Kathie Lee Gifford, 70, reveals how she finally forgave late husband Frank for his shock 1997 AFFAIR with glamorous flight attendant – but admits memory of his cheating is still ‘very painful’

Kathie Lee Gifford has revealed why she forgave her late husband Frank for his extramarital affair with a flight attendant. She admitted that she didn’t want to become a “bitter and angry person.”

The 70-year-old TV host admitted she initially struggled with the concept of forgiveness, but decided to overcome Frank’s infidelity because she feared she would end up making everyone around her “just as miserable.”

In a candid interview with Entertainment tonightKathie explained that one of the most difficult topics to write about in her new book, I Want to Matter: Your Life Is Too Short and Too Precious to Waste, was her second husband’s betrayal with Suzen Johnson in 1997.

“I could have let the seed germinate, but I don’t want to be that person, that bitter, angry, unhappy, miserable person, because you know what you’re going to do in the end? You end up making everyone around you just as miserable,” she told ET’s Rachel Smith.

Frank, pictured here in 2004, cheated on Kathie with a flight attendant in 1997

Frank and Kathie pictured in November 2012 with their two children Cassidy and Cody

The couple, pictured here in 1990, married in October 1986

“From my earliest childhood, I have always felt that every day of my life I had the choice to be a blessing or a burden, and I want to be a blessing,” Kathie continued.

Although it has been almost ten years since Frank died of natural causes, his affair with Suzen still brings back “very painful” memories.

“My faith was definitely tested the most during the entire year of dealing with Frank’s infidelity because I thought I had finally found my soulmate,” the mother of two explained.

When asked if she thinks she was scrutinized for ‘staying’ with the former footballer, Kathie replied: ‘Oh, I was damned if I did, and damned if I didn’t. If I stayed with him, I was just a stupid woman who tolerated a cheating husband. When I left, [people would have said]“Oh, you call yourself a Christian.”

The couple’s children, Cassidy and Cody, were just four and seven years old when news of the affair appeared in New York City newspapers, exposing sordid details of Frank’s tryst with Suzen.

Supermarket tabloid The Globe published a front-page story about the illicit relationship, featuring footage from their hotel room, as well as Suzen’s claims that she and the former sports star had been seeing each other for several years.

To make matters worse, the sensational news came just five years after Kathie insisted that “cheating was out of the question” as far as her husband was concerned, writing about their marriage in her memoir, I Can’t Believe I Said That. .

“Frank is my husband, confidant, lover, therapist, parenting partner and best friend… There is no cheating,” she said.

‘Of course Frank sees sexy flight attendants and businesswomen when he flies across the country. But the only comment he gets is: “Come on, Frank, show me a picture of [their son] Cody.”

Kathie said Frank’s affair with Suzen Johnson (left) still brings back “very painful” memories for her

When asked if she felt under scrutiny for staying, Kathie claimed she was ‘damned if she did, damned if she didn’t’

But Kathie shared how fortunate she had already learned to “practice forgiveness” before marrying Frank.

Prior to their marriage in 1986, Kathie was married to Christian composer Paul Johnson from 1976 until their divorce in 1982, due to irreconcilable differences.

“I had previously been married to a man who deeply betrayed me and I immediately forgave him. You’re not hanging in there, you’re not waiting to forgive… you’re only hurting yourself,” Kathie told ET.

“Forgive immediately, because love cannot live where hate does,” the former Today host advised.

The betrayal clearly didn’t stop Kathie from finding love, and during her interview with ET, she neither confirmed nor denied that she was in a relationship when Rachel assumed she was single.

“Well, you don’t know what’s going on in my personal life, no one does,” Kathie told her bluntly.

“So maybe you’re not single and ready to hang out?” Rachel wondered, while Kathie replied, “I’m not saying a word.

“I’m so convinced that if the Lord brings another beautiful man into my life, I’m not going to talk about it. We’ll probably get married in secret and tell the world a year later so no one’s opinion matters!’