Gifford will make her debut alongside Hoda Kotb at 11 a.m. on April 7, 2008 on WTOV9.

“I am excited to welcome Kathie Lee to ‘Today,’” said Bell. “She is a morning television icon and is on a short list of personalities known by her first name alone. We are looking forward to her signature warmth and sense of humor in the fourth hour. Her addition to the ‘Today’ family makes us stronger than ever, and she and Hoda will continue the ‘Today’ tradition of smart, topical and fun morning television.”

“I am truly honored to join the ‘Today’ show family, many of whom have been friends and colleagues of mine for years,” said Gifford. “And I'm especially looking forward to working with Hoda, a bright and beautiful woman I admire very much. Together I hope we will bring a fresh and fun perspective to the topics that affect all of our daily lives.”

The fourth hour of “Today” was added in September 2007.

The hour is topical and timely and incorporates the news of the day with what people are talking about in a spontaneous and informative manner, officials said.

Ann Curry will continue her role as news anchor of the 7-9 a.m. hours of “Today,” as well as co-host, with Al Roker, of the third hour.

Natalie Morales will join Curry and Roker as a third co-host the third hour. Morales will also continue to serve as national correspondent for “Today” and NBC News, Bell said.

Gifford is best known as the former co-host of “Live with Regis and Kathie Lee,” where she received 11 Emmy nominations in her 15 years on the show.

Gifford was a correspondent for “Good Morning America” for three years before taking the “Live with Regis and Kathie Lee” spot.

She was also the first woman to guest host the “Late Show with David Letterman.”

Gifford has starred in many television programs and movies over more than 40-year career, and has been a playwright, producer, singer, songwriter and actress.

She started her own record label, On the Lamb Records, in 1999.

Recently she has performed as Miss Hannigan in “Annie” at the Theatre at Madison Square Garden.

She also is a strong supporter of humanitarian efforts including Childhelp, which Gifford serves as spokesperson, and the Association to Benefit Children (ABC), which spawned Cassidy’s Place and Cody House in New York City, named after her two children.

Gifford received an honorary degree from Marymount University for her humanitarian work in labor relations, and she was honored with the National Conference of Christian and Jews Irvin Feld Humanitarian Award for her commitment to improving the lives of others.

“Today,” launched more than 56 years ago, offers domestic and international news, weather reports and interviews with newsmakers from the worlds of politics, business, media, entertainment and sports.

“Today” followed a standard two-hour for more than 48 years and added a third hour in October 2000.

With the addition of the fourth hour in September 2007, the show became the only four-hour national morning show, officials said.