‘Duck Dynasty’ Star Phil Robertson Dies; Sadie Robertson Shares Tribute to ‘Papaw Phil’
Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertson has died at age 79, his family shared on Sunday, May 25.
The businessman and reality star had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, his family revealed in December 2024.
Robertson and his extended family rose to fame in the early 2010s thanks to their hit A&E reality series, which profiled the Robertsons and their successful duck call business, Duck Commander. The show was canceled in 2017 after 11 seasons on the air. During his time in the spotlight, Robertson occasionally stirred up controversy due to his inflammatory comments on race, homosexuality, and other issues.
Sadie Robertson pays tribute to late grandfather Phil Robertson
Following Robertson’s death, several of his children and grandchildren took to social media to share tributes to their late father and grandfather.
Sadie Robertson Huff shared a series of photos of her grandfather on Instagram, including one of him officiating at her 2019 wedding to Christian Huff. She shared a Bible verse: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
“As I was sitting with Papaw Phil today, I thought about this verse… he has already experienced this on earth—going from dead to alive by the power of Christ!” she wrote. “It was his testimony that changed his life, our families life, and thousands of others. Now he is experiencing it in the fullness. Fully alive in Christ. The new has come.”
Sadie’s mother Korie Robertson also shared memories of her late father-in-law.
“Thank you @officialphilrobertson for showing us all how to live a life [100%] sold out on the greatest commandments: love for God with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength and love for your neighbor as yourself … you taught us so much about how to live with gratefulness and love on this earth, about the things that really matter, how to cook, and skin a frog, ha, how to change and grow, how to love and honor Miss Kay, how to respect and build up your sons to love the Lord, how to make God’s strength shine in weakness and vulnerability, and how to never lack in zeal for the Gospel,” she wrote on Instagram.
In a separate, joint post, Korie and her husband Willie Robertson thanked people for their “love and prayers” and shared that the family was planning a public celebration of Phil’s life following a private service.
Robertson family returns to TV this summer with ‘Duck Dynasty: The Revival’
Robertson’s death comes shortly before the Robertson family’s scheduled return to TV after an absence of more than eight years.
Duck Dynasty: The Revival premieres June 1 at 9 p.m. ET on A&E. The new show follows Willie and Korie along with their adult children and grandchildren as they “[carry] on the Robertson legacy at their Louisiana homestead.” It will also feature appearances from Miss Kay, Uncle Si, and other beloved family members,
Season 1 will consist of 10, hour-long episodes. The show has already been greenlit for 10-episode season 2.
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