New York (CNN Business) Television icon Kathie Lee Gifford will bid farewell to NBC's "Today" show next April.

"As we all know, Kathie Lee's plate has been overflowing lately with film, music and book projects, and after giving us eleven extraordinary years, she's decided to focus her attention full-time on those other creative endeavors," NBC News President Noah Oppenheim wrote in an internal memo Tuesday morning.

Oppenheim called her a "legend" for her "enduring and endearing talents in morning television."

From 1985 until 2000, Gifford co-hosted "Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee." In 2008, she became Hoda Kotb's co-host on the 10 a.m. hour of "Today."

In the television world, the hour is known for funny conversations, celebrity guests and free-flowing wine. Gifford and Kotb are beloved by millions of viewers.

Read More