Rachael Ray captured America’s heart when she launched her self-titled talk show in 2006, combining her warm personality with practical, time-saving recipes that made cooking feel accessible to everyone. Over 17 seasons, the show became a daytime mainstay, and her husband, John Cusimano, was often one of her biggest supporters behind the scenes. In July 2023, the show aired its final episode to emotional farewells.
Since then, Ray has refocused her energy on her production company, Free Food Studios, and new programming like Meals in Minutes, signaling a shift from talk show host to creative producer. John has been with her every step of the way. Learn all about him, below!
John is a lawyer and works for Rachael
Born on August 19, 1967 in the Big Apple, John would go to earn a law degree. “I used to practice in New York City as an entertainment lawyer, primarily in film,” John said in a 2020 joint interview with his wife for The Rachael Ray Show website. “Then I met this one, and now I only have one client and her name is Rachael Ray. So I just work on our businesses all the time.” Rachael added, “Smartest thing I ever did was marry an entertainment lawyer, saved me a bundle.”
Although he had a passion for music (more on that below), John decided to study law for the sake of his parents. “John is a musician. He wanted to go to Berklee College of Music and was accepted and he’s a terrific musician and he plays 57 different instruments,” Rachael explained in the interview. “But he went to law school because his parents told him cautiously that it’s better to have a trade. He really is a master of keyboards, every stringed instrument, he’s especially great with percussion.”
He moonlights as a rock star
John ended up following his musical ambitions as well. He formed a band called The Cringe and is the lead singer and songwriter of the group. The band even contributes to Rachael’s talk show! “My band and I do record songs remotely and do videos that you see on the show sometimes,” John explained for the website interview. “We used to tour quite a bit and play live all over the country, all over North America and the UK. I want to get back out there. Whenever that happens, we’ll be there!”
And John loves to show off his mastery of instruments on Instagram! His favorite appears to be the piano, as he tickles the ivories in adorable clip after clip.
John also dabbles in acting
When he’s not lawyering up or making music, John gets to play pretend in movies and TV shows. He is best known for Samurai X (1996), World War Mud (1982), and the TV series, Crashing (2017), according to his IMDB. Of course, as fans know, he also makes quite a few appearances on his wife’s cooking show.
John also gets behind the camera on Hollywood projects. He has credits as a producer on Rurouni Kenshin, an animated TV series from the late 90s.
He married Rachael in Italy
The cute couple took their love internationally when they said, “I do.” John and Rachael got married in 2005 at their favorite village of Sarteano, Italy. “Sarteano is charming, romantic and beautiful, and since we like to go back each year, I bought some land, and we are now building a house so we can have our friends stay with us in Italy,” Rachael told People in 2020.
They even celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary at the same castle they exchanged vows. Rachael told People at the time that there ‘wasn’t a dry eye in the house” among the 100 or so family and friends that they had invited.
On their 15th wedding anniversary, Rachael got candid about the secret to their successful marriage. “We actually like each other, have a lot of the same interests, and find it sexy to share bad behavior, like staying up too late, eating the wrong foods, and listening to loud music—rap, opera and any of our 3,000 records—wherever we are,” she explained to the outlet. “We love being together and not acting our age! We don’t trust quiet people,” she joked.
Why John and Rachael didn’t start a family
John and Rachael decided not to have children together. “I work too much to be an appropriate parent,” she admitted to People in 2007. “I just feel like I would do a bad job if I actually took the time to literally give birth to a kid right now and try and juggle everything I’m doing.”
Two years later, Rachael was asked if she felt like she was missing out on motherhood. “I don’t feel like I am, I really don’t,” she told The Wall Street Journal.