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Kathie Lee Gifford Celebrates Final Appearance On ‘The Today Show’

(Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)

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Kathie Lee Gifford appeared for her final episode of “The Today Show” Friday.

Gifford has been a staple on the show for over a decade as a co-host of the fourth hour alongside Hoda Kotb, according to an Entertainment Tonight report. Before her time on the NBC show, Gifford co-hosted ABC’s “Live!” with Regis Philbin.

Kotb asked Gifford how she felt during the beginning of the show and Gifford replied, “I feel great … I had no expectations.”

“You want to honor the Lord in everything you say and do, but you also want to have fun. And you just want to remind people of why this show worked in the beginning. Because we have fun and we have a friendship,” Gifford said.

Gifford’s co-workers took to social media to share messages about the talk show host during her last day. (RELATED: Kathie Lee Gifford Says She Suffers From ‘Crippling Loneliness’ After The Death Of Her Husband, Mother)

Kotb shared a photo of a sunset with the phrase, “That endings can be beautiful too.” Jenna Bush Hager, who is replacing Gifford on the fourth hour, shared a photo of herself and Gifford along with Bush Hager’s two daughters.

She captioned the photo, “I adore @KathieLGifford. My kids adore her. She has taught me about the power of humor and steadfast faith.”

The Today Show” celebrated Gifford with a message from Regis and a surprise appearance from Barry Manilow. All audience members also received a free Carnival cruise.