Kathie Lee Gifford Exits Today: Watch Regis Philbin's Farewell Message

Ryan Schwartz
Updated

On Friday, NBC’s Today poured one out for Kathie Lee Gifford, who departed the network’s flagship morning show after 11 years as co-host of the 10 am hour. Her farewell included multiple celebrity cameos (Barry Manilow! Flo Rida! Dean Cain!), as well as a touching tribute from her former Live! partner Regis Philbin.

“Kathie Lee, you want to know the best part of my life? My 15 years with you, from 1985-2000,” Philbin said. “We stayed friends through the entire game, and it was a lot of fun… I know you’re going to be moving on to a great new career making movies, and… I know you’re going to be a great success. I really mean it! I want you to know [that] I will always remember the great times that we had working together, and how you are as a person: just great.” (Watch video below.)

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Gifford was eventually joined by her entire Today family — including Hoda Kotb, Al Roker, Willie Geist, Carson Daly, Dylan Dreyer, Craig Melvin and successor Jenna Bush Hager — for a final toast. With just 30 seconds to spare, Gifford turned to the audience and quoted the Bible. “Jeremiah 29 says, ‘I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord,'” she said. “‘Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a future and a hope.’ That’s not just true for me, you guys, that’s true for everybody watching. Trust Him, let Him love you like he wants to love you, like I am loved by all of you.”

Watch clips from Gifford’s final episode below, then hit the comments with your reactions!

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