Gail Simmons is giving fans a glimpse into the personalities behind the Top Chef judges’ table. The longtime judge revealed which of her fellow judges she expects to get emotional if the show takes home an Emmy this year. The show is nominated for Outstanding Reality Competition Program, along with nominations for hosting, casting, and direction.
Gail Simmons says Kristen Kish would be most likely to cry if ‘Top Chef’ wins a 2026 Emmy
Speaking to People, Simmons revealed that Kristen Kish would be the most likely to cry after an Emmy win. The 50-year-old said, “She cries at everything,” adding, “I mean, I think we’d all cry. But, you know, she’s like an outspoken crier.”
Kish told the outlet that receiving an Emmy nomination for her hosting is “a wonderful feeling.” The host said, “I feel proud [of] myself. I feel proud of our show. When the outstanding show plus directing plus casting [nominations] all rolled in, I was like, ‘f**k yeah.’ All well deserved. It feels amazing.”
Simmons believes Kish’s experience as a former contestant has brought an added sense of “empathy” to the show. She also added that Kish has “changed” over the three years since taking on the hosting role. “She, as a person, hasn’t changed in the best way. She still wears her sweatpants and her hat backwards and eats candy at the judge’s table and prefers, you know, flip-flops to nice shoes. And she’s still like a completely humble person, but she has just this really strong sense of self and sense of style,” explained Simmons.
She further stated that it has been amazing to watch someone she admires so much “come into their own.” She added that Kish would likely say the same about her fellow judges. Simmons noted that all of them have changed since Kish joined the show, crediting her presence for that growth.
Top Chef is heading into the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards with multiple nominations, which were announced on July 8, 2026. Kish earned her third consecutive nomination for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality Competition Program. The Emmy Awards is set for September 14. It will take place at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles and air live on NBC, with Mariska Hargitay serving as host.
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