Kathie Lee Gifford Sheds Tears as She Announces ‘Today’ Exit

Kathie Lee Gifford Today Exit (Credit: NBC)

Kathie Lee Gifford has announced she’s leaving the Today show in April.

With co-host Hoda Kotb by her side, the longtime host shared the news with viewers Tuesday morning.

“I have something to share with everybody, and it’s bittersweet as these things always are,” an emotional Gifford said.

“I’ve been here almost 11 years; thought I would stay one year, something happened along the way. I fell in love…” she added, pointing to Kotb. “And now, when it’s our eleventh anniversary, I am going to be leaving the ‘Today’ show.”

Read MoreNBC News Officially Cancels ‘Megyn Kelly Today’

NBC News chief Noah Oppenheim also sent a note to network staffers saying Gifford would be departing next year.

“Kathie Lee is generously staying with us through the show’s next anniversary, April 7, 2019. We will have much more to share before then about our plans for that hour, which will, of course, continue to include Hoda [Kotb],” Oppenheim said in a memo obtained by The Hollywood Reporter.

Gifford began co-hosting the fourth hour of Today with Kotb in 2008.

News of her departure comes just weeks after the Oct. 26 cancellation of the third hour of the NBC morning news block.

NBC pulled the plug on Megyn Kelly Today following host Megyn Kelly’s  controversial comments about Halloween costumes that use blackface.

Kelly apologized on air, but the show was ultimately canceled.