Rachael Ray thinks it's "cool" that she's still considered "relevant".

The 57-year-old TV star walked away from her talk show two-and-a-half years ago, after 17 seasons, but Rachael is now relishing where she's at in her career, after her A+E Global Media deal was expanded.

Rachael told Us Weekly: "To be a woman in her 50s and still considered relevant is cool, but to have partners that want to help me produce really focused work that I want to produce and support people that I want to support is extraordinary.

"People have asked me for decades, do you feel lesser than because you're a female in your industry? I never felt that way once. Any time I took less money than a man, I suggested it. I said, 'If I take less money as talent, can I get more money for staff or the location I want to work in versus the one you want me to work in?' I love this place in my life the best right now. I feel like I really earned this. I earned this in concept, in my mind, in my heart."

A+E acquired a 50 percent stake in her company in 2024, and although she's not as visible as she once way, Rachel remains as busy as ever.

She said: "I work my a** off all the time. And I never left. I just switched over to A+E and new partners, that's all. But I've been working constantly.

"From the time I left the daytime show, I started writing. I write around the clock, and I produce shows with my friends around the clock.

"So I don't know why people thought I left. I guess we did a crap job of promoting it."

Earlier this week, Rachael revealed that she loves her quiet lifestyle in Tuscany.

The TV star actually prefers living in Italy over New York, where most of her work is based.

Rachael - who has been married to John Cusimano since 2005 - told Us Weekly: "My husband loves being in New York. And I tell him, 'Hey, go as often as you like, stay as long as you want.' I come to New York and upstate New York when I have work, I prefer Italy."