Kathie Lee Gifford may love being a mom, but she also had concerns over raising her kids in the spotlight. The former “Today” show anchor , 70, shared daughter Cassidy, 30, and son Cody, 34, with late husband Frank Gifford. Kathie spoke about her parenting choices in a joint interview with Cassidy ahead of the March 28 premiere of their new Prime Video series, “The Baxters.” “Frank and I were both very careful to raise our children,” the former talk show host told The Post. “We didn’t want them to be one more spoiled brat in
Hollywood kind of thing.” Kathie chose to rear her kids in Greenwich, Conn, despite “spoiled brats [being] everywhere.” “We were just really crazed about making them incredibly polite. That was so important to me that anytime we left our home and we were with other people or we were in public,” she added of how she and Frank wanted to nurture Cassidy and Cody. The
Football player married Kathie in 1986 and were married until his death at the age of 84 in 2017. Back in the day, Kathie would become “a maniac” when it came to being courteous in public. “If a waitress with something brought her or something, Cassidy would say thank you,” the broadcaster explained. “And then if she didn’t say anything, Cassidy would go, ‘Thank you.’ And then she’d walk away and Cassidy would go, ‘She didn’t say thank you, mommy.'” “I raised a very kind person,” Kathie gushed over her daughter. “And Cody is the same way.” Cassidy has made a career for herself in the entertainment industry as an
Actress and a model. The “God’s Not Dead” alum — who stars in “The Baxters” as Reagan Decker — has appeared in other feature films such as “The Gallows” and “Time Trap.” While Kathie “wishes [Cody and Cassidy] well” on their blossoming Hollywood careers, she’s happy to “help them if they needed.” When the two reached their adult years, however, she “tried to stay out of their lives.” “If they need to call me and then tell me [something, okay]. But I’m not a hovering [mom],” Kathie told The Post. The Prime drama centers around Elizabeth and John Baxter and their five adult children as they navigate love, faith and family. Kathie also makes an appearance in the debut season. Roma Downey, Ted McGinley, Josh Plasse, Emily Peterson, Brandon Hirsch, Taylour Paige and Damien Leake round out the ensemble cast. Kathie — who portrays Lillian Ashford — can relate to the story in regards to her own faith. “I’ve never been a fan of religion,” she said. “It just puts people in chains. But relationship with a living God, that’s authentic and real and raw.” “I think that’s why I’m at my happiest — when I’m doing creative things, whether I’m planning a garden at the farm or I’m, you know, writing a movie,” she went on. Cassidy echoed her famous mom’s sentiments. “If you have a really strong foundation of your family and your faith, it shows that you can get through some of the toughest hardships that come your way,” she said. “But you really can get through it all if you have good people around you. Ultimately, you are the company you keep.” “The Baxters” premieres on Prime Video on March 28.