The beloved morning show icon is once again celebrating the joys of grandmotherhood, with another little blessing joining the growing family.
Cassidy Gifford, daughter of former “Today” co-host Kathie Lee Gifford, recently welcomed her second child. On June 6, 2025, the actress revealed via Instagram that she and her husband, Ben Wierda, are now the proud parents of two, just two years after becoming a family of three.
The announcement featured a tender photo of her newborn daughter’s tiny hand, accompanied by a heartfelt caption. Cassidy wrote, “Rosie Mae Wierda! Born at 9:59 a.m. on 6/03/2025. You are a million prayers answered, Rosie girl. We love you so much. 1 Samuel 1:27.”
In a video posted to Instagram, the couple celebrated with their two sons, Frankie, 2, and Ford, 17 months, revealing a cake that read, “Baby #3 Loading.”
Erika captioned it: “✨Gifford, party of cinco 🥹 … 20 weeks in and we can’t wait to meet the newest member of our crew. 🩵🩷.”
With these new additions to the family, Kathie Lee Gifford‘s role as grandmother is expanding, and so is the love surrounding her growing family.
Netizens have often gushed about Kathie’s grandchildren, specifically two of her grandsons. As previously reported, Ford and Frankie attended a New York Giants game where fans couldn’t help but point out their strong resemblance to their late grandfather, Frank Gifford.
On December 13, 2024, Erika posted a collage of photos showing her and Cody’s sons having fun at a football game.
One person noticed the resemblance even in Cody, “They look like Grandpa and Cody is looking more like Frank as he gets older❤️❤️.” Another fan couldn’t get enough of the boys’ looks, gushing, “So adorable! The Gifford genes are very strong!! 😍😍😍.”
Another heartwarming comment acknowledged the love and joy the grandsons bring, “Beautiful tribute to their Grandfather …so cute and their happiness is such a blessing! ❤️.”
One fan shared, “Adorable boys. There grandfather would have loved them.” Finally, a fan summed it up with excitement, “Oh my God cuteness overload,” emphasizing just how precious the grandsons are.
“He was an honorable guy, and a straightforward football player, well-liked, and had a good reputation, and overall just a real tribute to the National Football League as a player,” remarked Jim Taylor, a Hall of Fame running back and one of Frank’s contemporaries.
Frank Gifford of the New York Giants in the 1950s | Source: Getty Images
The football player, who passed away from natural causes on August 9, 2015, at 84, was also an actor, appearing in “Jerry Maguire,” “Viva Knievel!,” and “Coach.” In 2022, Kathie Lee Gifford opened up about Frank’s state of health before he died and how she was moving on.
Her husband was diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain condition often linked to repeated head injuries. The family had privately known of his illness for a decade, noticing how it gradually affected him.
Frank and Kathie Lee Gifford during the annual “Bal du Printemps” of the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation at The Pierre Hotel in New York City, on May 18, 2004 | Source: Getty Images
Interestingly, the week he passed, Frank received one of his best medical reports in years and even joked with Kathie, “I guess you’re stuck with me.” However, one Sunday morning, as they prepared for church, she discovered him unresponsive on the floor.
Kathie Lee and Frank Gifford during The Westport Country Playhouse Fundraiser for “The Campaign for a New Era” at Hyatt Regency Greenwich in Greenwich, Connecticut, on October 14, 2004 | Source:
Despite the loss, Kathie viewed his death as a triumph rather than a tragedy, grounded in her Christian faith. She believed that the best day of one’s life is when they leave this world to be with Jesus.
Two years after her husband’s passing, Kathie went on her first date in over three decades but described the experience as “awful.” She said her date, whom her friend Hoda Kotb set her up with, didn’t share her faith. She was also not over the death of her late husband. “Although I wasn’t grieving, I wasn’t looking,” she admitted.
Hoda Kotb, Kathie Lee Gifford, and her grandchild, from a post dated December 11, 2024 | Source: Instagram/kathielgifford
Determined to live in the present, she has since embraced the opportunity to create new memories. Kathie is now in a relationship, though she keeps it private. “I am very blessed,” she shared.
