Rachael Ray, 57, says she ‘prefers’ to live in Italy as she is latest star after Eva Longoria and Ellen DeGeneres to ditch US

by

Rachael Ray has said she prefers to live in her villa in Tuscany, Italy than in the United States.

The 57-year-old chef made the comments during a new interview with UsWeekly.

Ray mentioned that her husband, John Cusimano, really enjoys spending time in New York City, and she fully supports him going as often and staying as long as he pleases. While she visits New York and upstate New York for work, she personally prefers Italy.

Honestly, I just *get* it. She says it’s peaceful, and her dog, Bella, is SO much happier there. She absolutely *can’t stand* New York City – Bella’s definitely not a city dog! It’s so sweet – she spends as much time in Italy as possible just for Bella’s happiness. I mean, can you blame her? It’s everything!

Ray explained that her dog enjoys a pool and plenty of space to roam on their 66-hectare property. She added that she appreciates the peacefulness, fresh air, and beautiful surroundings, including large gardens, a vineyard, and olive trees, and prefers this lifestyle.

Ray recently shared a cooking video on Instagram where she appeared healthy, easing some fan worries about her wellbeing. She was wearing army green clothing in the video.

A post shared by Rachael Ray (@rachaelray)

Ray shared with UsWeekly that she and her husband, 58-year-old Cusimano, marked their 20th wedding anniversary on September 24th with a celebration in Italy, rather than in the United States.

I recently had the chance to reconnect with friends while exploring Florence and Rome, and of course, we hit up all my favorite restaurants! It was such a wonderful trip.

Since we live in Tuscany, it’s easy for us to travel quickly between those two locations. We kept things relaxed and low-key this year.

Over the years, my husband and I were known for throwing pretty big parties – we’d regularly host 60 to 100 guests! But this year, we decided to do something completely different. We skipped the big bash and opted for a romantic getaway, just the two of us. We spent two glorious nights in Florence, soaking up the art and culture, then moved on to Rome for another two nights. It was a wonderfully intimate way to celebrate!

Eva Longoria and her family enjoy living abroad, dividing their time between Mexico and Spain.

Although early reports suggested this decision was made because of the 2024 election, Longoria later explained it wasn’t a direct response to the results.

Her main reason for leaving the US is she wanted a different lifestyle for her son.

Ellen DeGeneres explained that Donald Trump’s re-election prompted her move from the U.S. to the U.K. She and her wife, Portia de Rossi, purchased a home in England.

Ray has been in NYC this week.

She was in New York to film an episode of The Drew Barrymore Show and participate in the 18th annual New York Wine & Food Festival on Friday.

The celebrity will also be hosting Blue Moon Burger Bash 2.0 alongside Brooklyn Beckham, with Pat LaFrieda Meats as the presenting sponsor. DJ Cassidy will provide a special musical performance at the event.

The festival kicks off on Wednesday, October 15th and goes until Sunday, October 19th. It’s being held at the new Invesco QQQ Festival Campus in the historic Seaport area of Lower Manhattan, New York City.

Meanwhile, there have been concerns this year about Ray’s health.

Ray posted a video on Instagram for Mother’s Day that worried her followers. In the clip, she appeared to be struggling and her speech was difficult to understand as she supported herself on the kitchen stove.

Last October, Ray mentioned she’d had a couple of falls while bringing in firewood. However, it turns out that wasn’t the whole picture.

A source told the Daily Mail in May that Ray’s family is concerned about her health and happiness.

Friends and family are worried about Rachael. She’s been keeping to herself and living a very private life, distancing herself from those who care about her.

‘She seems lost and when anyone reaches out to her she doesn’t respond,’ the source added.

Rachael used to take great pride in how she looked, so it’s worrying to see her not putting any effort in now. It suggests something else is going on.

It has not helped that she has suffered a string of career setbacks.

Rachael Ray’s popular talk and cooking show, *The Rachael Ray Show*, which began in 2006, ended after 17 successful seasons in 2023.

In April 2024, she started a new program called ‘Meals in Minutes,’ and the third season became available in May.

However, the cancellation of the show that made her name no doubt came as a blow.

According to a source who spoke with the Daily Mail, Ray has been struggling since the show finished filming.

‘It was her ‘pride and joy, and it was her life for so many years,’ that insider said.

Read More

2025-10-16 20:52