Willie and Korie Robertson reflect on returning to reality TV after eight years as Duck Dynasty: The Revival concludes its first season. (Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photo: A&E Network/Bryan Tarnowski)Faith, family and ducks: This simple motto turned the Robertsons into household names and reality television stars on the A&E series Duck Dynasty. But in this season of their lives, those priorities are being tested like never before.
When Phil Robertson, the beloved patriarch and spiritual cornerstone of the family, died at age 79 in May after a battle with Alzheimer's, it marked a profound moment of loss for the tight-knit Louisiana clan. Phil's death came just days before the premiere of A&E's Duck Dynasty: The Revival, which brought Willie, who is Phil's son, and his wife Korie back to television after an eight-year hiatus. The family loss didn't cast a shadow over their return, but instead, became a way for them to honor a legacy, hold each other close and find new strength in old roots."It's good and bad. There's sadness, of course, but also so much joy in what he accomplished," Willie tells Yahoo of his father. "Without [his] faith, our family would've fallen apart."AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementOne thing's clear: While the dinner table may look different and the spotlight may come and go, the Robertsons remain grounded in what matters most. Their foundation is as strong as ever.
Branching outThe Robertson family skyrocketed to fame thanks to the hit reality series Duck Dynasty, which premiered in 2012 and ran for 11 seasons. It centered on Phil and his wife, Kay Robertson - affectionately known as Miss Kay - alongside their four bearded sons and extended family, as they built a duck call empire.
Willie Robertson, Korie Robertson, Phil Robertson, Miss Kay Robertson and Si Robertson of Duck Dynasty attend the 2012 A&E Networks Upfront. (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)The 2025 reboot, which premiered on June 1, shifts its focus to Willie and Korie's branch of the family tree, including their six adult children and a growing number of grandchildren - at least eight so far, with more on the way. Willie and Korie are parents to Rebecca, 36, John Luke, 29, Sadie, 28, Will Jr., 23, Bella, 22, and Rowdy, 22."[Sadie] may have had the baby while we were talking," Willie jokes on our Zoom call. "Someone might've gotten pregnant while we were talking!"AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWith the season finale on Aug. 3, Willie and Korie are taking stock of how far they've come and how much life has changed behind the scenes."It's been really fun getting to do this as a family," Korie tells Yahoo of making the new series. "We're so grateful to get to do it with our grandkids... They're kind of the stars - in our minds, at least."Willie agrees, though he admits he's ready for a break from the cameras. "TV's hard. It's a long journey, and we've been doing this for a while," he adds. Willie says he was worried for his youngest children and his daughters and son-in-laws, who were not used to being on camera."It's tough to [film] all that, especially for those with young families, putting this much time into it," Willie continues. "It's a lot of time and effort."AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementStill, returning to reality TV has had its rewards - from watching the next generation grow together to sharing big milestones, like Sadie and her husband Christian's gender reveal for baby No. 3 in the finale. And of course, celebrating life the Robertson way: big and joyful.
Returning to television as grandparents, not just parents, also gave the couple a different perspective. "We were a lot younger back then," Willie says of filming the original Duck Dynasty. "You're older now, and your kids are adults. Back then, we were teaching them everything. Now we're watching their personalities come out and how they handle work - it's really interesting."That's why we say faith, family and then work - in that order. If your relationship with God isn't right, it'll show up in your marriage. If your family's struggling, that'll show up at work.
Phil and Miss Kay are still very much part of the revival's heartbeat. "One special moment [with Phil] was in the first episode, where we had the last clip of dad giving us a thumbs up. At that point, he was already deep in Alzheimer's," Willie says.
Phil's impact stretched far beyond the bayou. "The man lived at the end of a dirt road, never used a cellphone, never touched a computer and still impacted millions," Willie says. "There's a video of him saying, 'Don't cry at my funeral. I know where I'm going.' So there was a sense of pride. His funeral wasn't doom and gloom - it was a celebration."AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"It really was a celebration of life," Korie says. "Reading the comments [online] afterward [about Phil], it was inspiring. Behind the scenes, it's been beautiful to see the family come together. Al