Honestly, if you turn on the TV today and see that familiar, high-energy blonde sparking up a conversation, you’d probably guess she’s in her early sixties. Maybe late fifties on a good day. But the calendar says something else entirely. Kathie Lee Gifford age is currently 72, and she is hurtling toward 73 this August.
It’s wild.
She was born Kathryn Lee Epstein back on August 16, 1953, in Paris, France. Yeah, Paris. Her dad was a Navy officer stationed there, which is a detail a lot of people miss. We usually associate her with the quintessential American morning, clinking wine glasses with Hoda or trading quips with Regis, but her roots are actually quite international.
The Numbers Don’t Really Add Up (Emotionally)
People obsess over her age because she’s been a constant in our living rooms for forty years. When you stay in the public eye that long, the public starts to feel like they own a piece of your timeline. We remember the "Regis and Kathie Lee" era like it was yesterday, even though she left that chair in 2000.
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Think about that.
It’s been over a quarter-century since she signed off from the show that made her a household name. Most people would have retired to a beach in Florida by now. Instead, Kathie Lee moved to Nashville, started writing movies, began composing oratorios, and basically reinvented what it looks like to be a "woman of a certain age" in Hollywood.
She’s 72. But she’s also a grandmother three times over—soon to be four. Her son Cody and his wife Erika are expecting again. She’s got Frank, Finn, and Ford running around. If you follow her on Instagram, you know she’s obsessed with them. It’s a complete pivot from the "working mom" persona she pioneered in the 90s when she’d talk about Cody and Cassidy every single morning.
Why Kathie Lee Gifford Age Still Dominates Search Trends
There’s this weird fascination with how she’s holding up. Maybe it’s because she’s so open about the "maintenance" part of life. Just recently, in early 2026, she made a surprise appearance back on the Today show to help pass the torch to Sheinelle Jones. She looked great, sure, but she was also candid about the physical toll of getting older.
She’s had a rough couple of years physically.
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- A fractured pelvis from a fall at home.
- Hip replacement surgery that she described as one of the most painful experiences of her life.
- The general wear and tear of a life lived at 100 miles per hour.
When people Google her age, they’re usually looking for the "secret." Is it the wine? The faith? The Nashville air? The truth is probably a bit more boring: she just doesn’t stop moving.
Recent Milestones and 2026 Projects
Right now, she’s not just sitting around reflecting on her 72 years. She’s deep into a new career as a biblical historian/novelist. She’s got a book coming out in March 2026 called Nero and Paul. It’s the second in a trilogy she’s doing with Dr. Bryan Litfin.
She’s basically turned into a historical thriller writer.
She’s also producing movies. She did Then Came You a few years back, which was basically her manifesto on life after widowhood. She lost Frank Gifford back in 2015, and she’s been very vocal about the "widow’s walk." It’s a perspective you don’t get from a 25-year-old influencer. You only get that kind of insight when you’ve actually lived through the decades.
The "Ageless" Myth vs. Reality
Let's be real: Hollywood makes it hard to age. But Kathie Lee has always had this "take it or leave it" attitude that makes her age feel irrelevant. She was the one who famously wouldn't stop talking about her kids even when producers told her it was "too much." She was the one who sang through her grief.
There’s a nuance here that gets lost in the "How old is she?" headlines.
The number (72) is just a data point. The reality is a woman who has navigated:
- The cutthroat world of 80s and 90s daytime TV.
- The public scandal of the late 90s.
- The loss of her legendary husband.
- A complete geographical and professional relocation in her 60s.
Most people settle at 65. She kicked off a second act that involves writing films and studying ancient Greek and Hebrew. It’s sort of exhausting just reading about it, honestly.
What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest misconception about Kathie Lee Gifford age is that she’s "retired." She’s not. In fact, she seems to be working harder now than she did when she had to be in a makeup chair at 4:00 AM every day.
She’s also not trying to look 30. There’s a difference between "looking good" and "looking young." She’s leaning into the grandmother role—she goes by "Bubbie," which is the Yiddish term. It’s a nod to her heritage and a total embrace of the stage of life she’s in.
If you’re looking for the takeaway, it’s this: stop looking at the birth year. Look at the output.
Actionable Takeaways for Following Her Journey
If you want to keep up with what she’s doing now that she’s in her 70s, don’t just wait for a TV cameo.
- Check out her books: Herod and Mary and the upcoming Nero and Paul (March 2026) show a completely different side of her brain.
- Watch her films: She’s writing and starring in projects that focus on the "gray" areas of life—grief, second chances, and finding joy after loss.
- Listen to her music: She’s still recording, often focusing on spiritual oratorios that aren't meant for the pop charts but are deeply personal.
The "Regis and Kathie Lee" days are a great memory, but if you only focus on her age through that lens, you’re missing the best part of the story. She’s proving that being 72 doesn’t mean the end of the "new"—it just means you have better stories to tell.
Look for her new book Nero and Paul at major retailers this spring and catch her occasional guest spots on Today where she continues to remind everyone that the best way to stay young is to keep finding things to be "scandalized" and excited by.