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(NewsNation) — Carnie Wilson is back with a brand-new cooking show on AXS TV and dishing — hard.
The host of “Sounds Delicious with Carnie Wilson” told NewsNation the show “is very relaxed. I get a little nuts. And that’s because food and music make me really happy, hyper and excited.”
“I’m just trying to bring some light, some hope, some laughter and some good food. What we need is just friends, family, singing music, food — that’s what we need. We need celebratory stuff,” Wilson said.
The show combines Wilson’s love for food, singing and friends. Her first episode featured Sugar Ray front man Mark McGrath, and in a future episode John Stamos flings pasta against a wall. It will feature all types of food, despite Wilson recently losing 40 pounds through a gluten- and sugar-free diet.
When asked if she’s only cooking foods without gluten and sugar, Wilson laughed, “No, hell no. I’m secretly cooking that way… I will always cook and taste certain foods that I know people love, and there’s healthy stuff, too. It’s not like it’s all dripping cheese, although a lot of the dishes have that.”
Wilson also noted that she did not use Ozempic or any other weight loss drug – partially because she’s had gastric bypass surgeries in the past and was worried about side effects.
“You know, I think all of us have heard the warning out there that if you do take a drug like these popular drugs right now that there could be side effects. I did not want to take the chance having had a weight loss surgery … I just didn’t want it to be part of my world. It was just sort of my own fear, I guess. It’s so funny the way people just don’t believe me … and it’s not easy.”
As for her father, Beach Boy Brian Wilson, his beloved wife Melinda died at age 77 in January, and in February he was diagnosed with dementia. While a conservatorship is being put in place, Carnie Wilson notes he is still compos mentis.
“(Brian) is actually wonderful. I spent Easter with him, and he was so happy I brought my mac and cheese, his favorite. He is at home doing lots of physical therapy and cognitive therapy. I don’t really see any decline in his mind yet. He’s sort of the same to me,” Carnie Wilson said.
There has been one big change, though. “He’s not a man of many words. He’s in thought a lot. But, the main thing I notice is his gratitude,” Carnie Wilson said. “He has so much gratitude around for his family. We are surrounding him. I feel like we’re spending more time with him now, and I think that every day is that much more special. He’s so sweet. He watched the cooking show, he holds my hand, he tells me, ‘you’re beautiful, you’re beautiful, Carnie, you’re my daughter.’ He’s a very loving, loving soul. A gentle man, and we’re all there for him.”
When the family gets together, their favorite songs to sing? Elton John.
“We sing ‘Your Song,’ which is my favorite Elton John song, and he just loves it. He loves when we sing to him. We sing in my room, my husband and Lola, my daughter … that’s his joy right now,” Carnie Wilson said.
Her other joy is performing, and Wilson Phillips, the band she formed decades ago with sister Wendy and Chynna Phillips, is getting ready to tour again.
“Chynna (and husband Billy Baldwin) are moving back to L.A., we got some new agents who are kicking butt for us and doing some dates in July,” Wilson said.
First date? The California State Fair in Sacramento on July 13.