SCREW-UP: Kotb and Gifford (Peter Kramer/NBC)

Awkward!

Kathie Lee Gifford pulled a huge faux pas on yesterday’s “Today Show,” cooing to guest Martin Short about his marriage to his wife, Nancy — without realizing she died nearly two years ago after battling ovarian cancer.

“He and Nancy have got one of the greatest marriages in show business,” Gifford said to Short, on the show to plug “Madagascar 3.”

“How many years now for you guys?

“We . . . married 36 years,” a startled Short answered, seemingly embarrassed for Gifford, who kept on going.

“But you’re still, like, in love,” she said.

“Madly in love. Madly in love,” Short answered.

“Why?” Gifford joked.

“Cute,” Short said, trying to short-circuit the embarrassment. “I’m cute.”

“And you make each other laugh,” Gifford continued.

“Yes,” Short said.

A mortified Gifford, who hosts the fourth hour of “Today” with Hoda Kotb, apologized later after Short told her, off-the-air, that his wife was dead.

“I feel so badly,” she said. “So my apologies to him and his family for not realizing that. He’s one of the greatest guys ever.”