TELEVISION PERSONALITY Gayle King began honing her interview skills as a child in Chevy Chase, Md. Today, she adds a new prime-time CNN news show to her résumé, “King Charles,” which she hosts with sportscaster Charles Barkley. For many years, King was best known as a much-referenced pal of Oprah Winfrey , whom she met in Baltimore in 1976 when both worked in local news. But today, King is a force in her own right, equally admired for her outsize personality, adventurous fashion sense and facility for chatting uninhibitedly with celebrities such as Jay-Z and Barbra Streisand. “Shyness is not one of my strong suits.” Here, King opens up about her addiction to icing, unfashionable loyalty to iPods, robust high-low wardrobe and more.

---

Persons: Gayle King, hasn’t, ”, “ King Charles, Charles Barkley, King, Oprah Winfrey, Barbra Streisand, “ I’ve, ” King Organizations: CBS, Oprah Daily, CNN Locations: Chevy Chase, Md, “, Baltimore