Kathie Lee Gifford is 'thrilled' about Hoda Kotb's new baby girl, Hope Catherine
Hoda Kotb's former morning show drinking buddy, Kathie Lee Gifford, is excited for Kotb's new reason to raise a glass: her new daughter.
While appearing on Fox News' "The Five" Tuesday, Gifford, who was at Kotb's side for the fourth hour of "Today" for nearly 11 years, talked about the big announcement Kotb made on Tuesday, in which she revealed via phone on "Today" that she had adopted a second daughter named Hope Catherine.
"Hoda's a mama again," Gifford, who exited "Today" on April 5, said. "I'm thrilled about that."
The former talk show host shared she was aware of Kotb's desire to expand her family.
"I knew that was coming, I just didn't know when it was gonna happen," Gifford said.
Kotb's "Today" partner, Savannah Guthrie, helped her make the announcement on "Today," teasing her colleagues about an "exclusive."
"I think you're gonna want to hear this," she added, queuing up Kotb, 54.
Kotb was on cloud nine while making the announcement.
"I can't imagine any of this is happening," she said.
Some very happy news from our @hodakotb – she’s adopted another baby girl!
And she has the sweetest name. pic.twitter.com/Niss1aFG5u— TODAY (@TODAYshow) April 16, 2019
The "Today with Hoda & Jenna" host shared how much love she felt when she and partner Joel Schiffman saw the new addition.
"Joel and I were standing there when they hand you the baby... at that moment I was like, 'My God, my heart just grew..." she recalled.
Kotb says her 2-year-old daughter, Haley Joy, is already embracing her role of big sister, and has even tried to feed the baby her raspberries.
"(Haley) was literally marching around saying, 'I'm a big sister,' " Kotb recalled.
She shared she'd been prepping her daughter by telling her "Baby Hope's coming."
A post shared by TODAY with Hoda & Jenna (@hodaandjenna) on Apr 16, 2019 at 5:52am PDT
In 2017, an emotional Kotb revealed she had adopted for the first time on "Today."
"I do have something to tell you," Kotb said at the time, "but how about this? Instead of telling you, I'm going to show you something."
A picture of Kotb beaming while holding a newborn then appeared on screen to applause.
"That little girl, Haley Joy – I'm crying, I'm crying," Kotb shared, "is my daughter. I adopted her."
"She is the love of my life," Kotb gushed.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kathie Lee Gifford is 'thrilled' about Hoda Kotb's new baby girl, Hope Catherine
