Kathie Lee Gifford is honoring Ronald and Nancy Reagan’s love story with a romantic new song.
The former co-host of TODAY’s fourth hour and country singer Josh Turner released a duet, “I Knew It Would Be You,” as part of a new collection of songs inspired by the 2024 biopic “Reagan,” and TODAY.com has an exclusive first look at the song.
“My friend Richard Spitz and I wrote ‘I Knew It Would Be You” as an homage to the Reagans’ incredible love affair,” Kathie Lee says. “When they were together, there was no one else in the room. It was such a beautiful thing to see. I met them one time and I will never forget it. We tried to capture that in our song.”
A music video for the song features footage from “Reagan,” which stars Dennis Quaid as Ronald Reagan and Penelope Ann Miller as Nancy Reagan.
The Reagans, who were married from 1952 until the former president’s death in 2004, were known for their deep devotion to one another.
In a letter to his wife for their 31st wedding anniversary, according to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute, Ronald Reagan wrote, “I more than love you, I’m not whole without you. You are life itself to me. When you are gone I’m waiting for you to return so I can start living again.”
Kathie Lee and Turner’s melancholy love song includes romantic lyrics that capture the Reagans’ connection.
“I didn’t know what your name would be/ Or if your eyes would be brown or blue/ All that I knew deep inside of me is I knew it would be you,” Turner sings at the opening.
“I didn’t know what day it would be/ Or if the skies would be sunny or gray/ All that I knew with every breath in me/ Is that you’d take my breath away,” Kathie Lee sings in response.
Their soulful duet is part of a new compilation album, “Reagan: Songs Inspired by the Film,” which includes new tracks from Lee Greenwood, Tanya Tucker, Travis Tritt, The Commodores and more.
In August, Kathie Lee opened up about what drew her to the “Reagan” movie.
“It’s not about politics at all,” Gifford told The Christian Post on the red carpet at the film’s premiere in Nashville, Tennessee. “It’s about Nancy and Ronnie’s love affair. I was moved by the film because it shows their love, which was rooted in faith, without turning it into a political statement.”