Sunny Anderson was born on April 9, 1975, in Lawton, Oklahoma. She grew up as an Army brat, moving across the world with her military family. After high school, she enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, serving as a military radio broadcaster in South Korea and at the Air Force News Agency. She was honorably discharged in 1997. 

After leaving the Air Force, Anderson built a career in radio broadcasting. She then ventured into the culinary field, launching Sunny’s Delicious Dishes, a catering company in 2003. This was followed by her big TV break in 2005 when she appeared as a guest on Emeril Live. From there, she hosted several Food Network shows, including Gotta Get It, Cooking for Real, and How’d That Get on My Plate? In 2014, she became a co-host of The Kitchen, a role she held for 40 seasons. 

Beyond television, Anderson has been active in raising awareness about ulcerative colitis, a condition she was diagnosed with at age 19. S is also an author; her 2013 cookbook, Sunny’s Kitchen: Easy Food for Real Life, was a New York Times bestseller. She currently serves as a food and lifestyle contributor on The Drew Barrymore Show.