You’ve seen the wine-clinking snapshots from the Today show years. Or maybe you remember those grainy, high-glamour Carnival Cruise commercials from the late '80s where she’s singing her heart out on a ship deck. But if you look at kathie lee gifford photos from the last year or two, things look... different.
The backdrop isn't a bright TV studio in Rockefeller Center anymore. It’s usually a sun-drenched porch in Franklin, Tennessee, or a quiet, French-inspired farm she calls "Orval."
Honestly, the shift is pretty jarring if you’ve followed her career since the Regis and Kathie Lee era. She’s swapped the high-octane Manhattan energy for something that feels a lot more grounded. And if you’re searching for the latest pictures of her, you’re going to find a woman who is leaning hard into a "second act" that most people didn't see coming.
The Tennessee Transition: Why the New Pictures Look Different
Most fans were surprised when Kathie Lee packed up her life in Greenwich, Connecticut, and headed south. She was blunt about it, too. She told reporters she was "dying of loneliness" in her big, empty house after her husband Frank passed away and her kids, Cody and Cassidy, moved out.
That house, which she once described as a "morgue" because it was so quiet, has been replaced by a brownstone in Franklin and a 10-acre farm.
When you see recent kathie lee gifford photos on her Instagram, she’s often wearing a straw hat, cradling a grandchild, or standing in front of her "French farm" renovation. It’s a deliberate homage to her parents, Aaron and Joan Epstein, who actually conceived her in a converted barn near Paris while her father was serving under General Eisenhower.
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It’s personal. It’s not just a celebrity "lifestyle" move; it’s a full-circle moment.
Grandkids and "La-La-Land"
The most popular images circulating right now aren't of her on a red carpet. They’re of her being a "Bubbie."
- Rosie Mae: Her daughter Cassidy gave birth to Rosie Mae in June 2025. There’s a really sweet photo Kathie Lee shared of the baby clutching her thumb.
- Finn: Cassidy’s firstborn, who is often seen playing in the Tennessee grass in the background of Kathie’s posts.
- Frankie and Ford: Her son Cody’s boys. They’re usually the ones making her laugh in those candid, non-filtered videos she posts.
There is a huge contrast between the professionally lit portraits from her 11-year run with Hoda Kotb and these raw, often slightly blurry, iPhone snaps. It feels more human. You can tell she isn't worried about the "perfect" shot anymore.
That "Unusual" Photo with Kris Jenner
In November 2025, a specific picture went viral and, frankly, it confused a lot of people. It was a shot of Kathie Lee and Kris Jenner at Kris’s 70th birthday bash.
Kathie Lee was in a black velour dress with silver floral accents. Kris was in a massive red ruffled gown for a James Bond-themed party. The comments section was a total mess. People couldn't understand how a devout Christian who writes books about the "God of the Way" could be best friends with the queen of the Kardashian empire.
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But here’s the thing: their friendship goes back decades. Kathie Lee is actually the godmother to Kendall and Kylie Jenner.
When you look at kathie lee gifford photos from that night, you aren't just seeing two celebrities; you’re seeing two women who have navigated the brutal reality of the spotlight together since the '70s. Kathie Lee doesn't care about the optics. She’s loyal to a fault, which is something her fans either love or find baffling.
The Surprise "Today" Reunion (January 2026)
Just a few days ago, on January 12, 2026, Kathie Lee made a surprise return to the Today show. She didn't come alone—Hoda Kotb was with her.
They were there to surprise Sheinelle Jones, who was taking over the fourth hour with Jenna Bush Hager. If you see the photos from that morning, you’ll notice the "wine torch." It’s this massive, oversized wine glass they use to "pass the torch" to the new hosts.
Gifford looked radiant at 72. She was wearing a chic, cream-colored ensemble, and the joy on her face while hugging Sheinelle was genuine. It reminded everyone why she was the "queen of morning TV" for so long. She has this ability to make a scripted TV moment feel like a living room conversation.
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What She’s Working on Now
Her photos aren't just about family. She’s still a workaholic, just in a different lane.
- Herod & Mary: She’s been promoting her new thriller series. She calls herself a "biblical history freak" now.
- Nero & Paul: This is her next book project, expected later in 2026.
- Songwriting: She recently released three songs that hit #1 on the iTunes Christian charts.
How to Find "Real" Kathie Lee Gifford Photos
If you’re looking for high-quality, authentic images of her, skip the tabloid sites that use old, recycled "paparazzi" shots from ten years ago.
- Instagram (@kathielgifford): This is where she posts the raw stuff—her farm, her "Tennessee babies," and her book signings.
- Getty Images: Use this if you want to see her professional evolution from the 1981 portraits in Los Angeles to her recent Lifetime Achievement Award at the Nashville Pops Orchestra.
- Her Official Website: Good for seeing her movie stills from projects like Then Came You.
She’s 72 now, and she looks like she’s finally stopped trying to meet everyone else’s expectations. Whether she’s at a James Bond-themed party in Cali or digging in the dirt in Franklin, the common thread is that she’s living exactly how she wants to.
If you want to keep up with her "second act," your best bet is to follow her Nashville journey. She’s filming more, writing more, and—judging by the photos—drinking a lot less wine than she did with Hoda, though she still keeps a bottle of her "Gifft" brand handy for special occasions.
Check out her latest Instagram posts for the "Bubbie" content, or look up her recent Nashville Pops Orchestra appearance to see her in full "lifetime achievement" mode.