Famed chef Rachael Ray has broken her silence on the tragic death of her longtime friend, Food Network star Anne Burrell at the age of 55.
Burrell was found unresponsive in her Brooklyn home on Tuesday morning. The New York Fire Department confirmed to Daily Mail that they were responding to a report of a cardiac arrest at 7.50am.
The cause of death has not yet been reported by the Office of Chief Medical Examiner, with an investigation ongoing.
Since the news of her death, tributes have poured in, including one from Ray, who had a special friendship with the star.
On Wednesday, Ray took to her Instagram page to post a long message, sharing photos from her time with Burrell over the years, including when she was a bridesmaid in her 2021 wedding.
Ray penned in an emotional tribute: ‘The news about Anne has truly shaken us. John and I are heartbroken. I can’t quite believe it — such a strong, vibrant, fearless woman, so full of life and love, could be gone so soon
‘Anne was a rockstar! I came to know her well through multiple seasons of Worst Cooks on Food Network, and she became so much more than a colleague.
Famed chef Rachael Ray has broken her silence on the tragic death of her longtime friend, Food Network star Anne Burrell at the age of 55
Since the news of her death, tributes have poured in, including one from Ray, who had a special friendship with the star
Ray penned in an emotional tribute: ‘The news about Anne has truly shaken us. John and I are heartbroken. I can’t quite believe it — such a strong, vibrant, fearless woman, so full of life and love, could be gone so soon’
‘Anne honored me by asking me to be her bridesmaid, something I’d only done once before for my sister.
‘Despite being surrounded by incredible chefs, she never once made me feel self-conscious about not being one — she always treated me as one of the gang.
‘When we hosted Worst Cooks together, we had the most incredible laughs. She even cooked for me and my guests at my wedding anniversary in Italy.
‘I’ll never forget walking into our dressing rooms at Food Network studios early in the morning and hearing her blasting the song of the moment down the hall.
‘Anne had great taste in music and in life — she was a force in the kitchen, in any room, in every life she touched.
‘I’ll miss her friendship deeply. Everyone whose life she touched will miss her. Sending love to Stuart and everyone who knew and loved Anne. We’ve lost someone truly special.’
In the comments section of her post, many Food Network stars and celebrities shared their condolences.
Chef Emeril Lagasse responded with a broken heart emoji, while singer Emily Estefan wrote that she was ‘sending healing love and light.’
‘I’ll miss her friendship deeply. Everyone whose life she touched will miss her. Sending love to Stuart and everyone who knew and loved Anne. We’ve lost someone truly special’
‘I have to say, Anne, my own sister has been married a few times, and I only got to be in one of her weddings,’ the star admitted during the episode
Ray had been friends with Burrell for many years, even having her on an episode of her podcast, I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead, this past winter.
During the episode, Ray revealed that Burrell was the only friend who wasn’t her sister who had asked her to be in her wedding.
‘I have to say, Anne, my own sister has been married a few times, and I only got to be in one of her weddings,’ the star admitted during the episode.
‘The only person who ever asked me to be in their wedding other than my family member was you,’ she said to Burrell.
‘It made me burst into tears, I was so honored to be there, it was so much fun and it was so freakin’ cold.’
The occasion only took place a couple of years ago, as Burrell got married in October 2021.
Ray served as a bridesmaid while the two wed in a romantic ceremony at RedBarn20 at Windridge Estate, located in Cazenovia, New York, where Burrell is from.
In theme with the season, the Rachael Ray Show star wore a burnt orange bridesmaid dress that featured off-the-shoulder detailing at the neck.
During the episode, Ray revealed that Burrell was the only friend who wasn’t her sister who had asked her to be in her wedding
Ray made a rare red carpet appearance at a New York City even just days before her friend passed
During the podcast episode, the two continued to reminisce on the magical fall day.
‘My husband is English, and I swear, he willed that to happen, that misty, English, you know, the moors or something,’ Burrell said during the episode in conversation with Ray.
‘That weekend, the second I left for the rehearsal dinner it started raining, and did not stop until the second the brunch was over on Sunday,’ she continued.
But despite the weather, Burrell and Ray admitted that the wedding was ‘so much fun’ – with Ray even joking that it may have ‘topped’ her own special day when she married husband John M. Cusimano.
The TV chef – who became synonymous with her trademark spiky platinum hair – is survived by husband Stuart, as well as her mother Marlene and sister Jane and her children Isabella, Amelia and Nicolas, and her brother Ben.
‘Anne was a beloved wife, sister, daughter, stepmother, and friend — her smile lit up every room she entered,’ her family said in a statement obtained by DailyMail.com Tuesday.
‘Anne’s light radiated far beyond those she knew, touching millions across the world. Though she is no longer with us, her warmth, spirit, and boundless love remain eternal,’ they shared.
A Food Network spokesperson added, ‘Anne was a remarkable person and culinary talent – teaching, competing and always sharing the importance of food in her life and the joy that a delicious meal can bring.
‘Anne was a beloved wife, sister, daughter, stepmother, and friend — her smile lit up every room she entered,’ her family said in a statement obtained by DailyMail.com Tuesday
‘Our thoughts are with Anne’s family, friends and fans during this time of tremendous loss.’
After earning a degree in English and Communications from Canisius College in Buffalo in 1991, she followed her culinary dreams and enrolled at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, graduating in 1996.
She worked at a whole host of New York City hotspots including Felidia and Savoy in Soho, where she honed her craft in Mediterranean cuisine.
She was later thrust into the spotlight and became best known as the longtime host of Worst Cooks in America.
The show, which ran for 28 seasons, saw celebrated chefs mentor amateur cooks in an attempt to transform them from rookies to kitchen experts.
Elsewhere, she appeared on Chef Wanted, Chopped, Food Network Star, and most recently, competition series House of Knives – which premiered in March this year.
