Kathie Lee Gifford’s mother has died at the age of 87 — with Joan Epstein often at her daughter’s side on both “The Today Show” and through a major sex scandal!
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Kathie Lee went to social media to announce the death of Joan on the evening of Sept. 12, saying: "My precious mother JOANIE went home to JESUS and my DADDY this morning." The morning host's father, Aaron Epstein, had died in 2002.
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Joanie had gone on to become a regular guest with Kathie Lee and
Hoda Kotb after her daughter moved on from hosting "Live!" with
Regis Philbin to "Today."
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Joan was also at her daughter's side through the sordid sex scandal involving Kathie's cheating husband
Frank Gifford. The former NFL great, who passed away in 2015 at the age of 84, had been caught in 1997 having affair with flight attendant Suzen Johnson.
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Insiders later told
The National ENQUIRER that a disgraced Kathie Lee had forced Frank to apologize to Joan! "My parents love Frank, but they're bewildered by his actions," Kathie Lee told the insider after the affair. "He's 66 years old and a grandfather, for gosh sakes!'"
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Kathie Lee continued: "He told my parents, 'I did a stupid thing. I was weak. I can't explain why I did it I just hope you can find it in your hearts to somehow forgive me.'"
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Photo credit: Getty Images
And despite getting blasted over
a child-labor scandal, Kathie Lee credited Joan for raising her while keeping "a real emphasis on being a lady. Dress like a lady, act like a lady. I turned out to be pretty bawdy, but I try never to be vulgar.”
Photo credit: Getty Images
Kathie Lee went to social media to announce the death of Joan on the evening of Sept. 12, saying: "My precious mother JOANIE went home to JESUS and my DADDY this morning." The morning host's father, Aaron Epstein, had died in 2002.
Photo credit: Getty Images
Joanie had gone on to become a regular guest with Kathie Lee and
Hoda Kotb after her daughter moved on from hosting "Live!" with
Regis Philbin to "Today."
Photo credit: Getty Images
Joan was also at her daughter's side through the sordid sex scandal involving Kathie's cheating husband
Frank Gifford. The former NFL great, who passed away in 2015 at the age of 84, had been caught in 1997 having affair with flight attendant Suzen Johnson.
Photo credit: Getty Images
Insiders later told
The National ENQUIRER that a disgraced Kathie Lee had forced Frank to apologize to Joan! "My parents love Frank, but they're bewildered by his actions," Kathie Lee told the insider after the affair. "He's 66 years old and a grandfather, for gosh sakes!'"
Kathie Lee continued: "He told my parents, 'I did a stupid thing. I was weak. I can't explain why I did it I just hope you can find it in your hearts to somehow forgive me.'"
Photo credit: Getty Images
And despite getting blasted over
a child-labor scandal, Kathie Lee credited Joan for raising her while keeping "a real emphasis on being a lady. Dress like a lady, act like a lady. I turned out to be pretty bawdy, but I try never to be vulgar.”
Photo credit: Getty Images
