Honestly, if you’ve spent any time in the digital food world over the last decade, Carla Lalli Music probably feels like that cool, older sister who actually knows how to sear a scallop without it sticking to the pan. We watched her for years in the Bon Appétit Test Kitchen, the personification of "effortless Brooklyn chic," usually wearing a perfect gold chain and a crisp button-down.
But lately, the conversation around her has shifted. People aren't just asking about the best way to salt their pasta water; they're whispering about her personal life.
The rumors started as a trickle—a missing wedding ring here, a cryptic Substack post there. Then, the floodgates opened. Carla Lalli Music is divorced, and she’s been remarkably candid about the transition, even if she didn’t hold a press conference to announce it.
The Timeline of the Carla Lalli Music Divorce
Life moves fast, but the internet moves faster. For those who weren't paying close attention, the news felt abrupt. One day she’s talking about her husband, Fernando Music, making her black tea in the morning, and the next, she’s posting "comfort cooking for one" videos.
According to Carla’s own updates on her Substack, Food Processing, she and Fernando separated in the summer of 2023. By July 2024, she explicitly mentioned being "on the other side of her divorce."
It wasn’t a scandal. There was no "Page Six" expose. It was just a marriage that reached its natural conclusion after many years and two children.
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Why the Change Surprised Everyone
We got used to a certain image of Carla’s life. In her earlier videos and her James Beard Award-winning cookbook, Where Cooking Begins, her family was the backdrop. Her two sons often appeared as "hams" in her content, and the dynamic of her Fort Greene brownstone life felt aspirational in a very grounded way.
Then came the "DGAF" era.
If you follow her on Instagram, you noticed it. The bleached eyebrows. The new tattoos. The intense weightlifting sessions. For some, it looked like a mid-life crisis. For anyone who’s actually gone through a major life upheaval, it looked like someone finally taking up all the space in their own life.
Moving on from Fernando Music
Fernando Music isn't exactly a public figure in the way Carla is, but he’s adjacent. He’s the son of the late Lorenzo Music—the legendary voice of Garfield. Throughout their marriage, Carla would occasionally reference their shared life in Brooklyn.
They seemed like a solid unit. But marriage is a black box. You never really know what’s happening behind the closed door of a renovated kitchen.
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Now, the two are co-parenting their sons. Carla has hinted at the "quietness" of a house when the kids are with their dad. It’s a specific kind of grief that divorced parents know well: the sudden shift from a chaotic, loud household to a silent one every other week.
The Financial and Creative Pivot
Coinciding with the divorce was a massive business shift. In early 2025, Carla announced she was stepping away from her YouTube channel.
Wait. The Carla Lalli Music is leaving YouTube? The platform where she has hundreds of thousands of followers?
Basically, the math wasn't mathing. She revealed that producing her high-quality videos cost about $3,500 per episode, but the ad revenue was barely covering the bills. She was essentially paying to work. When you're a single mom navigating a divorce and trying to finish a third cookbook, you stop doing things that drain your bank account and your soul.
What This Means for Her Career
Don’t worry, she isn't disappearing. In fact, 2026 is looking like her biggest year yet.
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- The Third Cookbook: She has been grinding on a new book slated for release in early 2026.
- The Substack Growth: Food Processing has become her primary way of communicating. It’s more intimate, less "produced," and honestly, more interesting.
- New Media Ventures: She launched a podcast called Worst Day of Your Life So Far in late 2024, leaning into the vulnerability that fans have come to love.
She’s also been dealing with "friend breakups," which she’s mentioned as being sometimes harder than the divorce itself. There’s been plenty of Reddit speculation about who those friends might be (some suspect former BA colleagues like Rick Martinez), but Carla has kept those details private.
Actionable Insights: Lessons from Carla’s Transition
Watching a public figure navigate a divorce can actually be weirdly helpful. Here’s what we can take away from how Carla handled it:
1. Vulnerability is a Brand Asset
Carla didn't try to hide the fact that she was "going through it." By being honest about her stress and her "alone time," she built a deeper connection with her audience than a polished cooking video ever could.
2. Audit Your "Why"
She quit YouTube because it wasn't serving her financially or emotionally. Sometimes, you have to kill your darlings to make room for the next chapter. If a project is costing you more than it gives back—even if you're "good" at it—it might be time to walk.
3. The "Post-Divorce Glow-Up" is Real
Whether it’s bleaching your brows or lifting heavy at the gym, reclaim your identity. Carla’s "DGAF" era is a reminder that you're allowed to change your look, your career, and your vibes whenever you want.
4. Co-parenting Requires a New Soundtrack
Transitioning to a "part-time" empty nest is brutal. Carla’s focus on "cooking for one" content isn't just a gimmick; it’s a survival strategy for anyone learning to live in the quiet moments between being a parent.
Carla Lalli Music is still the same expert cook we’ve always loved, but she’s sharper now. She’s less of a "personality" and more of a person. And honestly? That makes her recipes taste a little bit better.