Rommel Demano/Getty ImagesKathie Lee Gifford was inducted into the Broadcasting Hall of Fame on Tuesday night, but it wasn't her award she was most thankful for. Rather, the host was even more emotional over her late husband, Frank Gifford's, induction alongside her.
"I have to thank my incredible husband, who taught me so much, who was the most generous person I ever met," Kathie said while accepting the huge honor. "And he gave me the two greatest gifts that any human being could ever have and that's my children!"
She continued, talking about son Cody Gifford and daughter Cassidy Gifford. "My children make me a better person every day. The hardest thing in the world to do is raise two people…who love God, who love their country. I guess they've done a lot of bad stuff but I don't know about it!" she joked, bringing laughter to the crowd. "And I don't want to know alright!"
"But anyway, I want to thank Cody and Cassidy who are going to receive the award for Frank a little bit later in the evening. I am truly the most blessed woman on the earth. I had 29 years with my incredible husband and I remember thinking when we were getting married, I said, 'Lord, if you give just me 10 [years] with that amazing man.' I got that and a whole bunch more! So thank you everybody!"
Frank—who passed away on Aug. 9 at 84 years old—was not only a Hall of Fame running back and wide receiver with the New York Giants in the 1950s, he was also an Emmy Award-winning part of the Monday Night Football broadcasting team for nearly 30 years.
Meanwhile, Kathie Lee received her induction from her current Today co-host, Hoda Kotb, as well as her former longtime co-host, Regis Philbin, who was with her on The Morning Show and Live With Regis and Kathie Lee from 1985 to 2000.
"Thank God I got this award before Kelly Ripa,'' she joked in her acceptance speech, referring to Philbin's co-host who came after Gifford. "I mean, how embarrassing would that be?" LOL!
But in all seriousness, she chatted on the Today Show Wednesday and said, "It is a huge honor. The best part of the evening was that they also honored Frank. I think it's the only hall of fame he is not yet in. Our children were there to receive it for their dad, so it was going to be difficult for me emotionally."
Also there to support her during the special and emotional ceremony were other members of the Today Show, including: anchors Matt Lauer, Savannah Guthrie, Natalie Morales and Tamron Hall.