17 Times Martha Stewart Was Cooler than You

Choose a slide

You think you know Martha ... and then she goes ahead and does something completely shocking and solidifies her place as quite possibly the toughest cookie in the world. Our favorite moments....

Photography: Marcus Nilsson

1 of 18

She's an entertaining, baking, multitalented homekeeping master. You can do it yourself, but she's doing it all. She's hip to the latest technology (do you have a personal drone?) and hosting the happiest of all happy hours. She teaches us life skills like: how to sew a button, decorate the prettiest cakes, and properly fold a fitted sheet.

So after 30-plus years, we get it: You think you know Martha. But there is so much more to her everyday life -- namely, hanging out at swanky parties and being besties with the celebrities you love -- that you might not know about.
Photography: Christopher Polk

2 of 18

Setting Justin Bieber Straight

Earlier this spring, Martha was invited to "The Comedy Central Roast of Justin Bieber," alongside Hannibal Buress, Snoop Dogg, Natasha Leggero, Shaquille O'Neal and more. And guess what? She totally owned it. Sure, we might be a little biased, but she had some of the best one-liners of the night, proving she can throw down with the best of them.
Guess Who Said It? Martha or Justin Bieber
3 of 18

Baking with Snoop Dogg

But Martha had street cred loooooong before the roast. Remember when she baked a batch of "green" brownies with Snoop Dogg?
Watch the Video
4 of 18

Rapping About Baking Soda

Plus, she raps ... about baking soda. Baking soda!
Watch the Video
5 of 18

Climbing the World's Tallest Mountains

Martha has trekked up Africa's tallest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro. What have you climbed lately?

Read About Her World Travels
Swipe here for next slide
6 of 18

Being the Queen Bee

Martha has kept her own honey bees on the farm for years. This year, her batch of Carniolan bees are making a buzz by producing honey as well as pollinating the fruit and vegetable crops.

Read More About the Honey Bees on Martha's Blog
Photography: Nancy Kaszerman/ImageCollect

7 of 18

Getting Real with Blake Lively

"When we met Martha, Martha goes, 'I know how to ride motorcycles. I will ride with you, Ryan,'" Lively said. "That's the only woman that could creep up on my man!"
Watch the Video
Photography: KGC-102/starmaxinc.com/ImageColl

8 of 18

Keeping Up with Kim Kardashian

Martha also contributed a write-up to Time's list of the 100 Most Influential People of 2015. The First Lady of Homekeeping had some wise words for the First Lady of Selfies (that's you, Kim Kardashian).
Want to Know What She Said? Read Her Essay.
9 of 18

Starring in "The Simpsons"

Big fan of "The Simpsons"? She appeared in a 2010 episode called "The Fight Before Christmas," in which she helps Marge save the holidays. What we wouldn't give to be Simpson-ized.
10 of 18

Modeling for Chanel

Martha is #flawless. In the 1960s, she worked as a model during her college years to supplement her scholarship. She flew to Paris, dressed in couture, and starred in advertisements for a little brand named Chanel; have you heard of it?
Swipe here for next slide
11 of 18

Winning Big at Westminster

Francesca, Sharkey, and Ghenghis Khan are all pint-sized celebrities -- did you know Ghenghis won the title of Best in Breed at the Westminster Dog Show? Do your pets hang out with friends like Jimmy Fallon or star in commercials?
Photography: Mike Krautter

12 of 18

Out-Abbeying Abbey

Mrs. Patmore might have "Downton Abbey," but Martha has Gingerbread Abbey.
13 of 18

Decorating for the Clintons

You get stressed out when you think about the one Christmas tree you have to decorate. Martha doesn't even break a sweat when invited to decorate several rooms at Blair House, the president's guest house, for Christmas one year.
See the Photos
14 of 18

Owning Halloween

And Halloween? No one does it like Martha. Her costumes defy anything you've ever DIYed. For her Spellbinding Sorceress costume, we used 75 gold star Christmas ornaments and 24 yards of 42-inch-wide tulle. Seriously, 24 yards!

Make Martha's Spellbinding Sorceress Costume
15 of 18

Hanging with Lady Gaga

Mother Monster and Martha hung out backstage before David Letterman's "Late Show." We don't really know what happened, but Gaga says it involved deviled eggs and sequined crop pants.
See Our Gaga-Inspired Ideas
Swipe here for next slide
16 of 18

LOLing with Conan O'Brien

Martha is never afraid to let loose, especially with Conan O'Brien. They've been on romantic horseback rides and even a Mardis Gras parade float. Martha, to whom are you throwing those beads?!
Watch the Video
Photography: Bruce Wolf

17 of 18

Smooching Stephen Colbert

Martha obviously has a soft spot for comedians. Guess who Martha stole a kiss from under the mistletoe?
Watch Stephen Colbert and Martha
Photography: Ditte Isager

18 of 18

Hypnotizing Chickens

Did you know that you can make a chicken doze off and fall sleep almost instantly? Martha does. Who knew she had this secret talent?

Watch the Video