Dan Gross: Ray gets a LaBelle grilling

PATTI LABELLE could teach Rachael Ray a thing or two about cooking. And she did. The iconic songbird appeared yesterday afternoon on the Great Philly Grill-Off on "The Rachael Ray Show," which taped outside Pat's King of Steaks, in South Philly.

LaBelle told us before the taping that she was making her fried corn on the show. The diabetic singing sensation says she doesn't eat the dish herself but people will hurt themselves trying to eat too much of it once they've tried it.

We asked LaBelle what was up with her musically and she teased, "So much I can't tell you yet.

"Also I am Beyonce's baby's godmother, her spiritual godmother," she told us jokingly. LaBelle was excited to cook with Ray and use her line of Lady Marmalade spices and sauces, which are sold in supermarkets and available at PattiLaBelle.com.

Local cooks Douglas Feldman, Sarah Gulish and Stephanie Dumpson participated in the Great Philly Cook-Off at the taping, during which Philadelphia's own Boyz II Men, now celebrating their 20th anniversary as a group, performed. "Extreme Makeover Home Edition" host Ty Pennington was also part of the shoot.

The Philly episode will run when Ray's new season begins in late September. It airs locally at 10 a.m. weekdays on 6ABC.