumous brain scans unveiled that he was suffering from stage 4 chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a progressive disease often borne from repeated head trauma in athletes. Kathie and her family donated Frank’s brain for research into the condition, a matter now close to her son Cody’s heart, as he actively works to raise awareness surrounding brain trauma, affecting not just athletes but many others worldwide.
Despite the unexpected nature of Frank’s passing, Kathie revealed that he had long accepted the reality of his mortality, particularly given their age difference. He had expressed his curiosity about what lay beyond life and was at peace with the idea of leaving this world. “He said, ‘You know, hon, I’m not afraid. I’m starting to get really curious,'” she recounted, reflecting on their poignant conversations about life and death.
In her latest chapter, Gifford is dedicating her time to personal fulfilment, previously completing a documentary about her life and the release of a new book titled *Nero and Paul*. A proud grandmother, affectionately known as “bubbe” to five grandchildren, Kathie Lee emphasises the importance of living in the moment. “I need to find joy in the moment I’m in right now, because none of us know when is our last breath,” she shared. Rather than deferring happiness to an uncertain future, she advocates for recognising and appreciating the joy present in daily life.
Gifford’s reflections offer a glimpse into her evolved perspective on love, loss, and the value of cherishing each moment. As she moves forward, she remains open to life’s surprises, yet finds comfort in the legacy of her long marriage to Frank. For those wishing to learn more about Kathie Lee Gifford’s journey, her full interview can be found in the latest edition of *PEOPLE*, available on newsstands this Friday.