Kathie Lee Gifford recalls her 'fury' over late husband Frank's shock affair with flight attendant - and reveals why she chose to stay with him even after he put 'his whole family at risk'

Kathie Lee Gifford has opened up about the 'fury' that she felt over her late husband Frank Gifford's torrid affair - and revealed why she ultimately chose to stay with him even though she was 'never the same' after discovering that he had been unfaithful. 

Back in 1997, news hit the web that former football player Frank had cheated on Kathie with a glamorous ex-flight attendant named Suzen Johnson.

Now, the TV presenter, 70, has spoken out about how finding out about her husband's shock infidelity through the media left her 'pissed' during a chat with Fox News.

She also explained why she decided to 'forgive' him, despite his betrayal, because she didn't want to 'break up their family.'

'First of all, I loved Frank,' she told the publication. 'I was pissed at him, believe me, and furious that he would take something as precious as our marriage into a hotel room with somebody. It was so unlike him. And he put his whole family at risk because of it. 

Kathie Lee Gifford has opened up about the 'fury' that she felt over her late husband Frank Gifford's torrid affair - and revealed why she chose to stay with him. They're seen in 2004

Back in 1997, news hit the web that former football player Frank had cheated on Kathie with a glamorous ex-flight attendant named Suzen Johnson (seen) 

Now, the TV presenter (seen in April), 70, has spoken out about how finding out about her husband's shock infidelity through the media left her 'pissed' during a chat with Fox News

News of Frank's extramarital romance was splashed across newspapers in 1997, 11 years after they tied the knot 

'But I also knew that we had a family that we loved. I did it because I loved Frank. I was not going to break up our family.'

Kathie and Frank - who was 23 years her senior - wed in 1986, and they went on to welcome two children together, son Cody in 1990 and daughter Cassidy in 1993.

The couple's children were just four and seven-years-old when news of Frank's extramarital romance was splashed across newspapers.

The television personality explained to Fox that while she was 'furious,' a friend suggested that she 'forgive' Frank for the sake of their children.

And while she was eventually able to put it behind them, she confessed that she was 'never the same' after the painful and public humiliation.

'A man said to me once, "Kathie, if you can’t forgive your husband, forgive your children’s father,"' she recalled.

'I said, "Well, that guy’s wonderful. That guy is a beautiful human being." He said, "Then forgive that guy." It worked.

'I was never the same though. People take sex so casually, and it pretty much did me in for a long time. 

Kathie and Frank wed in 1986, and they went on to welcome two children together, son Cody in 1990 and daughter Cassidy in 1993. They're seen with their kids in 2012

The couple's (shown in 1990) children were just four and seven-years-old when news of Frank's extramarital romance was splashed across newspapers

'But I just went back to work, thanked everybody for their prayers and tried to avoid any newspapers for a long, long time.

'It’s like when you have a scar, maybe the wound’s not there anymore, but the remembrance of it is. 

'I think marriage is a sacred, sacred relationship, and I was never the same. No, I never was.'

Kathie previously detailed the affair in her new book I Want to Matter: Your Life Is Too Short and Too Precious to Waste, which hit stands last month.

In it, she explained that the discovery completely changed the way she looked at her husband, but that she was able to move past his infidelity because 'she knew his heart.'

'He wasn’t my hero anymore,' she wrote. '[But] my whole faith is built on the foundation of forgiveness.

'My children’s father was a wonderful, loving, gentle, compassionate, generous, and sweet man. He was easy to forgive because I knew his heart.'

The television personality explained to Fox that while she was 'furious,' a friend suggested that she 'forgive' Frank (seen with Kathie in 2010) for the sake of their children

Frank, a former NFL player and sports commentator (seen with Kathie in 2004), passed away in 2015 from natural causes at age 84

She also spoke about it to Entertainment Tonight following the tome's release. 

'I could have let the seed germinate but I don't want to be that person, that bitter, angry, unhappy, miserable human being,' she said.

'Because you know what you end up doing? You end up making everybody around you every bit as miserable.

'I have always felt from my earliest youth that I had the choice every day of my life to be a blessing or a burden and I want to be a blessing.'

When asked if she thinks she was scrutinized because she 'stayed' with the sports star, 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 that put up with a cheating husband, if I left, [people would have said], "Oh you call yourself a Christian."'

Prior to marrying Frank, Kathie was married to Christian composer Paul Johnson from 1976 until their split in 1982.

Frank, a former NFL player and sports commentator, passed away in 2015 from natural causes at age 84. 

Two years after his passing, the star admitted that she had gone on her first date 'in 33 years' after her pal Hoda Kotb 'set her up' with someone (the couple seen in 2012)

Two years after his passing, the star admitted that she had gone on her first date 'in 33 years' after her pal Hoda Kotb 'set her up' with someone.

'[He] was a nice guy, but he didn’t share my faith,' she said afterwards. 'I wasn’t ready. 

'Frank had been gone for two years, and we should never rush people on things like that, you know? And although I wasn’t grieving, I wasn’t looking.' 

Last month, she told ET that she is planning to keep her love life out of the public eye. 

'I'm not saying a word,' she replied, when asked if she was dating. 'If the Lord brings another beautiful man into my life, I am not gonna talk about it. 

'We'll probably get married, privately, and tell the world a year later so that nobody's opinion matters.'