Kathie Lee Gifford fears she will die ‘a lot sooner’ than one of her closest friends

Kathie Lee Gifford fears she will die “a lot sooner” than one of her closest friends.

The 71-year-old former ‘Today’ show co-host appeared at the Plaza Hotel on Tuesday (03.06.25) to present an award to her long-time friend and former colleague Jill Martin, 49, who is now cancer free following treatment for stage two breast cancer, and she grew visibly emotional as she reflected on her mortality during her a speech at the City of Hope’s Spirit of Life Luncheon in New York.

She told attendees about how she feared her time on Earth was running out: “Tick-tock, I better get off the stage.”

Her appearance came just weeks after Kathie Lee revealed she had endured a “really, really tough” few years marked by serious health issues and personal challenges.

Kathie Lee, who lives in Tennessee, returned to New York for the luncheon, where she was assisted onto the stage by Jill – on the advice of what she described as her “personal therapist’s orders”.

The presenter underwent a total hip replacement in June 2024 and later fractured her pelvis in two places during a fall at home, requiring hospitalisation for over a week.

In her speech, Kathie Lee praised Jill’s resilience throughout her cancer battle, calling her “one of my favourite people on the entire planet”.

She added: “Over the years, our friendship has deepened us. Many do, if you are blessed. And honestly, I think about Jill and I smile even when she was going through her journey and she still is.

“We would get on the phone together and we pray and we’d laugh. I thank her for what she was doing for others.”

Addressing the audience, Kathie Lee encouraged people to “be there for people” regardless of what they were facing.

And as her voice trembled, she added: “So when I say that Jill will be my friend for life, I mean it. She will be there for me and I will be there for her.

“I’ll probably go a lot sooner.”

Kathie Lee, who previously co-hosted ‘Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee’, has spoken openly about recent health struggles. Speaking to OK! magazine, she said: “I’ve had a really, really tough last three years with parts of my body that have just worn out because I did so much in my life. I had my hip replaced, I had my shoulder done – that was from an old injury that finally got so bad, I couldn’t ignore it anymore. Yet my health is perfect! I am crumbling!”