TVSquad

Yesterday we told you about Kathie Lee Gifford making her first appearance on Live with Regis & Kelly next month, and now she is revealing for the first time why she left the show in the first place.

She left in 2000 because her dad was dying. Gifford says she had an "epiphany" while guest-hosting David Letterman's show when he had heart surgery. She realized that she wanted to be with her dad and be with family without having cameras in her face and having to talk about it on the show all the time.

I haven't watched Live with Regis & Kelly in a while, but I tuned in today because it was Regis' first appearance on the show since heart surgery weeks ago and David Letterman was going to be the first guest. Throughout the entire show, Kelly kept saying that they had an incredible surprise for Regis. I even think she said that we should get our recording devices ready. Was Kathie Lee Gifford going to make an appearance? Was the entire Notre Dame football team going to carry Regis on their shoulders?