Upstate NY native Rachael Ray signs off TV show after 17 years

It’s official: “Rachael Ray” has come to an end. Upstate New York native Rachael Ray appeared on her final episode of the daytime show Wednesday, capping 17 years with an emotional farewell with messages from people like Oprah Winfrey, Donnie Wahlberg, Michelle Obama, Cameron Diaz, Whoopi Goldberg and Gayle King. Ray also thanked her husband John Cusimano, the crew and her fans.

“Nobody gets me like you guys get me. You all make me better,” Ray said before tearing up with her signature signoff. “We’ll see ya when we see ya, everybody.

Ray, a celebrity chef and former Food Network star, said earlier this year that she plans to launch her own production studio called Free Food Studios, focusing on her own “in the kitchen” content and to “serve as a platform for the introduction and development of new and upcoming epicurean talent.” She’ll also release instructional cooking videos “unencumbered by the traditional rules of distribution.”

Ray is a Glens Falls, N.Y., native who has hosted the Emmy-winning “Rachael” show since 2006. She still lives part-time in the Adirondacks and has also written cookbooks, published the magazine “Every Day with Rachael Ray,” and hosted television shows like “30 Minute Meals,” “Rachael Ray’s Tasty Travels” and “Rachael Ray’s Kids Cook-Off.”

New music

TGIF: New music out this week includes Taylor Swift’s “Karma” remix feat. Ice Spice, Dua Lipa’s bubbly “Barbie” song “Dance the Night,” Matchbox Twenty’s first album in more than a decade, and more from Foo Fighters, Kelly Clarkson, Fishbone, Lil Durk, OneRepublic, Ozuna, d4vd, Swedish House Mafia, and Kodak Black.

MORE BUZZ:

• Tina Turner cause of death confirmed as natural causes after illness (NBC)
• Celine Dion cancels tour amid health battle (E!)
• Britney Spears reconciles with her mom Lynne: ‘Time heals all wounds’ (RS)
• Rapper donates $10K for funeral of Buffalo woman featured on album cover (SYR)
• Jana Kramer engaged to soccer player Allan Russell (E!)
• Country singer Morgan Wade to get preventative double mastectomy (ET)
• New ‘Barbie’ trailer unpacks meta plot (E!)
• Takeoff’s alleged shooter indicted for murder (RS)
• ‘Survivor’ fan Sia gifts $130,000 to her favorite runners-up (ET)
• Tom Hanks gets honorary degree from Harvard, speaks at commencement (E!)

Buzz is a daily roundup of entertainment news about movies, TV, music and celebrities.