'Unrecognizable': Fans React to Kathie Lee Gifford, 70, in First Photos Captured after Hospitalization

After a serious fall and hospitalization, Kathie Lee Gifford's first public photos have fans buzzing over her noticeably different appearance.

On August 6, iconic TV host Kathie Lee Gifford, 70, took to Instagram to share two pictures of herself relaxing at home with her dog. She posted the photos while recovering from a recent hospitalization. The images have sparked a wave of surprised reactions from social media users.

Sitting on a cozy-looking, white armchair in the comfort of her house, Gifford was seen reading her book "Herod & Mary," as she stroked her dog's head.

"Hi everyone! While I am home recovering, (thank you all for your kind and beautiful prayers) I have a really great thriller that I just can't get enough of called Herod and Mary, Ancient Evil/Living Hope [...]" penned Gifford in her caption.

Upon seeing Gifford's Instagram post, many took to social media comment sections to express their shock at how different the TV personality looks. "Doesn't look like her," commented an Instagrammer, while another wrote, "Her face isn't right.... almost unrecognizable."

Some even believe that Gifford may have altered some of her features. "She looks like she had work done on her face. That's [a shame] if she did," expressed an observer. Similarly, another questioned, "Your face, what did you do to it? You were beautiful just the way you were."

However, one person came to Gifford's defense, explaining, "I really think she looks different because of natural aging. I'm sure in the past she may have had work done like most people probably do that are in the limelight for work but now when I look at her, I just think it's regular aging. ❤️‍🩹."

Such comments came after we had previously reported that the 70-year-old revealed she was hospitalized for a week following a serious fall at home. She shared the details candidly, revealing that she fell and suffered a fractured pelvis in two places.

"And the next thing you know, I am back in the hospital with a fractured pelvis, the front, and the back," she recounted during an interview, adding that the pain from this accident was more intense than what she had endured during her hip surgery.

The incident unfolded after Gifford pushed herself too hard. She was busy moving numerous books during a book signing event in Nashville, an effort she admitted may have taken a toll on her body.

When her friend arrived to pick her up, Kathie Lee Gifford rushed to answer the door but ended up tripping and falling, which led to her serious injury. This period has been a "humbling experience" for the multi-talented artist.

Reflecting on her health, Gifford noted her disappointment at missing out on summer activities. "It's summer for everybody but me," she lamented, expressing a sense of being left out of the season's joys.

However, Gifford has also interpreted these events as a message from "the Lord" to "slow down" and enjoy the legacy she has created. This time of recovery has prompted her to rethink her pace of life and appreciate the accomplishments she's achieved over the years.

As Gifford recovers, she has been receiving an outpouring of support from her fans. Messages of encouragement have flooded in, with one follower writing, “Praying for complete healing, peace and support from loved ones. May the Lord protect you during this season.”

Another expressed their wishes for a swift recovery, saying, “Praying for a quick recovery. 🤍” Yet another fan sent heartfelt sentiments, sharing, “I hope you feel better soon!! Hugs and kisses.”

Early in July, Gifford candidly discussed the pain and difficulty of her hip replacement surgery. She described the recovery process as “really hard,” revealing it to be one of the most painful experiences of her life. Despite this, the need for the surgery was clear.

Her surgeon had advised the operation due to her active lifestyle — climbing mountains, making movies, and performing on stage while never giving up her high heels.

Even with the grueling recovery, Gifford expressed no regrets about the choice. “Would I change that? No, I was doing what God put me on this earth to do,” she reflected.

Amid her health struggles, Gifford has continued to share her projects with her audience. She proudly celebrated the release of her new book, "Herod and Mary: The True Story of the Tyrant King and the Mother of the Risen Savior. "

The historical nonfiction work delves into the rise of Herod, the corruption, and the ancient evils that threatened a nation's stability. Gifford announced the book in an Instagram video early in July, though it was met with mixed reactions from some netizens.

Instead of focusing on the news she had to share, the public diverted their attention to her appearance, which they expressed concern over.

Donning a cream-colored fedora hat and white shirt, Gifford appeared chipper and lively as she spoke about her book, "Herod and Mary," and an event she was planning to host for it.

"I'm very excited because I've got a brand new project that's finally coming out. I've been pretty quiet about it because it's just been taking a long, long time but it's a brand new book called, 'Herod and Mary.' [...] It comes out July 16th," Gifford shared.

She then went on to describe the plot of the novel, which she says is a thriller about Herod the Great and Mary, mother of Jesus, and how their lives intertwined in those historic times. Further spotlighting her religious book, Gifford divulged how she found it fascinating to write.

After requesting her followers to order the book, Gifford then disclosed, "On July 19, there's a digital book signing that I do not want you to miss, you guys. It's gonna be with ViciNFT and another company that I'm working with [...] just to make sure that it's a beautiful event for you and I hope you'll join us ok?"

Gifford also penned a lengthy caption alongside the Instagram reel, giving her followers more details about the event. "I am SO very excited to invite everyone to the official digital signing and book talk for Herod and Mary," she started.

She continued, "Personalized inscriptions and tickets for the interactive signing room can be found here. Only fifty of them so better hurry!" Gifford also listed other goodies people could look forward to, such as learning how the book came to fruition and acquiring signed collector's editions.

People who saw Gifford in the video were astounded by how remarkably different she appeared. "What happened to your face? Hope you are not sick," wrote a concerned Instagrammer. Others asserted their beliefs that Gifford used enhancements on her face and urged her to stop.

"I've always admired you so I'm telling you this. Stop with the fillers you look swollen," remarked a social media user. However, one fan came to Gifford's defense, praising, "You are beautiful!! Aging gracefully and loving life!"

When it comes to discussing matters concerning her life, Gifford is an open book. In a 2017 interview, she said, "Long before Google, I told the truth." While she may think about the concept of aging more seriously as she's grown older, it's not because she is worried about how she may look as a result.

Gifford also gave people another way to view aging, citing the benefit of adopting only a positive outlook on growing older. "All day long, life is about choice. Am I going to bemoan the fact that I'm 64 years old or say, 'Thank you, Lord, I made it to 64'?" she said.

"I'm healthy, I'm employed, my kids are awesome, life is good. I'm grateful. I think the most important reason to love your age is to be grateful for everything. If you grieve what you've lost in life at the expense of being grateful for what you have, you might as well take a dirt nap," Gifford finished.

The 70-year-old star also remains unbothered by what critics say about her. "I have no time for other people's opinions. That's the other joy of getting older—the number of people whose opinions matter has dwindled down at my age to maybe 10," Gifford revealed. She also spoke about the importance of ensuring that one never stops learning as they grow older.