After spending several years in the bustling city of Nashville, Kathie Lee Gifford realized she needed something more—something closer to nature. “I said to myself, ‘You know what? I need a little farm,’” she shares with Closer. And so, she made it happen. “Now I have a garden of my own, and it just brings me such immense joy. There's something so soothing and restorative about being surrounded by nature. It's almost like a healing balm for the soul,” she says with a smile.
Looking around at the world today, Kathie Lee, now 70, sees a lot of turmoil. “Everything feels like it's on fire. People are so angry, so confused, and so hopeless,” she reflects. That’s why she recently released a book of short devotionals, titled I Want to Matter: Your Life Is Too Short & Too Precious to Waste. Her goal? To share some wisdom and joy with readers. “This isn’t about religion. I can’t stand religion,” she clarifies. Raised in the Jewish faith but becoming a Christian as a teenager, her message is simple: “God loves you. He loves you deeply, and there’s a purpose for you, too.”
Throughout her years in the highly competitive, often stressful entertainment industry, Kathie Lee's faith has been her anchor, guiding her through both big and small challenges. Back in the '90s, radio shock jock Howard Stern made her the frequent target of his off-color humor. But instead of getting angry, she chose a different path. “So many people just can’t let go of the pain. They can’t let go of the hurts. It’s like they sit there and pick the scab all the time,” she explains. “That’s not the life I want to live.” Instead, she prayed for Howard. “Thirty years later, Howard Stern asked me to forgive him,” she notes. “Sometimes you wait a long time for prayers to be answered, but God’s ways are not our ways, and his timing is completely his own.”
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Discovering Bliss in Music City
In 2019, Kathie Lee decided to leave Today after 11 incredible years to focus on her passions—making music, producing movies, and writing books. “I was planning to move to Santa Barbara, but God had other plans,” she recalls. Instead, she settled in Nashville, drawn by the city’s vibrant music scene. “I’m so full of joy here,” she says. “It’s because there’s a culture of kindness. People genuinely care for one another, and that makes all the difference.”
Family Ties That Bind
Three years ago, Kathie Lee’s daughter, Cassidy, decided to join her in the South, giving this proud grandma frequent access to her grandson Finn. Her son, Cody, along with his wife and their two sons, Frankie and Ford, still live in Connecticut but are planning their first trip to Kathie Lee’s ranch this summer. “I’m not a hovering grandmother. And I don’t buy every toy and every outfit,” she jokes. Instead, she prefers spending meaningful time with her grandkids—whether it’s playing in the garden or pool or making up silly, “poopy” songs together. “They think I’m a genius,” she says with a laugh.
With so much love surrounding her, Kathie Lee can’t help but feel grateful. “Being human isn’t easy. I could have easily messed up my life, but the reason I’m here today is because I trusted God completely,” she reflects. Her journey is a testament to the power of faith, family, and finding joy in the little things.
