Rachael Ray announces the END of her daytime talk show after 17 seasons: ‘It’s time for me to move on to the next exciting chapter’

Rachael Ray has announced that her daytime talk show will be ending this year, bringing its stellar 17-season run to a close.

The celebrity chef, 54 – who has visited war-torn Ukraine multiple times – released a statement to Deadline on Friday and declared that she was moving on to her ‘next exciting chapter.’

‘In my more than 20 plus years in television I have had 17 wonderful seasons working in daytime television with Rachael,’ Ray’s statement began. 

‘However I’ve made the decision that it’s time for me to move on to the next exciting chapter in my broadcast career.’ 

The Rachael Ray Show is hardly the first syndicated stalwart to recently come to an end, as it joins a long list of shuttered programs like Dr. Phil, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Wendy Williams Show, Maury, Dr. Oz and The Real.

The end of Ray’s show comes on the heels of her launching a new production company called Free Food Studios in partnership with Intentional Content, according to Deadline.   

The beloved foodie’s statement went on to say, ‘My passions have evolved from the talk show format, production and syndication model to a platform unencumbered by the traditional rules of distribution…

‘That is why I am looking forward to putting all my energies into my recently announced production arm, Free Food Studios.

‘Thank you to all of our Rachael daytime show partners, crew, and affiliates, and the wonderful years we all worked together.’

Debuting in 2006, The Rachael Ray Show became the top syndicated program launched that year and went on to amass 37 Daytime Emmy nominations across its subsequent 17 seasons, winning three for Outstanding Talk Show. 

The core of Rachael’s format highlights her relatable cooking skills in addition to her fun and easygoing interview style.

Celebrity guests are a major element, as the 30-Minute Meals star has interviewed A-listers like Gwyneth Paltrow, the Kardashians and even former First Lady Michelle Obama. 

The show also features musical performances and make-over segments, with Ray’s tagline being, ‘We’ll see you when we see you.’

Her next chapter: The celebrity chef released a statement to Deadline on Friday and declared that she was moving on to her ‘next exciting chapter’

Ray’s statement began: ‘In my more than 20 plus years in television I have had 17 wonderful seasons working in daytime television with Rachael. However I’ve made the decision that it’s time for me to move on to the next exciting chapter in my broadcast career’ (pictured with Gwyneth Paltrow in 2019)

A new venture: The end of Ray’s show comes on the heels of her launching a new production company called Free Food Studios in partnership with Intentional Content, according to Deadline (pictured with former First Lady Michelle Obama)

Steve LoCascio, president of CBS Media Ventures, said in a statement: ‘When Rachael debuted her show 17 years ago, she was a game-changer in the daytime space. 

‘She made cooking accessible to the masses, taught viewers simple solutions on how to improve their lives and coaxed great stories out of celebrity guests with her relatable down-to-earth demeanor.

‘We’re proud to have produced such a successful show with Rachael and her team for so many years. We’ll miss Rachael on the air every day, but we’ll always be family.’

The Rachael Ray Show was one of the first daytime programs to resume filming amid the Covid pandemic, returning for its 16th season in October 2021. 

2020 was a difficult year for Ray and her husband of 18 years John Cusimano, 55, as the couple lost their home in upstate New York to an accidental fire in August 2020.

They also suffered through their Manhattan apartment flooding in September of that year, plus their pit bull Isaboo passed away that summer in June.

When asked by Extra what she was grateful for, Ray replied, ‘Being alive. When I lost my dog I was so grateful that I could be with her the last several month of her life.’

‘She died in my arms… I felt guilty and grateful at the same time…’ Ray explained. 

Tremendous success: Debuting in 2006, The Rachael Ray Show became the top syndicated program launched that year and went on to amass 37 Daytime Emmy nominations across its subsequent 17 seasons, winning three for Outstanding Talk Show

The beloved foodie’s statement went on to say, ‘My passions have evolved from the talk show format, production and syndication model to a platform unencumbered by the traditional rules of distribution. That is why I am looking forward to putting all my energies into my recently announced production arm, Free Food Studios’ (pictured with former President Bill Clinton in 2015)

A lovable host: The core of Rachael’s format highlights her relatable cooking skills in addition to her fun and easygoing interview style. Celebrity guests are a major element, as the 30-Minute Meals star has interviewed many A-listers (pictured with Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner)

Ray’s career in the kitchen began as a child in family’s restaurant, where she made her ‘first memory’ at three years old.

Speaking to Tasting Table last year, she said, ‘I started working in kitchens when I was eight or nine.

‘I got my working papers when I was 14. My first memory actually was when I was three and I grilled my thumb to the flattop in our restaurant in Cape Cod.’

The Food Network star went on to share what she is most proud of, saying, ‘If I look back at my life, I’m proud of two things. 

‘I created a foundation to support philanthropy to give back to the world because I don’t have human children. I have dogs, but I wanted to give back to humans first.

Rachael reflected about her philosophy on living, achieving success, and giving back to the world. 

‘I love my life,’ Ray declared. ‘I earned my life. We have to be thoughtful about our lives. When you build a life for yourself, not only do you have to find a niche for yourself or your business or money, you need to find a way to give back. 

‘I think the universe only keeps you in balance as long as you are balanced and decide to give as much as you get. I truly believe this.’

Grateful: Ray concluded her statement by saying, ‘Thank you to all of our Rachael daytime show partners, crew, and affiliates, and the wonderful years we all worked together’