Ina Garten Tells Oprah Winfrey How She Avoided Turning Into Another Martha Stewart

Mar. 15, 2025

Ina Garten and Martha Stewart.Photo:Michael Loccisano/Getty; Michael Simon/Getty

Michael Loccisano/Getty; Michael Simon/Getty

Ina Gartenis proud of sticking to her vision.

The 76-year-oldBarefoot Contessastar spoke toOprah Winfreyon the Dec. 24. episode ofThe Oprah Podcastabout staying true to herself throughout her career and avoiding pressure to make herself more likeMartha Stewart.

Agreeing that she had to fight for what she wanted, Garten noted, “Just trust your vision. I think the thing that works is if you’re really true to who you are. If you believe in it so fiercely, somebody out there is gonna believe in it too. It’s true.”

Ina Garten cooking on the ‘Today’ show in 2017.Nathan Congleton/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty

Nathan Congleton/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty

Garten, whose career began with the publication ofThe Barefoot Contessa Cookbookin 1999, added, “I’m not gonna become this perky … person that people will love. Just put out who you are, and do the best job you can possibly do. And I think people trust that. They honor that. They believe in that.”

The at-home chef added, “If I feel like I’m so sure what I’m doing is right, I don’t let people pull me off my game.”

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Previously addressing rumors of a fallout with Stewart, Gartenset the record straightduring a live Q&A at the PEOPLE offices on Dec. 5. Stewart previously claimed that Garten cut ties with her in 2004 when shewent to prison, which Garten denied.

“Well, let’s just say her story isn’t exactly accurate,” Garten rebutted.

“And, you know, that was 25 years ago,” she added with a laugh at the event. “I think it’s time to let it go.”

Martha Stewart prepares the classic beyond breakfast sausage with spinach and sweet onion frittata on March 10, 2020 in New York City.Getty

Getty

The two met in the Hamptons, N.Y., in the 1990s and Garten previously wrote a column for theMartha Stewart Livingmagazine. Stewart was also credited with helping put Garten in contact with publishers for her first cookbook.

source: people.com