When it comes to marriage, Rachael Ray isn’t one to sugarcoat things. The culinary icon recently opened up about her relationship with her husband, John Cusimano, revealing the importance of personal space in their union. In her own candid and relatable way, Rachael shared how she balances her career and her marriage with a touch of humor and honesty.
Creating Space in a Strong Marriage
“You know, I’m so incredibly lucky to have John in my life,” Rachael, now 56, said during a recent episode of her podcast, "I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead." Speaking to guest Billy Crudup, she continued, “But here’s the thing—John gets it. He gets that I need my space, and I get that he needs his. It’s all about respect and understanding, right?” Rachael’s openness about her relationship offers a refreshing take on modern marriage, showing that even the strongest partnerships require room to breathe.
Not Your Typical Love Story
This isn’t the first time Rachael has pulled back the curtain on her marriage. Just a few weeks prior, during the podcast's debut episode, she admitted to having “huge screaming matches” with her husband, John, who is 57. “Look, John and I—we don’t hold back. We’re both pretty intense people, and we don’t shy away from a good argument,” Rachael told Jenny Mollen during that episode. “Some might think that’s unhealthy, but I think it’s the opposite. Getting everything out in the open keeps things real between us.”
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Why Silence Isn’t Always Golden
Rachael went on to explain that too much quiet can be unsettling for her. “Silence? That freaks me out,” she confessed. “I’d rather John tell me exactly what’s on his mind. No sugarcoating. We let it all out, and that’s what keeps us connected. I don’t trust people who are too quiet. There’s something about being upfront that feels so much healthier to me.”
It turns out that Rachael’s first impression of John was far from what she expected. “When we first met in 2001, I honestly thought he was gay,” she recalled with a laugh. “He told me what he had cooked the night before, and it was this elaborate meal with tilapia, homemade tomatillo salsa, and maque choux in an avocado. I thought, ‘No straight guy knows what tilapia is.’ So when he said he wasn’t gay, I was like, ‘Okay, check, please!’”
Two Decades of Love and Understanding
Despite their fiery arguments, Rachael and John are celebrating nearly two decades of marriage since they tied the knot in 2005. While they’ve pursued separate careers—John as an entertainment lawyer and Rachael as a culinary star—they’ve managed to maintain a strong bond. Their busy schedules led them to decide against having children, a choice Rachael has openly discussed over the years.
“I work way too much to be the kind of parent I want to be,” Rachael told People in 2007. “Some days, I feel like I’m not even a great dog mom because I’m not around enough. I just feel like I’d do a terrible job if I tried to juggle a kid with everything else I’ve got going on.”
Reflecting on Motherhood
A couple of years later, Rachael revisited the topic, saying, “At 40, I realized I have so much on my plate. For me personally, I’d need more time to feel confident as a mom. I barely feel like I’m doing okay with my dog. Imagine if it was a human baby. It just wouldn’t feel fair—to the child or to the people I work with.”
