"It is almost impossible to describe how much I adored Joan and how much she has meant to me," E! News anchor Giuliana Rancic, who also co-hosted Fashion Police with Joan Rivers, said in a statement following the comedic icon's passing yesterday at the age of 81.
"She was not only the funniest woman I have ever met but was incredibly loving, honest, and lived her life with no regrets. Working with her for the last 13 years has been one of the true joys of my life. She could put a smile on your face, instantly, no matter how hard your day was."
But today, Rancic joined the E! News team from New York for an hour-long tribute to her late friend, and through the laughs and tears, G couldn't help but admire a woman who she said had a "beautiful soul."
"I'm glad I got to say I love you a bunch of times because I certainly meant it and watching that is a lot of fun," Rancic said after watching a montage of funny moments between her and Rivers.
"We had so many great moments through these years, 13 years working with Joan Rivers, it's just incredible. I think about Joan and what I'll miss about her, it'll certainly be all the laughs, of course, who could resist that? But just how incredibly loving she was."
She added, "What a beautiful soul and I'm just so happy Joan Rivers blessed us 60 years with this comedy and she's been on television for that long, that we can have videos that will live on forever and tape that will live on forever, so we can just enjoy Joan for the rest of our lives.
"And I know that whenever I miss her, I can go back and look at some of this old footage and just think about my good friend Joan. She will certainly be missed but I will say, as much as I'll miss her, it has been a privilege to have known her. I'm honored to have known her. So thank you Joan, I love you so much."
E! pays tribute to comedy legend Joan Rivers in hour-long E! News special Joan Rivers: Celebrating an Icon airing tonight at 9 p.m.