Kathie Lee Gifford made a bittersweet, emotional return to The Today Show on Monday.
A week after husband Frank Gifford died of natural causes at the couple’s home, Kathie Lee sat across from colleague and close friend Hota Kotb and remembered the love of her life on air.
"I want to thank everybody for your love and your texts and your tweets…the outpouring has been extraordinary," Gifford said.
"It’s a heck of a way to find out how loved you are. Believe me, my family and I got great strength and comfort from it."
Kathie Lee went on to say she was "grateful" for the peaceful, gentle way in which Frank passed along.
"He passed away instantly that morning, all dressed in what he knew was my favorite outfit – white shirt, very tight black jeans – having his coffee, watching his TV, getting ready to go, ready for church, and excited about what we were gonna have for lunch," she shared.
"I’m grateful the Lord took him that way. Because the only thing Frank was ever afraid of in his entire life was being a burden to those he loved."
Kathie Lee and Frank married in 1986; they share son Cody, 25, and daughter Cassidy, 22.
"He’d want you to know that he died in complete peace. He knew every sin he’d ever committed was forgiven," she said.
"He had the hope that he would be with the Lord and that someday we would be with him as well."