Kathie Lee Gifford's Son Named Baby after Dad He Looked So Much Like – Now She Can't Stop Cuddling Her Grandson

• Kathie Lee Gifford eldest child, Cody Gifford, named his son after his late father, Frank Gifford Sr., leaving his mother with some valid fears.

• The former host believed her son would never get over his father's death.

• However, now Kathie Lee spends as much time as possible with her grandson.

Since stepping down from her hosting duties, Kathy Lee Gifford has had more time to spend with her grandson, Frank "Frankie" Michael Gifford Jr. For instance, on September 23, 2022, she was photographed cradling the little boy in her arms while sitting outside on a chair.

A dog was seen close by with the television personality noting how jealous the canine was because all the attention was on her grandson. Fans couldn't help but swarm to the comment section to share their views.

One person said it was "fun" seeing Kathie Lee as a grandmother. The fan noted how they'd followed the star's entire career and her journey with her family, including all her accomplishments.

The follower also recalled how "fun" it was when she was expecting her firstborn son simultaneously with Kathie Lee during the Regis Philbin days. The fan sent hugs, love, and congratulations to the star.

A second person urged the television personality to "enjoy" the journey of grandmotherhood because it went by quickly. Using the hashtag Kathie Lee used, the fans said:

"Bambino is your other baby, too."

On October 7, 2022, Kathie Lee shared another Instagram image of her holding a sleeping Frank Jr. while he napped in her arms. The same dog that previously featured in the other photo sat on her lap.

In the post's caption, the star noted how it was a "lovely way" for her to spend a day in the fall. She sent love and blessings to all her fans, and one person responded by saying:

"That is a chair full of love. Nothing sweeter than a grandbaby."

Someone else noted how the former show host looked like she was in heaven with her grandson sleeping on her chest and her pet at her feet. The fan encouraged Kathie Lee to "enjoy those special moments" because their grandchildren grew up fast.

Another person said grandchildren restore grandparents, adding that they were "God's perfect plan." An Instagram user also noted how the happiest place was when one was holding their grandson in their arms.

In August 2022, while speaking to Today Parents, Kathie Lee said she strongly felt grandparents had to give way to new parents to allow them to create their memories and traditions. Speaking of her son, Cody Newton Gifford, and his wife, Erika Brown, she said it wasn't about her but them, adding:

"Don’t put guilt and burden on your kids. God knows they have enough of it already ... be a blessing. Laugh, giggle and dream with them."

Frank Gifford Sr. was Kathie Lee's second husband, to whom she was happily married. Although the couple loved each other, their relationship also had ups and downs.

The former "Today" show co-host and her husband met on the set of a morning news show and clicked immediately. Kathie Lee and the late television sports commentator started dating in the mid-1980s.

The television personality once confessed to her former "Today" co-host Hoda Kotb that she "sort of" fell in love with Frank Sr. during one of their first moments together. The pair tied the knot in October 1986.

When Kathie Lee married the then 23-year older sports commentator, she wasn't expecting to have any children with him. She'd married late, and Frank Sr. didn't want more children because he had three with his ex-wife, Maxine Ewart.

However, he ended up relenting, and in March 1990, he and Kathie Lee welcomed their first child together - son Cody. Frank Sr. enjoyed being a father again late in life, and soon enough, he suggested they have a second child.

The star wanted his son to have a little sister or brother, with Kathie Lee explaining his change of heart by stating: "It's the same way his heart softened the first time because he loved me." Their daughter, Cassidy, was born on August 2, 1993.

Sadly, after being married to her husband for many years, the television personality lost him. What made the whole thing worse was that Kathie Lee and her son found Frank Sr.'s body and had to tell his daughter.

Losing Frank Sr. After Years of Marriage

Sadly, after almost 30 years of marriage, the "Monday Night Football" host passed away at age 84 in August 2015. In a statement, his family revealed that he'd died suddenly at his Connecticut home of natural causes.

Kathie Lee revealed that she and Cody, then 25, had the unfortunate task of finding Frank Sr. collapsed and unresponsive on that fateful day. The duo couldn't get in touch with Cassidy, then 22, because she was on a flight to a movie shoot.

Delta Airlines was also unable to inform the young woman to call home. The former television personality didn't want her daughter to find out the news through a monitor and got Cassidy home to inform her.

However, losing her husband physically didn't mean he was gone forever. It appeared the late athlete lived on through their son because of their similarities, including the sports they were into.

Cody's Similarities to His Late Father

Ironically, Cody strongly resembled his father when he played for the New York Giants. When Kathie Lee shared an Instagram family photo with her children at Hallmark Channel's Beverly Hills party on July 26, 2018, fans noticed the resemblance.

Fans also noticed how much Cassidy looked like her mother's mini-me too! Speaking on "Today," Kathie Lee noted the comments and confirmed that she'd also noticed that her son seemed quite similar to her late husband.

Besides being Frank Sr.'s look-a-like, Cody followed in the Hall of Famer's footsteps when he was younger. The late star's eldest child with Kathie Lee used to play football at the University of Southern California.

In 2014, Cody honored his father by helping him to turn his memoir, "The Glory Game: How the 1958 NFL Championship Changed Football Forever," into a project with HBO Films. The young man paid tribute to the late star uniquely the following year.

Cody attended a special event where he shared his memories of Frank Sr. in his late father's hometown of Bakersfield, California. While mourning his father's passing that same year and speaking about what a role model he was, Kathie Lee's son once said:

“The great [New York Giants co-owner] Wellington Mara once called dad ‘the son any father would love to have and the father any son would be proud to have.'”

Cody noted how right Mara was because God had blessed him "beyond words." The late athlete's son, who generally stays out of the spotlight, later studied at Oxford University, earning a master's degree.

Frank Sr. sadly passed on long before he could welcome his grandchildren from Cassidy and Cody. The late star's grandson from Cody became another person who would carry on his legacy.

The Grandson Frank Sr. Never Met

In December 2021, Kathie Lee announced that her son and his wife were expecting a baby. She revealed to People magazine that she found out she would become a grandmother in a particular way.

After arriving home to start her book tour the next day on "Today," while seated with Cody, his wife, and longtime friend Christine Gardner, the couple handed over a wrapped surprise. Kathie Lee and Gardner were asked to open the packages simultaneously.

Inside the wrapping was a two-sided frame where Kathie Lee's one read, "Can't wait to meet you, Grandma," on one side, and on the other was the couple holding an ultrasound. It took her a moment to process what it all meant before she started freaking out!

Gardner and the television star ran to hug Brown until Cody hilariously asked why he was being left out! Kathie Lee was excited to become a first-time grandmother, and in April 2022, she told her son that Frank Sr. would be happy.

She thought her late husband would've reveled in and smiled at everything happening in his family's lives. The former host shared that she'd initially wished her grandchildren would call her Glamma.

However, she asked an Israeli friend what the name of a Jewish grandmother was in Yiddish. The friend told her the title "Bubbalah" or "Bubbie" came from the word Bubbeh, which meant "my darling," and the star thought the term of endearment was perfect for her.

On May 31, 2022, Kathie Lee's grandson was welcomed, with Brown taking to her Instagram account to share his first photos. In the first image, the proud parents posed with the little boy at the hospital, and in the second, he was seen in a closer shot.

Brown shared how the birth of their son, three weeks early and weighing 8lbs 8oz, was the "best day of our lives." She said Frank Jr. had changed their lives forever.

Kathie Lee [Gifford] explained that she couldn't help but sing to him [Frank "Frankie” Michael Gifford Jr.] and thought he'd enjoyed it.

Cody's wife explained that the boy's first name was named after her husband's late father and the second one was her late uncle's. She revealed that both men had been "strong" and shared that they were gone but would never be forgotten.

Kathie Lee shared the hospital photo of the family with baby Frank Jr. and confessed that her heart was bursting with joy! She said the birth of her grandson was confirmation "that our God is good and merciful and faithful. And he loves us!"

Speaking to "Today" on the day little Frank Jr. was born, Kathie Lee confessed that she was surprised Cody had decided to name his son after his late father. She further explained her astonishment and fears at the naming by saying:

"Cody knew what it was like to grow up in the shadow of a great man.”

Kathie Lee said, "But I guess he's never gotten over, really, and he never will, the loss of his dad at an early age." She felt her late husband had been Cody's hero and always would be.

On June 6, 2022, the former television personality shared an Instagram video of herself rocking in a chair while cuddling baby Frank Jr. She lovingly caressed the newborn baby in the clip and sang "Amazing Grace" to him.

The star revealed that it was the first time she had met the boy and had been filled with indescribable joy. Kathie Lee explained that she couldn't help but sing to him and thought he'd enjoyed it.

Despite initially being worried that Cody would never get over his father's death after naming his son after him, Kathie Lee now couldn't keep away from her grandson! She spent a lot of time with him, and he grew fast!