The Final Chapter of a Culinary Legend
Food Network viewers got an emotional farewell when “Worst Cooks in America” returned for its 29th season on July 28, 2025. The episode marked just over a month after Burrell died at home at age 55 in what was later ruled to be a suicide. Fans witnessed what would become Anne Burrell’s last television appearance, a bittersweet reminder of the passionate teacher who had transformed countless kitchen disasters into culinary success stories.
At the end of the premiere episode, a photo of Burrell appeared on the screen with a dedication: “In Memoriam, Anne Burrell, 1969-2025.” The touching tribute wasn’t just a goodbye—it was the beginning of how Food Network planned to honor their beloved star throughout the entire season. Each week would carry her memory forward, celebrating not just her talent but the genuine love she had for teaching.
The Shocking Loss That Rocked the Food World
It’s been just over five weeks since Burrell was found “unconscious and unresponsive” in her Brooklyn home on June 17, according to police. The City of New York Office of Chief Medical Examiner concluded its investigation on Thursday, determining suicide as her manner of death. The news sent shockwaves through the culinary community, leaving fans and colleagues struggling to process the sudden loss of someone who seemed so vibrant on screen.
Tributes poured in from all corners of the food world in the days following her sudden death, with sentiments from fellow titans of the industry like Tyler Florence, Alex Guarnaschelli, Elizabeth Falkner and others who shared fond memories and deep remorse for the loss on social media. The outpouring revealed just how deeply Anne had touched the lives of those who knew her personally and professionally.
A Career Built on Transforming Kitchen Disasters
In 2010, Burrell and Chef Beau MacMillan hosted Worst Cooks in America, a Food Network reality TV series. Burrell and her co-host led contestants through a “culinary boot camp” on their journey to become better cooks. The first season premiered on January 3, 2010. What started as an experiment quickly became a defining show that would showcase Anne’s incredible ability to connect with struggling home cooks.
Known for her bold and flavorful but not overly fancy dishes, and for her spiky platinum-blonde hairdo, Burrell and various co-hosts on “Worst Cooks in America” led teams of kitchen-challenged people through a crash course in savory self-improvement. Her approach wasn’t just about teaching technique—it was about building confidence and breaking down barriers that kept people afraid of their own kitchens.
An Unprecedented Winning Streak
A cook from Burrell’s team won 15 times, which also meant that she had 15 losses over the years. Burrell appeared on the show more than any other host. This remarkable record speaks to her exceptional ability as a mentor and teacher. While winning wasn’t everything to Anne, her success rate demonstrated her genuine talent for connecting with contestants and helping them reach their potential.
Anne’s Red Team, who she proudly calls the “Rocking Red Stars,” has won the competition a whopping fourteen times. Her catchphrase and team name became iconic elements of the show, creating a sense of identity and pride for contestants who often arrived feeling hopeless about their cooking abilities.
More Than Just a Paycheck
Speaking to People about the new season, Gabe Bertaccini, who will appear for the first time as a mentor on “Worst Cooks in America” this season, reflected on what the show meant to Burrell. “It was her baby. She wasn’t there for the paycheck,” Bertaccini said. “One thing that I have to say, the love, the authentic love that she had for the contestants, for the cooks, the love that she had to really teach them. She was there to teach them how to cook, it wasn’t just a show,” he added.
This perspective from her co-host reveals what viewers always sensed but perhaps never fully understood—Anne’s commitment went far beyond entertainment value. She genuinely cared about each person who walked into that kitchen, seeing potential where others might see hopeless cases.
The Final Season’s Unique Format
Titled “Worst Cooks in America: Talented and Terrible,” the new season will premiere July 28 and will showcase “recruits who are professional performers and used to stealing the spotlight, but in the kitchen, they are dishing out disasters.” Burrell was joined by chef Gabe Bertaccini to host the season. The ironic twist of working with people accustomed to being in the spotlight but completely lost in a kitchen presented a perfect challenge for Anne’s teaching style.
Across the season, with guidance from Anne and Gabe, the recruits will tackle restaurant classics, try to master global cuisines, and compete in the fan-favorite Remote Control Chef challenge, in their bid to be the best of the worst. Fans watching the episodes will see Anne doing what she did best—transforming chaos into confidence, one recipe at a time.
A Network’s Promise to Remember
Three days before the episode’s premiere, the Food Network confirmed to People that the TV personality—who in addition to hosting Worst Cooks in America, appeared on series including Secrets of a Restaurant Chef and The Next Iron Chef—would receive a special tribute “each week.” This commitment shows the network’s understanding that Anne wasn’t just another host—she was family.
“Anne Burrell was a one-of-a-kind talent whose loss is being deeply felt by family, friends and fans,” Betsy Ayala, head of food content for Warner Bros. Discovery, said in an announcement about the June 25 on-air tribute. “With these special programming events, we hope to honor Anne and celebrate her impact on Food Network and beyond, and to offer fans a way to remember her passion and culinary prowess that ran through everything she did.”
The Mystery of Her Season 28 Absence
However, when the show returned for Season 28 in January 2025, Burrell was noticeably missing. Instead, Antonia Lofaso and Jeff Mauro cohosted the series. What makes this absence particularly heartbreaking in retrospect is that Anne herself seemed confused about why she wasn’t included in the season that had been her home for over a decade.
When a fan asked why she wasn’t on the show, she replied, “Honestly I don’t know. 🤷🏼♀️😑❤️.” Someone else commented, “Chef-how come you are not doing Worst Cooks this season. That is your show,” to which Burrell answered, “Uuuuughhh…I know. And I don’t know. 🫤🤷🏼♀️❤️.” … Another Instagram user begged Burrell to “come back next season,” and she wrote, “I will SO try.”
From Restaurant Kitchen to Television Fame
Upon returning to the U.S. in 1998, Burrell worked as a sous chef at Felidia in Manhattan under Lidia Bastianich and later led the kitchen at Savoy in SoHo, where she crafted Mediterranean-inspired dishes over an open wood fire. After several years in the restaurant world, she transitioned to teaching at the Institute of Culinary Education for over three years. She later returned to kitchens and began her television career as a sous chef on “Iron Chef America,” eventually landing her own Emmy-nominated show, “Secrets of a Restaurant Chef,” which ran for nine seasons.
Her journey from restaurant chef to television personality wasn’t accidental—it was built on a foundation of genuine expertise and an innate ability to teach. Before she ever stepped in front of a camera, Anne had already proven herself in some of New York’s most demanding kitchens.
Fan Reactions to the Tribute
Fans were touched by the tribute, and this opportunity to see her on their screens for one last journey, taking to social media to share their grief and memories of the chef. Social media became a gathering place for viewers to process their emotions and share what Anne had meant to them over the years.
“When fans learned they’d get a chance to see Anne on their TV screens one last time, they immediately voiced their emotions in the comments. “I can’t believe we get one final season of her in her groove on worst cooks 🥹🥹🥹🥹🙏🏼💙,” one person teared up. “Can’t wait to see Worst Cooks’ newest season with Anne … this was one of my favorite shows! She will be missed deeply ❤️,” another declared.
The Importance of Mental Health Awareness
For the premiere tribute, the show ended with an image of Burrell smiling, captioned, “In Memoriam / Anne Burrell / 1969-2025.” This was followed by a card reading, “If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or chat at 988lifeline.org.” The network’s decision to include this message highlighted the importance of addressing mental health, even in the midst of entertainment.
This approach helps viewers understand that behind the smiles and success, even the most beloved personalities can struggle with invisible battles. The message serves as both a tribute to Anne and a lifeline for anyone who might be facing similar challenges.
A Television Era Comes to an End
The premiere of Season 29 represents more than just another episode of television—it marks the end of an era. Still, Burrell persisted through 27 seasons, making her last appearance in 2024. She was 55. For viewers who had watched Anne transform countless home cooks over more than a decade, this final season offers both closure and celebration of her incredible legacy. The show that once seemed impossible to imagine without her spiky blonde hair and encouraging shouts of “hands up, utensils down” will continue, but it will never be quite the same without the woman who made it all possible.
