Why Giada De Laurentiis Insists Her Daughter Jade, 16, ‘Really Isn’t’ Her ‘Mini Me’ (Exclusive)

Giada De Laurentiis and her 16-year-old daughter Jade may share a resemblance — but the celebrity chef doesn’t consider her only child a “mini me.”

The Food Network alum’s daughter is gifted in the arts department. She sings with her band (which her mom proudly promotes) and she performs in musicals and plays. Singing is not a trait that De Laurentiis passed down, she says.

“It’s crazy because neither her father or I sing,” the chef tells PEOPLE of her ex-husband Todd Thompson. “Nobody in my family sings. I mean, we all love music, but not like that. Maybe in the shower. I’m always speechless when it comes to Jade and her music, because she’s able to write music.”

Jade taught herself to play the keyboard during the pandemic, and is currently learning to play the guitar on her own, says De Laurentiis, 54, who will publish her new cookbook, Super-Italian in March 2025.

“I don’t have that gift, so I am just in such awe of her willingness and her openness at teaching herself these instruments that to me are just beyond,” she says. “I don’t play the piano. I don’t play any instrument. It’s really sad, but I don’t. It wasn’t something my parents highlighted, and I just never went for it.”

The proud mom says she’s “truly impressed” with Jade’s musical aptitude, and is eager to find out what path the high school junior will pursue when she graduates. “I’m really, really fascinated to watch her because she is nothing like me. I know everybody says, ‘She’s like a mini you,’ but she really isn’t.”

In September, De Laurentiis shared a clip of Jade singing lead vocals outdoors in Los Angeles with her band, the Hours. She was backed up by guitarists and a drummer. Fans were clearly impressed with Jade’s vocal abilities.

“No idea Jade sang. 😍,” read one comment. “Omg jade is an incredible singer!” read another.

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It wasn’t the first time De Laurentiis has expressed pride over her daughter’s performances.

In 2022, she shared a video of Jade playing the lead role in her school’s production of Matilda the Musical. And in 2023, De Laurentiis and Thompson posted photos of their daughter in the show Working.

 “#proudparents,” they captioned a joint Instagram post of the family smiling as Jade held a bouquet of flowers.

They also posted images from Jade’s theater camp performance in July. “Soo proud of our girl & so special to watch her do what she loves,” said De Laurentiis.