The Associated Press reports that in an effort to save money for the paper, the New York daily decided not to renew Smith's $125,000 per year contract. The 86-year-old Smith's final column for the paper will run Feb. 26. "I'm very sorry that that has come to an end, and that I wasn't valuable enough for them to keep me on," Smith told AP.

Col Allan, the editor-in-chief of the Post, said in a statement, "The Post is grateful to have been able to publish Liz Smith's legendary column for so many years. We wish her the very best for the future."

Smith's column is featured in 70 papers around the country, although after Thursday, no New York paper will currently carry her column, which often includes items about the New York theatrical scene. Smith's work is also published in Parade and Daily Variety.

Smith told AP that she never plans to retire: "I'm busy . . . I'm OK. I'm OK for a person who's been let go."