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Kathie Lee Gifford, 70, is no longer a fixture on morning TV, but that doesn’t mean she’s retired. She’s got several projects in the works and is thankful that her fan base is still
interested in what she has to say. She credits her ongoing popularity to being genuine. “I’ve never been anybody other than what I am. Being authentic in today’s world is a huge thing for
people, because so few people are authentic,” she says. “People have been very, very faithful to me all these years. I’m so grateful for them.” Two recent projects she’s hoping her fans will
appreciate include a documentary being made about her life and the first book in her new biblical history series, _Herod & Mary: The True Story of the Tyrant King and the Mother of the
Risen Savior_. Gifford tells AARP why she decided to write about Herod, who’s participating in her documentary and the life advice from Billy Graham and Paul Newman that still resonates with
her today. _This interview has been edited for length and clarity._ WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO WRITE A BOOK ABOUT HEROD? "Herod & Mary" is Gifford's first installment in her
"Ancient Evil, Living Hope" book series. Courtesy Thomas Nelson Publishing I was blown away by Herod. I learned about Herod during [my first] two-week trip [to Israel], I think it
was 2012. I just said, “Oh my gosh, I want to make a movie about him. He’s the greatest story never ever told.” Honestly, if Jesus is the greatest story ever told, which I believe — and many
millions of other people do believe that, too — Herod’s the greatest story never told. He’s unbelievable. Life got away from us, as it does, and I wrote 20 other books, did movies and did
all kinds of stuff, but I never stopped thinking about it. It was my son [Cody, 34] who said, “Mom, let’s start doing books, and hopefully they’ll become movies about these people that
you’re so fascinated by.” The next book is about Nero and Paul of Tarsus. HOW DO YOU AND CODY WORK TOGETHER? Incredibly well, frankly. I have such respect. He’s a father of two beautiful
little boys now. He’s a brilliant writer himself. IN ONE OF YOUR RECENT BOOKS, YOU WROTE ABOUT FORGIVING HOWARD STERN, WHO TOLD HIS RADIO LISTENERS TO BOO YOU WHEN YOU SANG THE NATIONAL
ANTHEM AT SUPER BOWL XXIX IN 1995. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT’S NOT FORGIVABLE? Anything that anybody’s ever done to me or against me or said about [me] is forgivable. Sometimes I’ll say to
somebody, “That was unconscionable, but it’s not unforgivable.” There’s a big difference. YOU’VE MET AND INTERVIEWED SO MANY PEOPLE THROUGHOUT YOUR CAREER. IS THERE ANYONE YOU’D STILL LOVE
TO MEET? There’s really hardly anybody. I’m down to about five people in my life that I actually trust now, because life is hard and people are cruel and people betray you. I just found out
yesterday a very exciting thing: They’re doing a documentary on me, [and] Dolly Parton said, “Of course, I’ll do it [be interviewed] for Kathie. I love you, Kathie.” Dolly has been an
inspiration and a joy to me. Everybody loves Dolly. I don’t know anybody in the world that doesn’t love Dolly. I’ve had the joy of knowing her all these years. She just makes me cry. She is
such a good woman. She’s so loving and so good to everybody.