Kim Richards Opens Up on Ex-Husband’s Death & Her Positive Outlook on Life

Richards spoke to “Extra” at our H&M studios in Times Square about the experience with her youngest daughter, Kimberly Jackson, her relationship with sisters Kyle Richards and Kathy Hilton, as well as the recent death of her ex-husband.

Kim was faced with ex-husband Monty Brinson's declining health while filming “The Mother/Daughter Experiment.” Despite their 1988 divorce, Kim and Monty remained close until his death in January after a long battle with lung cancer. She shared, “It was tough being there and not being with him… I was a little nervous, I didn't know how I would hold up without my best friend, I don't think I will ever have a friend again in my life quit like Monty. I miss him every day, he's my angel above.” She continued, "He's given me a strength inside that I just didn't know I had.”

Kim, who has been in and out of rehab, is now in a good place. “Where this has come from... this last year has been an amazing growth for myself, I've worked very hard.”

She added, “I wake up every day and I feel different, I don't know how to explain it, it's a new life for me, I don't know how to put it into words, I feel super amazing, I feel super grateful and it feels awkward to say that without my best friend (Monty).”

Richards credited her changed outlook on life to therapy. “I did some amazing trauma therapy over this last year, which really, I think did help me a lot. I'm just loving life.”

Kim has had a rocky relationship with younger sister Kyle, which has been well documented on "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills," but things have recently been good between them. She revealed, “Kyle and I are good, we're really good.” Despite recent headlines that she isn't talking to Kathy Hilton, she set the record straight on their relationship, saying, “Kathy and I are good, all the rumors that fly around, everybody is good.”

Rumors are also swirling that Kim is feuding with “The Hills” star Heidi Pratt on “The Mother/Daughter Experiment: Celebrity Edition.” On the rumors, she admitted, “Personalities do conflict at moments… sure there were times I felt that she put herself into a situation that wasn't hers.”