Anne Burrell was a woman who lived out loud. With her unmistakable platinum-blonde hair styled in a signature punk rock flare and a voice as vibrant as the dishes she prepared, she was more than a chef—she was a phenomenon. On June 17, 2025, the culinary world lost one of its brightest lights. Anne passed away at the age of 55, leaving behind a legacy steeped in flavor, joy, and unapologetic authenticity.
Burrell was a familiar face to millions, thanks to her two-decade reign on the Food Network, where she transformed nervous novices into confident home cooks and elevated Italian fare into something entirely her own. From Secrets of a Restaurant Chef to the wildly popular Worst Cooks in America, she brought humor, heart, and authority to every episode—always punctuated with her signature “rock on” spirit.
But to reduce Anne Burrell to her television accolades would be to miss the depth of her story. As she shared with us in our 2023 cover profile, Anne was a woman of multitudes: a passionate designer with a flair for color and comfort, a devoted wife who found love later in life and embraced it wholeheartedly, and an avid traveler who found her culinary soul in Italy.
“My time there helped me master the intricacies of Italian cuisine,” she said, recalling the pastas of Bologna and the truffles of Alba with reverence. “It’s a place I revisit, both in memory and in person, as often as I can.”
Anne didn’t just teach people how to cook—she taught them how to savor life. Whether she was renovating her Brooklyn apartment into a personal sanctuary, gushing about the joy of building her dream kitchen, or laughing over a plate of pasta with her beloved husband Stuart, her life was a masterclass in passion, resilience, and delight.
She credited Julia Child as her “culinary goddess,” and in many ways, Anne carried on that same torch of empowering home cooks with both expertise and enthusiasm. She celebrated messiness, embraced imperfection, and made the kitchen a more welcoming place for everyone.
To her fans, Anne was more than a TV host—she was a friend in the kitchen. Her charm, candor, and generosity of spirit made viewers feel as though she were cooking right alongside them, cheering them on with every chopped onion and seared scallop.
Anne Burrell lived fully and fiercely, and her absence leaves a palpable void in the culinary world and beyond. Yet, her influence will continue to simmer in kitchens everywhere, where her bold recipes, infectious energy, and love for all things delicious will never be forgotten.
We invite you to revisit our exclusive 2023 cover interview with Anne Burrell, a celebration of the life and legacy of a woman who never stopped feeding the world—with food, joy, and boundless heart.
Anne Burrell believed in the magic of good food and the joy of sharing it. In honor of her life and legacy, we invite you to revisit a few of her most-loved signature recipes—each one brimming with the bold flavors, playful flair, and heartfelt passion that defined her. Whether you’re recreating her rustic Italian classics or her weeknight favorites, you’ll find a little piece of Anne in every bite.