Kathie Lee Gifford's Dating History: List of Relationships

Kathie Lee Gifford has endured her fair share of obstacles throughout her history of dating, but she’s finally at the point in her life where she’s “in a really special relationship with somebody that is nice and fun and healthy,” the NBC alum revealed in April 2021. Before finding a new boyfriend, Kathie Lee was in a 29-year marriage with her late husband, Frank Gifford, and she also dated a few other men.

The beloved TV star and author opened up about her new beau during an appearance on Today. Kathie Lee said she “found somebody that is so much fun to be with,” noting her partner is “the smartest person I’ve ever met, but he’s funny. He is challenging to me.”

Though she held off on sharing the identity of her lover, the former Live With Regis and Kathie Lee host couldn’t help but gush over the budding romance. “We have a great time together, and so at this point in my life that’s exactly what I need and exactly what I want, you know?” she marveled. “Different seasons of life — we weren’t meant to know each other before, it’s right now. We don’t know what the future holds at all, but we’re having fun today.”

Before Kathie Lee fell in love with her new boo, the Gift That I Can Give author was married to her beloved spouse, Frank, for nearly three decades. The couple wed in October 1986, but their marriage was put to the test more than a decade later when rumors start circulating that the former football star was unfaithful.

While Frank denied the cheating allegations, photos of him with a married flight attendant at a hotel leaked in 1997, according to the Washington Post. The former fourth hour host opened up about the “horrible” experience on Today in 2017.

“It’s no fun. It’s a tremendous test of your relationship,” she said at the time. “It takes a lifetime to build that kind of friendship and history together and trust, and it takes one stupid decision to destroy … sometimes you run out of time to build it up again. I was grateful that we could.”

Kathie Lee and Frank remained a married couple despite the rumors, and they went on to live a happy life together up until the former play-by-play announcer’s death at age 84 in August 2015. According to the New York Times, Frank died of natural causes, but he also suffered from brain disease.

Following her husband’s death, Kathie Lee said she was hopeful in terms of falling in love again one day. However, she wasn’t willing to rush her journey to find Mr. Right. “We’ve only got so much time on this planet — I want to maximize every minute I have!” Kathie Lee exclusively told Closer Weekly in June 2019. “God’s going to bring someone into my life, and I’ll be delighted. I ain’t looking for it. It’ll find me!”

It looks like it did!

For a complete list of Kathie Lee’s dating history, keep scrolling.

Paul Johnson

Believe it or not, Kathie Lee’s first marriage wasn’t with Frank. She was actually wed to composer Paul Johnson from 1976 to 1983, though the Emmy winner hasn’t said much about their relationship.

Kathie Lee made an exception, however, in her 2020 memoir It’s Never Too Late. “The truth is, it was only a marriage in the pages of the law,” she wrote about Paul, according to Today. “Though Paul and I were married, we shared only one thing — our faith.”

Frank Gifford

Kathie Lee and Paul were officially divorced in 1983, and three years later, she married Frank on October 18, 1986. Less than two years after their wedding, they welcomed their first child, son Cody Gifford, in March 1990. Kathie Lee gave birth to their youngest, daughter Cassidy Gifford, in August 1993.

Despite cheating allegations in the late 1990s, Kathie Lee and Frank enjoyed 29 years of marriage until 2015. At the time of the footballer’s death, the A Godwink Christmas actress revealed the news in an emotional statement.

“It is with the deepest sadness that we announce the sudden passing of our beloved husband, father and friend, Frank Gifford,” the family’s statement read. “Frank died suddenly this beautiful Sunday morning of natural causes at his Connecticut home. We rejoice in the extraordinary life he was privileged to live, and we feel grateful and blessed to have been loved by such an amazing human being. We ask that our privacy be respected at this difficult time and we thank you for your prayers.”

Looking back on their decades-long love story, Kathie Lee is “deeply grateful for all the years” she shared with her longtime hubby. The TV presenter reflected on her relationship with the “beautiful man” while commemorating their 30th wedding anniversary in October 2016.

“We had Frank for a lot of years and we had him in great health and we have many, many memories,” she said, adding advice on how she copes. “If you keep thinking about what you lost, you will fall in despair. Concentrate on what you still have and the memories and the knowledge that you will all be united one day. I am not saying it’s easy. I am saying it’s possible.”

Randy Cronk

Following Frank’s death, Kathie Lee uprooted her life from Connecticut and relocated to Nashville in 2018. At the time, she was casually dating, including one man, Randy Cronk, whom she opened up about during an appearance on Today.

“It’s surreal. You know, it’s surreal. ‘Cause the world’s changed so much, you know. But [Randy is] a gentleman, so it was fine. It was fine. It was fun,” the star said while gushing over her first date in more than 30 years.

However, things never ended up getting serious between Kathie Lee and Randy. “I got so busy,” she explained. “We’re just from different worlds.”

Kathie Lee’s New Man

While the doting mom of two has yet to reveal exactly who she’s currently dating, Kathie Lee made sure to let fans know how happy she is in her new relationship during her appearance on Today in April 2021.

“To be in a place where you feel like every aspect of your life is good, that nothing’s missing, and that’s a beautiful place to be. I’m just so grateful,” she said to hosts Savannah Guthrie, Al Roker and Carson Daly, noting she doesn’t want to share too many details just yet because she “[doesn’t] want to mess it up.”

The Hello, Little Dreamer author added, “It’s just happy.”