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Erik Pendzich/REX/Shutterstock
Speaking to PEOPLE of her chemistry with Gifford, co-hostHoda Kotbsaid, “Kathie used to say, ‘If we are having fun, they are having fun.’ I remember you always think you are trying to entertain. You don’t have to do that, you just have to have this.”
02of 08Erik Pendzich/REX/ShutterstockMuch of theTodayfamily was there, including Dylan Dreyer,Savannah Guthrie, Carson Daly, Kotb and Lester Holt.“It doesn’t get more real, I swear to you,” Daly told PEOPLE of Gifford. “Early in the morning, wearing sweats, tired. We see each other, theTodayfamily, at the most vulnerable points in a human being’s life. Everyday all day, and she is the living embodiment with class and style.”
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Much of theTodayfamily was there, including Dylan Dreyer,Savannah Guthrie, Carson Daly, Kotb and Lester Holt.
“It doesn’t get more real, I swear to you,” Daly told PEOPLE of Gifford. “Early in the morning, wearing sweats, tired. We see each other, theTodayfamily, at the most vulnerable points in a human being’s life. Everyday all day, and she is the living embodiment with class and style.”
03of 08Erik Pendzich/REX/Shutterstock"I think a lot of women felt they had that exact friendship with their girlfriend," Kotb said of the pair’s dynamic. “I remember one Halloween they were like, ‘Hey I’m Kathie Lee and I’m Hoda!’ I think we all have a girlfriend and want to sit around and have wine with them at 10 a.m. It was just fun.”
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“I think a lot of women felt they had that exact friendship with their girlfriend,” Kotb said of the pair’s dynamic. “I remember one Halloween they were like, ‘Hey I’m Kathie Lee and I’m Hoda!’ I think we all have a girlfriend and want to sit around and have wine with them at 10 a.m. It was just fun.”
04of 08Erik Pendzich/REX/ShutterstockNBC colleagues left notes for Gifford on a beautiful plant in the party entryway.
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NBC colleagues left notes for Gifford on a beautiful plant in the party entryway.
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06of 08Erik Pendzich/REX/ShutterstockGifford and Kotb took a spin on sweetcycle blender bikes, which made frozé with Gifford’s Gifft Rose wine.
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Gifford and Kotb took a spin on sweetcycle blender bikes, which made frozé with Gifford’s Gifft Rose wine.
07of 08Erik Pendzich/REX/ShutterstockSpeaking to PEOPLE, Meredith Vieira reflected on Gifford’s professionalism.“She was herself,” she said. “To be authentic on television, that is a tall order. You wouldn’t think so, but people tend to remake their image and sort of present somebody they think the rest of the world wants. Kathie Lee never did that, she was her. You either liked her or didn’t, and that is why she could be polarizing for folks, or she was easy to spoof onSNL,because she didn’t care. She kept it real, and that is a great quality to have.”
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Speaking to PEOPLE, Meredith Vieira reflected on Gifford’s professionalism.
“She was herself,” she said. “To be authentic on television, that is a tall order. You wouldn’t think so, but people tend to remake their image and sort of present somebody they think the rest of the world wants. Kathie Lee never did that, she was her. You either liked her or didn’t, and that is why she could be polarizing for folks, or she was easy to spoof onSNL,because she didn’t care. She kept it real, and that is a great quality to have.”
08of 08Erik Pendzich/REX/ShutterstockDr. Oz was among the party guests who had a fabulous time on the sweetcycle blender bikes.
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Dr. Oz was among the party guests who had a fabulous time on the sweetcycle blender bikes.
source: people.com
