Dee Hsu: The Life Story Behind Taiwan's Funny Star
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Dee Hsu is a television host who can make a whole studio laugh with a single sentence. She is quick, sharp, funny, and unafraid to say what others are thinking, and that honesty has made her one of the most loved and most talked-about stars in Taiwan. She is also a singer, an actress, a mother, and a sister, and she has lived a life that is full of laughter, hard work, and, in recent years, deep sadness.
She was born on 14 June 1978 in Taipei, Taiwan, as the younger sister of Barbie Hsu. The two sisters grew up close, they sang together as teenagers, and they became famous together as the duo ASOS. Dee was the funny one, the one who made people laugh, and Barbie was the older sister who looked after her. That sisterhood shaped Dee’s life, and it shaped her career, because she learned to perform by performing with her sister.
Her greatest success came as a television host, especially on the long-running show Kangxi Lai Le, which she co-hosted with Kevin Tsai. The show was a talk show, and Dee’s style was bold, playful, and sometimes shocking. She teased her guests, she made jokes, and she created moments that people talked about for days. It was a style that could have failed, but it worked, because Dee was funny, smart, and always in control.
In 2025, Dee lost her elder sister Barbie, who died suddenly in Japan, and that loss changed her life. She has spoken about her grief openly, and she has shown a side of herself that is quieter and more vulnerable than the funny host people knew. This is the story of a funny star who is also a sister, a mother, and a woman who has lived through both joy and loss.
Growing Up as the Younger Sister in Taipei
Dee Hsu was born on 14 June 1978 in Taipei, Taiwan, two years after her elder sister Barbie. She grew up in the shadow of her older sister in the best sense: Barbie looked after her, Barbie led the way, and Dee followed, learning from her. The two girls shared a room, shared clothes, and shared a dream of performing. Dee was the younger sister, and she was also the funnier one. She liked to make people laugh, she liked to joke, and she liked to be the centre of attention in a playful way.
As a child, Dee was lively, talkative, and full of energy. She was not a quiet girl. She was a girl who wanted to perform, to sing, and to make her family laugh. She and Barbie would put on shows at home, singing songs and dancing for their parents, and Dee would often be the one who made everyone laugh with a funny face or a silly dance. That love of making people laugh stayed with her, and it became the foundation of her career as a host.
School in Taipei gave Dee a normal childhood, but she was not a student who loved studying above all else. She liked friends, she liked fun, and she liked performing. She was a good student, but her heart was in music and in making people happy. Her family encouraged her, and they let her and Barbie pursue their dream of becoming singers. That support mattered, because it gave Dee the confidence to be herself, to be funny, and to not worry about what others thought.
The bond with Barbie was the most important part of Dee’s childhood. Barbie was not only her sister. She was her best friend, her partner in music, and her protector. When Dee was nervous, Barbie calmed her down. When Dee was sad, Barbie made her laugh. When Dee wanted to try something new, Barbie encouraged her. That sisterhood is a big part of Dee’s story, and it is one that fans have loved to watch. The two sisters were close as children, and they stayed close as adults, through fame, marriage, motherhood, and loss.
Dee’s childhood was not without hardship. Her family did not have a lot of money, and she learned to live without the things other children had. But she also learned that laughter is free, and that a funny joke can make a hard day better. That lesson stayed with her, and it is one of the reasons she became a host who could make people laugh even when life was difficult. She learned early that humour is a way of coping, and she has used it throughout her life.
ASOS and Singing With Barbie
Dee and Barbie Hsu first became famous as a singing duo called ASOS, later known as SOS. They were teenagers when they started, and they were known for their lively, funny style. They sang pop songs, they danced, and they appeared on television variety shows. Dee was the younger sister, and she was often the one who made the audience laugh with her jokes and her playful behaviour. Barbie was the older sister, and she often took the lead, but Dee’s humour was a big part of why people loved the duo.
The duo released albums in the 1990s, and they became popular with young listeners in Taiwan. Their music was light and joyful, and their performances were full of energy. They were not only singers. They were sisters who sang together, and that sisterhood made their shows feel warm and real. Fans loved to see them together, because they could see that the two of them genuinely liked each other, and that they had fun on stage.
ASOS gave Dee her first experience of fame, and it taught her how to perform in front of a camera, how to talk to an audience, and how to handle the pressure of being watched. She learned to be quick, to think on her feet, and to make a joke when things went wrong. Those skills later became the foundation of her career as a television host, where quick thinking and humour are essential. She did not learn hosting from a book. She learned it by singing with her sister, by appearing on variety shows, and by making people laugh, show after show.
The duo’s music career was not as long as their television careers, but it was an important start. It proved that Dee could perform, that she could entertain an audience, and that she had a talent for comedy. It also gave her a following that stayed with her when she moved into hosting. Fans who had loved ASOS followed Dee into her next career, and they loved her even more as a host than they had as a singer.
As they grew older, Dee and Barbie began to work more on their own. Barbie became an actress, and Dee became a host. They did not stop being sisters, and they did not stop supporting each other, but they each found their own path. Dee’s path led her to television hosting, where her humour and her quick mind made her a star in her own right, separate from her sister, but always connected to her by love.
Kangxi Lai Le and Becoming Taiwan’s Funniest Host
Dee Hsu’s greatest success came as the co-host of Kangxi Lai Le, a popular Taiwanese talk show that aired from 2004 to 2016. She hosted the show with Kevin Tsai, a writer and host known for his calm, thoughtful style. The two of them were a perfect pair. Kevin was quiet and wise, and Dee was loud, funny, and bold. Together, they created a show that was warm, funny, and sometimes surprising, and it became one of the most watched talk shows in Taiwan.
On Kangxi Lai Le, Dee’s style was direct and playful. She teased her guests, she asked bold questions, and she made jokes that other hosts would not dare to make. She was not rude, but she was honest, and she had a way of making guests relax and be themselves. Celebrities who appeared on the show often said that Dee made them laugh, and that they enjoyed being on the show even when she teased them. That is a rare skill for a host, because it takes confidence, timing, and a genuine love of people.
The show ran for twelve years, and it became a part of daily life in Taiwan. People watched it after dinner, they talked about it at work the next day, and they shared clips of Dee’s funniest moments online. Dee became a household name, and her catchphrases, her jokes, and her style became part of Taiwanese popular culture. She was not only a host. She was a comedian, a personality, and a star, and she had built that career on her own talent, separate from her sister’s fame.
Kangxi Lai Le also showed Dee’s intelligence. She was not only funny. She was quick, she listened carefully to her guests, and she knew when to push a joke and when to stop. She could handle a shy guest, a difficult guest, and a famous guest, and she made each one feel comfortable. That skill comes from years of practice, and from a natural understanding of people. Dee understands people, and she uses that understanding to make them laugh and to make them feel at ease.
When the show ended in 2016, fans were sad, but Dee continued to host other shows, including The Truth and other variety programmes. She also worked as an actress, appearing in films and dramas, and she continued to be one of Taiwan’s most visible stars. Her hosting career had made her a star in her own right, and she had proved that she was more than Barbie’s younger sister. She was Dee Hsu, Taiwan’s funniest host.
Acting, Motherhood, and Life Beyond the Talk Show
Alongside hosting, Dee Hsu worked as an actress, appearing in films and television dramas. Her acting was natural and funny, and she played characters who were warm, honest, and a little bold, much like herself. She was not trying to be a serious dramatic actress. She was trying to be herself on screen, and that honesty made her performances enjoyable. Audiences liked her because she felt real, and because she made them laugh even in a drama.
She also became a mother, marrying businessman Mike Hsu in 2005 and giving birth to three daughters. Motherhood changed her life, and she has spoken openly about the joys and challenges of raising three girls. She is a devoted mother, and she has often shared funny stories about her daughters on television, making audiences laugh with her honest, relatable tales of family life. She did not pretend that motherhood was easy. She talked about the mess, the noise, and the love, and mothers across Taiwan felt that she was speaking for them.
Balancing a career as a host with life as a mother of three was not easy, and Dee has spoken about the difficulty of being away from home for work, and about the guilt that many working mothers feel. She handled it with humour, and she made it clear that her daughters came first. She chose her work carefully, she spent time at home when she could, and she made her family a priority. That balance is hard to find, and Dee’s willingness to talk about it honestly helped other mothers feel less alone.
In recent years, Dee has continued to host shows, to act, and to appear on social media, where she shares funny videos and honest thoughts about life. She has a large following online, and her fans love her for her humour and her honesty. She is not a star who pretends to be perfect. She is a star who laughs at herself, who talks about her flaws, and who makes people feel better about their own lives. That is a valuable gift, and it is one that has kept her popular for more than twenty years.
Her life beyond the talk show is a reminder that a star can be many things at once: a host, an actress, a mother, a wife, and a sister. Dee has been all of those things, and she has done them with humour and with love. She is a woman who has built a life that is full, busy, and joyful, even when it is also hard.
Losing Barbie and Grieving in Public
On 2 February 2025, Dee Hsu lost her elder sister Barbie, who died in Japan at the age of 48 after falling ill with influenza and pneumonia. The loss was devastating for Dee, who had been close to Barbie for her whole life. They were not only sisters. They were best friends, partners in music, and each other’s support through everything. Losing Barbie was like losing a part of herself, and Dee has spoken about her grief openly and honestly.
In the days after Barbie’s death, Dee shared her sadness with the public, saying that she missed her sister deeply and that she did not know how to live without her. Fans sent her messages of support, and they shared their own stories of losing a sibling. Dee’s openness about her grief helped many people who were also grieving, because it showed that even a funny, strong star can feel broken by loss. She did not hide her pain. She shared it, and that sharing was a form of courage.
She also took time away from work to grieve, to be with her family, and to remember her sister. She did not rush back to television with a smile, pretending that everything was fine. She took the time she needed, and when she returned, she returned with a quieter, more thoughtful presence. Fans noticed the change, and they respected it. They knew that Dee was still funny, but that she was also sad, and that both things could be true at the same time.
Dee has continued to remember Barbie in public, sharing photos, stories, and memories of their life together. She has spoken about their childhood, their singing career, and their time hosting shows together, and she has said that Barbie will always be a part of her. That remembrance is a way of keeping Barbie alive in the hearts of fans, and it is also a way for Dee to heal. Grief does not end quickly, and Dee’s journey through it is still going on, but she is facing it with the same honesty she has always shown.
Her experience of loss has also made her a more compassionate person in the eyes of her fans. They see a woman who can make them laugh, and who can also cry, and who is not afraid to show both sides of herself. That honesty is rare, and it is one of the reasons Dee is so loved. She is not a perfect star. She is a real person, with real joy and real pain, and she shares both with her audience.
The Art of Teasing Without Hurting
Dee Hsu’s hosting style is famous for its teasing, and that teasing is worth understanding, because it is harder than it looks. She teases her guests, she asks bold questions, and she makes jokes that other hosts would not dare to make. She does it in a way that feels playful, not cruel, and her guests usually laugh along with her. That balance, between bold and kind, is a skill that takes years to learn. A host who teases too hard will hurt a guest, and the show will feel uncomfortable. A host who does not tease at all will be boring, and the show will feel flat. Dee finds the middle, and she finds it night after night.
She does it by listening carefully to her guests. She watches their faces, she hears their tone, and she knows when a joke has gone far enough. If a guest looks uncomfortable, she backs off, she changes the subject, and she makes them feel safe again. If a guest is relaxed and enjoying the teasing, she pushes a little further, and the audience laughs even more. That ability to read a person in real time is a form of intelligence, and it is one that Dee has in abundance. She is not only funny. She is perceptive, and she uses that perception to make her show work.
Her partnership with Kevin Tsai helped her teasing work, because Kevin was the calm, wise host who balanced her boldness. When Dee pushed too far, Kevin would step in with a gentle comment, and the guest would relax. When Kevin was too serious, Dee would make a joke, and the show would lighten up. That balance between two very different hosts is what made Kangxi Lai Le work for twelve years. It was not only Dee’s show. It was a show built on a partnership, and that partnership is a lesson for any team: find someone who is different from you, respect that difference, and let it make the work better.
Her teasing also works because she teases herself as much as she teases others. She laughs at her own mistakes, she talks about her own flaws, and she does not pretend to be perfect. A host who can laugh at herself gives her guests permission to laugh at themselves too, and that permission makes a show feel warm rather than hostile. Dee’s self-deprecating humour is a big part of why guests trust her, and why audiences love her. She is not a host who stands above her guests. She is a host who sits with them, laughs with them, and makes them feel like friends.
In the end, Dee’s hosting style is a reminder that humour is a serious talent, and that teasing, done well, is an art. It takes timing, empathy, and courage, and Dee has all three. She has made millions of people laugh, she has made her guests feel comfortable, and she has built a career on a style that is uniquely hers. That is a remarkable achievement, and it is one that deserves respect.
Three Daughters and a Funny Mother
Dee Hsu is a mother of three daughters, and motherhood is a big part of who she is. She married businessman Mike Hsu in 2005, and she gave birth to three girls in the years that followed. She has spoken openly about the joys and challenges of raising three daughters, and she has shared funny stories about her family on television, making audiences laugh with her honest, relatable tales. She did not pretend that motherhood was easy. She talked about the mess, the noise, and the love, and mothers across Taiwan felt that she was speaking for them. That honesty is a gift, and it is one that has made her even more loved.
Balancing a career as a host with life as a mother of three was not easy, and Dee has spoken about the difficulty of being away from home for work, and about the guilt that many working mothers feel. She handled it with humour, and she made it clear that her daughters came first. She chose her work carefully, she spent time at home when she could, and she made her family a priority. That balance is hard to find, and Dee’s willingness to talk about it honestly has helped other mothers feel less alone. She is not a perfect mother, and she does not claim to be one. She is a real mother, doing her best, and that honesty is refreshing.
My Take:
I think Dee Hsu is one of the funniest people in Taiwan, and I do not say that lightly, because making people laugh is one of the hardest jobs in the world. Anyone can tell a joke, but not everyone can make a whole studio laugh, night after night, year after year, for twelve years on one show. Dee did that on Kangxi Lai Le, and she did it with a style that was bold, quick, and honest. She teased her guests, she asked the questions no one else would ask, and she made people feel relaxed enough to be themselves. That is a gift, and it is one that I admire a lot.
What I like most about her humour is that it is warm, not cruel. She makes jokes, but she does not make jokes that hurt people for no reason. She teases, but she teases with love, and her guests know that. A lot of comedians are funny because they are mean, and their humour leaves a bad feeling. Dee’s humour leaves a good feeling. People laugh, and then they feel closer to her, not further away. That is a kind of humour that takes intelligence and empathy, and Dee has both. She understands people, and she uses that understanding to make them laugh, not to make them feel small.
I also think about her partnership with Kevin Tsai on Kangxi Lai Le, and how well they worked together. Kevin was calm and wise, Dee was loud and funny, and together they made a show that was balanced. That balance is hard to achieve, because two hosts can easily compete with each other or talk over each other. Dee and Kevin did not compete. They supported each other, they listened to each other, and they made each other better. That is a lesson for any team: find a partner who is different from you, respect that difference, and let it make the work better. Dee did that, and the show lasted for twelve years because of it.
Her sisterhood with Barbie is another part of her story that I find beautiful, and now, after Barbie’s death, it is also sad. Two sisters who sang together as teenagers, who became famous together, who hosted shows together, and who stayed best friends for their whole lives: that is a rare and precious thing. I think about the joy they must have shared as children, singing in their room, dreaming of fame, and I think about how lucky they were to have each other. And I think about Dee now, without her sister, and how hard that must be. She has lost not only a sister but a best friend, a partner, and a part of her own history. My heart goes out to her, and I hope she knows how many people are thinking of her.
I also respect the way Dee has handled her grief in public. She did not hide it, she did not pretend to be fine, and she did not rush back to work with a fake smile. She said she was sad, she took time away, and she shared her memories of Barbie with her fans. That honesty is brave, because it is easier to hide grief than to show it, especially when you are a star who is expected to be funny all the time. Dee showed that a funny person can also be sad, and that sadness does not make you less funny. It makes you more human, and more loved. I think her openness has helped a lot of people who are grieving a sibling, because it shows them that they are not alone.
Her motherhood is another part of her life that I admire, because she talks about it honestly. She has three daughters, and she has spoken about the mess, the noise, and the joy of raising them. She does not pretend that motherhood is perfect. She talks about the hard days, the funny days, and the days when she feels guilty for working. That honesty is refreshing, because many stars pretend that motherhood is easy and perfect. Dee says it is hard and wonderful at the same time, and that is the truth. Mothers across Taiwan have felt less alone because Dee said that out loud, and that is a valuable thing.
I also think about her acting, and how natural it is. She does not try to be a serious actress. She plays women who are like herself: funny, honest, and a little bold, and she plays them well because she is being herself. That is a brave way to act, because it means you cannot hide behind a character. You have to bring yourself to the role, and Dee does that. Her performances feel real, and audiences love them because they feel like they are watching a real person, not a performance.
If I were talking to a young person who wants to be a host, I would tell them to study Dee Hsu. I would say, learn to listen, learn to be quick, and learn to be kind. A good host does not only talk. A good host listens, and makes the guest feel comfortable, and knows when to make a joke and when to be quiet. Dee does all of that, and she does it because she understands people. She also works hard, she prepares for her shows, and she takes her job seriously, even though she makes it look easy. That is the mark of a professional: the work looks easy because the worker has practised for years.
In the end, I see Dee Hsu as a funny, honest, and brave woman who has given Taiwan a lot of laughter, and who is now going through a very sad time. She is a sister who has lost her sister, a mother who is raising three daughters, and a host who still makes people laugh. That is a full life, and it is a life that deserves respect. I hope she finds joy again, in her work, in her family, and in the memories of Barbie, because she has earned that joy through years of hard work and through the love she shared with her sister. Taiwan needs Dee Hsu, and I hope she keeps making people laugh for many more years.
I also think about the way she has used social media, because she uses it with humour and honesty. She shares funny videos, she talks about her family, and she does not pretend to be perfect. Her followers love her for that, because they see a real person, not a polished image. She laughs at herself, she talks about her flaws, and she makes people feel better about their own lives. That is a valuable use of social media, in a world where many stars use it only to show off. Dee uses it to connect, to laugh, and to be honest, and that connection is why her following has stayed loyal.
Her work as a mother of three daughters is another thing I admire, because raising three girls is hard work, and Dee talks about it honestly. She talks about the mess, the noise, the arguments, and the love, and she does not pretend it is easy. Mothers across Taiwan have felt less alone because Dee said out loud what they were feeling. She is not a perfect mother, and she does not claim to be one. She is a real mother, doing her best, and that honesty is a gift. A star who pretends motherhood is perfect makes other mothers feel bad. A star who tells the truth makes them feel understood, and Dee tells the truth.
Finally, I think Dee Hsu’s story is a reminder that laughter and grief can live together in one person. She is a funny host who has made millions of people laugh, and she is also a sister who is grieving the loss of her best friend. Both of those things are true, and they do not cancel each other out. She can laugh and she can cry, she can host a show and she can miss her sister, and she can be both funny and sad at the same time. That is what it means to be human, and Dee’s honesty about both sides of herself is one of the reasons she is so loved. I hope she finds joy again, in her work, in her family, and in the memories of Barbie, because she has earned that joy.
I also think about the way Dee has used her humour to cope with hard times, because humour is a way of surviving. She learned as a child that laughter is free, and that a funny joke can make a hard day better. She has used that lesson throughout her life, on stage, on television, and in her own family. When life is difficult, she makes a joke, and the joke does not make the difficulty disappear, but it makes it bearable. That is a valuable skill, and it is one that I admire. A person who can laugh in hard times is a person who can survive hard times, and Dee has survived many.
Her grief for Barbie is another thing I think about, because it shows a side of her that is quieter and more vulnerable than the funny host people knew. She did not hide her pain. She shared it, she took time away from work, and she remembered her sister with love. That openness is brave, because it is easier to hide grief than to show it, especially when you are a star who is expected to be funny all the time. Dee showed that a funny person can also be sad, and that sadness does not make you less funny. It makes you more human, and more loved. I hope she finds joy again, in her work, in her family, and in the memories of Barbie, because she has earned that joy through years of hard work and through the love she shared with her sister.
Finally, I think Dee Hsu’s story is a reminder that laughter and grief can live together in one person. She is a funny host who has made millions of people laugh, and she is also a sister who is grieving the loss of her best friend. Both of those things are true, and they do not cancel each other out. She can laugh and she can cry, she can host a show and she can miss her sister, and she can be both funny and sad at the same time. That is what it means to be human, and Dee’s honesty about both sides of herself is one of the reasons she is so loved.
I also think about the way Dee has used her humour to cope with hard times, because humour is a way of surviving. She learned as a child that laughter is free, and that a funny joke can make a hard day better. She has used that lesson throughout her life, on stage, on television, and in her own family. When life is difficult, she makes a joke, and the joke does not make the difficulty disappear, but it makes it bearable. That is a valuable skill, and it is one that I admire. A person who can laugh in hard times is a person who can survive hard times, and Dee has survived many, including the loss of her sister.
Her grief for Barbie is another thing I think about, because it shows a side of her that is quieter and more vulnerable than the funny host people knew. She did not hide her pain. She shared it, she took time away from work, and she remembered her sister with love. That openness is brave, because it is easier to hide grief than to show it, especially when you are a star who is expected to be funny all the time. Dee proved that a person who makes others laugh can also carry grief, and that grief does not take the laughter away. It makes you more human, and more loved.
In the end, I see Dee Hsu as a funny, honest, and brave woman who has given Taiwan a lot of laughter, and who is now going through a very sad time. She is a sister who has lost her sister, a mother who is raising three daughters, and a host who still makes people laugh. That is a full life, and it is a life that deserves respect. I hope she finds joy again, in her work, in her family, and in the memories of Barbie, because she has earned that joy.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Dee Hsu born?
Dee Hsu was born on 14 June 1978 in Taipei, Taiwan, as the younger sister of Barbie Hsu. The two sisters grew up close and first became famous together as the singing duo ASOS.
How did Dee Hsu become famous?
She first became known singing with her sister Barbie as ASOS in the 1990s, and she later became famous as a television host, especially on the long-running talk show Kangxi Lai Le from 2004 to 2016.
What is Kangxi Lai Le?
Kangxi Lai Le was a popular Taiwanese talk show co-hosted by Dee Hsu and Kevin Tsai, known for Dee’s bold, funny, and direct style. It ran for twelve years and became a major part of Taiwanese popular culture.
Is Dee Hsu also an actress?
Yes, she has acted in films and television dramas, playing natural and funny characters, and she has also worked as a host on other variety shows after Kangxi Lai Le ended.
Is Dee Hsu married and does she have children?
Yes, she married businessman Mike Hsu in 2005 and has three daughters. She has spoken openly and honestly about motherhood and about balancing work with family life.
How did Dee Hsu cope with losing her sister Barbie?
Barbie Hsu died on 2 February 2025 in Japan at the age of 48, and Dee has spoken openly about her grief. She took time away from work, shared memories of Barbie, and continues to remember her sister with love.
