Kathie Lee Gifford, 72, Talks New Book and Thriving After 3 Surgeries Last Year: ‘Prayer is My Superpower’
The Emmy winner discusses her ‘Ancient Evil, Living Hope’ series and how every joy and challenge is a gift
Kathie Lee Gifford has always had a passion for learning and growing and in recent years, her discoveries have fueled some fascinating books. Her latest, Nero and Paul: How the Gospel of Grace Defeated the Ruler of Rome, is the second in her Ancient Evil, Living Hope series, following 2024’s Herod and Mary: The True Story of the Tyrant King and the Mother of the Risen Savior.
Nero and Paul examines Nero’s evil deeds and utter depravity and Paul’s journey from being God’s enemy to his Damascus Road rebirth and subsequent life serving God. “This book was also co-written by the same gentlemen that I wrote Herod and Mary with, Dr. Brian Litfin. I couldn’t do these books without him,” she told Woman’s World as our cover girl (get your copy here!). “I know how to tell a story and I have the passion for it, and he does too.”
During a conversation with the Emmy winning singer/songwriter/actress/author and former Today show co-host, it’s obvious that faith is at the core of everything Kathie Lee does, and as she has studied with world renowned rabbis, she has discovered more about the Bible. That knowledge inspires the Ancient Evil, Living Hope series.
“It’s been fascinating,” Kathie Lee smiles. “There are so many people in the Bible that will make great books. We are meeting with people now, great quality producers, that are very successful in that arena to make these books into a docuseries.”
Kathie Lee Gifford finds strength through prayer
Though she’s faced some challenges, including three surgeries last year, Kathie Lee maintains an attitude of gratitude. “It’s three times a week in physical therapy and three times a week with Manduu,” she says of her favorite exercise class. “I’m grateful for it because it means that I still have mobility. The thing that I’m actually getting better at that I never dreamed I would is immediately praising God. The Bible in James says ‘Consider it all joy, even with these trials and tribulations.’ That does not come naturally at all. We want to moan and cry out in despair. But it’s taken me a lifetime to understand that every moment is a gift.”
Prayer is essential to her life and gives her strength. “My superpower is prayer. Prayer moves mountains. I don’t want to fly. I don’t want to read minds. How frightening is that? I just pray!” she says with a laugh. “It’s free and God gives it to all of us.”
Her connection to her heavenly Father provides a foundation of joy and gives her an attitude of gratitude. “Every morning when I wake up and I have a pulse, that means God still has a purpose for me,” she says with a big smile. “I thank the Lord that I’m awake and I usually say, ‘Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love for I put my trust in you. Show me the way that I should go.’ It’s an attitude of gratitude and it’s true. I’ve so much to be grateful for.”
Finding comfort in family
In addition to writing inspiring books, this time if year, Kathie Lee finds joy in fond memories of celebrating the holiday with her children when they were younger. “We always had our egg colorings when the kids were little and the baskets that they always loved,” she recalls. “We never worshiped the Easter bunny nor did we worship Santa Claus at Christmas time. My children were always taught that they are just fun things to do for children.”
These days, she revels in spending time with her grandchildren. “My daughter lives close by here in Nashville with her two little ones. That brings me joy,” says Kathie Lee, whose grandkids call her Bubbe, the Yiddish word for grandmother. “I don’t know what I’d do without FaceTime because that’s the way my grandchildren know me, especially my son’s children who live up north. I’m so grateful that technology is so great you don’t have to get on a plane to go see your grandchildren, you can just get on your phone. It’s such a blessing for me.”
Her new mission of unity
Kathie Lee also has a sense of purpose and is on a mission. “I spend my life now and all my treasure and all my work trying to make the bridge between Catholics and Protestants, but most importantly to me, Jews and Christians, because we come from the same, and even Muslims. We come from the same Patriarch and that was Abraham,” she says. “I hope we start to think of ourselves as family. The Bible is a love story of God the creator, all the names we have for Jehovah, it is His story from day one of creation all the way until the end of time.”
Conversation
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