Name: Kathie Lee Gifford Confirms Today Departure - Watch Her Announcement
Uploaded: 2018-12-11T10:46:44-05:00
Duration: 5 min 45 s
Description: Kathie Lee Gifford has announced her intention to depart NBC's Today after more than 10 years as a co-host on the fourth hour. Watch her emotional announcement here.

Kathie Lee Gifford is parting ways with NBC's Today.

NBC News chief Noah Oppenheim revealed the news earlier this morning in a memo to staff, which was shared with The Hollywood Reporter.

"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]," said Oppenheim.

Gifford has spent 10 years with the show as co-host of its fourth hour, so her exit is a big deal.

"In 2008, I joined the Today show family intending to spend one year," Gifford said in a statement on Tuesday.

"But something unexpected happened along the way: I fell in love with a beautiful, talented, extraordinary Egyptian goddess named Hoda, and an amazing group of individuals who work tirelessly and joyfully at their jobs, many of them starting at midnight, creating an unprecedented four hours of live television."

Added Gifford: "I stayed year after year making a million memories with people I will never forget. I leave Today with a grateful heart but I'm truly excited for this new creative season in my life. Many thanks to all the wonderful people who made the years fly by."

The co-host did not shy away from her looming departure on Tuesday's episode, and you can watch her full announcement video below.

As you can probably imagine, it's a real tear-jerker.

What are your thoughts on Kathie's decision? Who would you like to replace her?

Hit the comments after watching the video.