Kathie Lee Gifford Celebrates Birthday of Grandson Named after Her Late Husband — He Looks ‘So Much like His Grandpa’

Kathie Lee Gifford recently celebrated her grandson’s birthday.

Gifford’s grandson once dressed up as his late grandfather.

Gifford’s son and his partner are in a happy relationship.

Kathie Lee Gifford is best known as a co-host on “Today” on NBC. She has been a staple on the network for many years, and fans have become acquainted with her family as she often talks and posts about them.

Most recently, Gifford shared the news that her grandson had celebrated his birthday. Fans and friends alike took to the comments section of her post to wish the young man a happy birthday and express how much they loved the family.

Gifford shared a photo of her grandson strapped into his car seat, beaming at the camera, and wished him a happy birthday before saying::

“So grateful to God for the gift of Frankie.”

Gifford’s grandson is named after her late husband, Frank Gifford, who passed away in 2015. Many fans mentioned they could see Frankie’s grandfather in the child, while others thought he looked more like his father, Cody.

Other fans wished little Frankie a happy birthday, while others talked about how cute the tot was. Some people thought Frankie looked like his mom, but most saw a strong resemblance to his father and grandfather.

One fan said that he was clearly doing his namesake justice and they knew Frank would have been proud. Another called him his “father’s twin” while others called him “adorable.” An adoring commenter said Frankie was “like his Grandpa and daddy.”

Frankie Dressed Up As “Big Frank”
In keeping with the sentiment that little Frankie looks so much like his late grandfather, Gifford’s daughter-in-law, Erika, shared a sweet comparison photo of the pair in January this year. The first photo showed Frank Gifford as a young man, and the following picture showed Frankie dressed in an almost identical outfit.

Erika called Frank Gifford “Big Frank” and her son “Little Frankie” before saying they were proud of Frank’s previous NFL team, the New York Giants. Frank holds a football in the first photo, while in the second, Frankie chews on a plush toy version. Fans were charmed by the pictures.

Some once again commented on how alike the pair were, while other fans thought the comparison photos were “the cutest.” Gifford herself commented on the snaps saying how adorable the comparison was.

Fans mentioned that Frank, Cody, and baby Frankie all looked very much alike. Some fans thought that Frank would have loved to meet his grandson and said they were three generations of lookalikes in the family.

Others simply said baby Frankie looked “so much like his Grandpa” as others again talked about how proud Frank would have been of the tiny tot.

Who Is Gifford’s Daughter-In-Law and Her Son’s Long-Term Love?
Gifford shares a close relationship with Cody’s wife, Erika, and when he proposed in 2019, Gifford shared her joy that her son had found the love of his life and was set to tie the knot with her.

Shortly after the proposal, Gifford took to Instagram to share a photo of her son and then-soon-to-be daughter-in-law kissing as Erika held up a bejeweled left hand. Many people sent messages of congratulations on the post.

Cody’s sister, Cassidy, also shared the news of her brother’s engagement on Instagram, saying how happy she was for the pair and that she was excited to welcome Erika into the family as her sister.

Fans commented on the engagement posts and said Frank would have been proud of his son. A year later, Cody and Erika caused mass excitement again on their September wedding day.

Gifford again used Instagram as her news platform, sharing that her son and daughter-in-law exchanged vows on Labor Day weekend. She featured a photo of the bride and groom walking and holding hands as they gazed into one another’s eyes. The caption read:

“God gave us a glorious day to celebrate this glorious couple. So grateful.”

Before Erika and Cody got engaged, they had been together since 2013, and Gifford was more than ready to welcome Erika into the family officially. Erika shared that although 2020 had been a challenging year for many, their wedding was a silver lining in a dark cloud.

Erika shared that only their closest family and friends had been in attendance, and they had taken all the necessary precautions to make it “the most blessed and perfect day of [their] lives.” However, the wedding had its share of hiccups.

Erika had a personalized veil, but the word “the” was misspelled as “The.” She joked it was to be expected from a year like 2020. Gifford commented that it was a testament to their love that they didn’t let slight inconveniences ruin the day.

Cody and Erika welcomed their son into the world two years after they tied the knot. When naming his son, Cody knew he wanted to honor his father and name his baby after him.

Cody and Erika named their son Frank Michael Gifford, and when Gifford found out, she admitted:

“I was surprised Cody named him after his dad because Cody knew what it was like to grow up in the shadow of a great man. But I guess he’s never gotten over, really, and he never will, the loss of his dad at an early age, and he was his hero, and he still is.”

Gifford shared that when she got the news that her son was expecting a baby, she told him that his father would be so happy with all the positive things happening in their lives and that he was smiling down on them.

Little Frankie’s name does not only honor his late grandfather but also a family member on Erika’s side. Frankie’s middle name, Michael, is a tribute to Erika’s uncle, who passed shortly before the little tike was born.

Frankie was born three weeks premature, but he and his mother were healthy following the birth, and he has now grown into a bouncing, happy, and healthy one-year-old who is adored by his family and his grandmother’s fans worldwide.

Entitled Mom on the Flight Broke My Daughter’s iPad – She Regretted It Sooner Than I Could Have Imagined

An entitled mom thought breaking my little daughter’s iPad would end her son’s tantrums. But what came next left her more panicked than I could’ve imagined. Karma works fast… even at 30,000 feet!

I, Bethany, 35 years old, never thought a two-hour flight could change so much. But there I was, settling into my seat with my five-year-old daughter Ella next to me. As the plane taxied down the runway, I breathed a sigh of relief. Ella was contentedly watching cartoons on her iPad, headphones snug on her ears…

A cheerful little girl holding a tablet | Source: Freepik

A cheerful little girl holding a tablet | Source: Freepik

“You comfy, sweetie?” I asked, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear.

Ella nodded, her eyes glued to the screen. “Uh-huh. Can I have juice later?”

“Of course,” I smiled, reaching for my book. “Just let me know when you’re thirsty.”

As I cracked open my novel, movement across the aisle caught my eye. A family of three had just sat down: a couple and a little boy around Ella’s age. He was squirming in his seat, whining loudly.

Grayscale of a little boy throwing a tantrum | Source: Pexels

Grayscale of a little boy throwing a tantrum | Source: Pexels

“I’m bored!” he wailed, kicking the seat in front of him.

His mother shushed him. “We told you, no screens on this trip. Be a good boy.”

The boy’s whining intensified, and I saw his gaze lock onto Ella’s iPad.

Oh boy, I thought. This might be a long flight.

A little boy crying | Source: Pexels

A little boy crying | Source: Pexels

Twenty minutes in, a tap on my shoulder made me look up. The mom from across the aisle was leaning towards me, a tight smile on her face.

“Hi there! I couldn’t help but notice your daughter’s iPad. We’ve decided to be responsible parents and not give our son any screen time this vacation. Would you mind putting that away? It’s making him upset.”

I blinked, stunned by her audacity. “Excuse me?”

“It’s just… it’s not fair to him, you know?”

An annoyed woman sitting in an airplane | Source: Midjourney

An annoyed woman sitting in an airplane | Source: Midjourney

I took a deep breath, reminding myself to stay calm. “I’m sorry, but no. My daughter’s using it to stay calm during the flight.”

The woman’s smile vanished instantly. “Wow, really? You’d rather ruin our family trip than have your daughter take a break from her precious screen?”

“Listen,” I said, my patience wearing thin, “she’s quietly minding her own business. Your son could do the same if you’d brought him something to do.”

An annoyed woman | Source: Midjourney

An annoyed woman | Source: Midjourney

The woman, let’s just call her “Entitled Mom (EM)” was visibly frustrated.

“Some parents just can’t say no to their kids these days. No wonder they all end up spoiled.”

I turned back to my book, hoping that would end the conversation. But I could feel her glare burning into the side of my head.

“Everything okay, Mommy?” Ella asked, momentarily looking up from her show.

“Everything’s fine, sweetie. Just keep watching your cartoons.”

Little girl holding a tablet in an airplane | Source: Pexels

Little girl holding a tablet in an airplane | Source: Pexels

The next hour was tense. The boy’s tantrum escalated, his wails piercing through the cabin noise.

His parents shot us dirty looks every few minutes, as if we were personally responsible for their poor planning.

“I want that!” the boy shrieked, pointing at Ella’s iPad. “It’s not fair!”

His mother leaned over. “I know, honey. Some people are just SELFISH!”

I gritted my teeth, focusing on my book. The words blurred as I tried to block out the chaos around us. Ella remained oblivious, lost in her cartoons.

Grayscale of a sad boy | Source: Pexels

Grayscale of a sad boy | Source: Pexels

Suddenly, a commotion erupted beside us. Entitled Mom had leaned across the aisle, reaching for her bag. But instead of grabbing her belongings, her arm knocked into Ella’s tray table.

Time seemed to slow as I watched Ella’s iPad slide off the tray. It hit the floor with a sickening crack, the screen shattering into a spiderweb of fractures.

Ella’s scream cut through the air. “Mommy, my iPad!”

A tablet with a shattered screen | Source: Midjourney

A tablet with a shattered screen | Source: Midjourney

Entitled Mom’s face lit with fake surprise. “Oh no! I didn’t mean to do that! So clumsy of me!”

But I saw the glimmer of satisfaction in her eyes. This was NO ACCIDENT.

“What is wrong with you?” I hissed.

She shrugged, not even trying to hide her smugness. “These things happen. Maybe it’s a sign she needs less screen time.”

Two women arguing | Source: Midjourney

Two women arguing | Source: Midjourney

I was about to unleash a torrent of words that would make a sailor blush when a flight attendant appeared.

“Is everything alright here?” she asked, eyeing the shattered iPad.

Entitled Mom’s act kicked into high gear. “Oh, it was just a terrible accident. I feel awful!”

I opened my mouth to argue, but the flight attendant cut me off with a sympathetic smile.

“I’m so sorry about your device, ma’am. Unfortunately, there’s not much we can do mid-flight. Please let us know if you need anything else.”

A flight attendant smiling | Source: Midjourney

A flight attendant smiling | Source: Midjourney

As she walked away, I turned to comfort my distraught daughter, knowing this battle was far from over. But it seemed karma had other plans.

With Ella’s iPad out of commission, the boy’s tantrum reached new heights. He bounced in his seat, kicked the chair in front of him, and yanked on the tray table.

“Sweetie, please settle down,” Entitled Mom pleaded.

“I’m bored! This is the worst trip ever!”

A little boy covering his eye | Source: Pexels

A little boy covering his eye | Source: Pexels

I watched from the corner of my eye, torn between sympathy for the child and a petty sense of satisfaction at Entitled Mom’s struggle.

Ella tugged on my sleeve, her eyes still watery. “Mommy, can you fix it?”

I hugged her close. “I’m sorry, sweetie. We’ll have to get it looked at when we land. How about we read a book instead?”

A little girl crying in an airplane | Source: Midjourney

A little girl crying in an airplane | Source: Midjourney

As I reached into my bag for another book, chaos erupted across the aisle.

The boy, in a fit of hyperactivity, had knocked over Entitled Mom’s coffee cup. The dark liquid spread across her lap and splashed into her open handbag.

“No, no, no!” she cried, frantically trying to save her belongings.

In her haste to rescue her bag, something fell out and landed on the floor. Yikes! It was a small blue booklet. I took a closer look and gasped. It was her PASSPORT!

Coffee spilling from a cup | Source: Midjourney

Coffee spilling from a cup | Source: Midjourney

Before anyone could react, her son’s foot came down on the fallen document, grinding it into the coffee-soaked carpet.

God, you should’ve seen Entitled Mom’s face. It was EPIC!

She snatched up the passport, but the damage was done. The pages were soaked through, stuck together in a soggy mess. The cover was warped beyond recognition. It looked like a water-logged, soggy piece of toast.

A startled woman | Source: Pexels

A startled woman | Source: Pexels

“Ma’am?” A flight attendant approached. “Is that your passport?”

Entitled Mom nodded, speechless for once.

“I’m so sorry, but I have to inform you that a damaged passport could cause serious issues when we land. Especially if you’re traveling internationally.”

Entitled Mom’s eyes widened in panic. She turned to her husband, seeking a way out. “What are we going to do? Our connecting flight to Paris leaves in three hours!”

Side view of a flight attendant | Source: Midjourney

Side view of a flight attendant | Source: Midjourney

Her husband shrugged helplessly. “I don’t know. Maybe we can explain at customs?”

As they bickered, I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of malevolence.

As the plane began its descent, Entitled Mom was frantically dabbing at her ruined passport with tissues, muttering under her breath. Her son, exhausted from his earlier tantrums, had finally fallen asleep.

An anxious man | Source: Midjourney

An anxious man | Source: Midjourney

I leaned over to Ella, who was reading her storybook with a big smile. “Great job, sweetie! You’re a real bookworm!”

She beamed at me, her earlier distress over the iPad forgotten. “Can we bake cupcakes when we get home, Mommy?”

“Absolutely,” I promised, ruffling her hair. “And maybe we can bake some cookies too!”

A soft whimper from across the aisle drew my attention. Entitled Mom was on the phone, her eyes brimming with panic.

Grayscale of a woman holding a phone | Source: Midjourney

Grayscale of a woman holding a phone | Source: Midjourney

“Yes, I understand it’s last minute, but we need to reschedule our entire trip. No, we can’t make the connecting flight. Because… because my passport is ruined.”

I couldn’t help but overhear as she explained the situation, detailing how she’d have to go through the process of getting an emergency passport before they could continue their journey.

As we began to taxi to our gate, Entitled Mom caught my eye as we stood to disembark.

An anxious woman with her eyes downcast | Source: Midjourney

An anxious woman with her eyes downcast | Source: Midjourney

For a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of remorse in her eyes. But then her son started whining again, and the moment passed.

“Ready to go, Ella?” I asked, helping her gather her things.

“Can we get ice cream at the airport, Mommy?”

“I think we deserve a little treat, don’t you think?!” I laughed.

A boy opening his mouth | Source: Pexels

A boy opening his mouth | Source: Pexels

As we made our way off the plane, I couldn’t help but reflect on the bizarre turn of events. What had started as a simple two-hour flight had turned into a lesson in karma, patience, and the unpredictability of travel.

I glanced back one last time to see Entitled Mom still frantically trying to salvage her ruined passport. It was a grim reminder that our actions, good or bad, often have unexpected consequences.

A frustrated woman holding her head | Source: Pexels

A frustrated woman holding her head | Source: Pexels

Turns out, it wasn’t just Ella’s iPad that got ruined on that flight. Entitled Mom ended up losing something much more valuable!

As we walked hand in hand towards the baggage claim, I squeezed Ella’s fingers, thankful for the perspective this chaotic flight had given me. Sometimes, the best lessons come from the worst experiences.

Have you ever encountered a nightmare neighbor on a flight? Share your own flight horror stories in the comments!

Lady with a little girl leaving an airport | Source: Midjourney

Lady with a little girl leaving an airport | Source: Midjourney

Here’s another story: An entitled rich man mocks a poor boy shining shoes in an underpass. He learns a brutal lesson the very next day.

This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.

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