Rapper Snoop Dogg will return as NBC commentator for Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics after becoming breakout star of Paris 2024 Games, while also revealing plans to open Las Vegas restaurant with Gordon Ramsay
Snoop Dogg has spent decades defying expectations, but even he admits some of his career turns have surprised people — from cooking with Martha Stewart to becoming one of the breakout stars of the Paris 2024 Olympics. The 54-year-old rapper says both worlds share one thing in common: people underestimate him at first.
“People thought Snoop was playing when he started cooking, but they know I am not playing now,” he says. “For real, he [Gordon Ramsay] is one of the best chefs in the world — but everyone can always learn something new.”
The West Coast legend, real name Calvin Broadus Jr, has been quietly building a culinary reputation for years. His partnership with Stewart turned into a successful TV show, and now he is planning something even bigger. “We have been talking about it for a few years — but me and Gordon want to open up a restaurant together in Vegas,” Snoop reveals. “He already has a few places over there, but there is always room for another restaurant in Vegas.”
That same unexpected credibility is now carrying Snoop onto one of the biggest sporting stages in the world. The legendary rapper is set to be involved in Friday’s Opening Ceremony for the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
Snoop will lend his voice as a commentator for US broadcaster NBC, continuing his unlikely rise as an Olympic fixture. He previously carried the Olympic Flame through the Parisian suburb of Saint-Denis in 2022, before becoming one of the most talked-about figures of the Paris 2024 Games.
Over the course of the 17-day event, the Long Beach native was omnipresent. He appeared at an equestrian event wearing full riding kit alongside Martha Stewart, danced with gymnasts, swam with swimming legend Michael Phelps and became a regular sight in the stands.
One critic memorably labelled him the “Santa Claus of the Olympics,” a nickname that stuck as Snoop embraced his role as the Games’ unofficial cheerleader. He later performed with long-time collaborator Dr Dre at the closing ceremony.
While his presence initially confused purists, it soon became clear that Snoop’s role was strategic — using one of music’s most recognisable figures to make the Olympics feel more accessible to younger fans.
According to an NBC executive, the former gangster rapper earned $500,000-a-day (£390,000) for his Olympic appearances, totalling $9million (£6.6m) across the full 17 days, plus expenses.
Away from the Games, Snoop has watched friends navigate public scrutiny with interest. Asked about his long-standing friendship with Miley Cyrus, he praised her resilience. “I got so much love for her, but more than that I am proud of her,” he says. “When she finished up with Disney she had to work really hard to find out what artist she wanted to be, and she took some unfair criticism while she worked that out.”
He believes Cyrus has now silenced her doubters. “Today she is one of the most successful female artists of all time, and her haters are now probably hating on somebody else,” he adds.
Snoop’s instincts also extend to British television. Commenting on the new host of The Great British Bake Off, he believes the show is in safe hands. “You know if I had to pick a new host myself I couldn’t have picked better,” he says. “Just like me she got a big passion for baking. She is well known over here, I think she is gonna take the show to a new level globally.”
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