Shocking Exit Exposed! Duck Dynasty: The Revival Premiere Unveils Willie Robertson’s Secret Reasons for Leaving – Family Feud, Betrayal, or Billion-Dollar Business Deal Gone Wrong?
Duck Dynasty: The Revival premiered on Sunday (June 1) on A&E, and many fans were shocked to learn Willie Robertson’s future plans with the business.
Willie has long been the CEO of Duck Commander, but during Ep. 1 of the new show, we learn that he is taking a step back from his role.
“My dad semi-retired, so what does that look like with his new phase of life?” daughter Sadie Robertson said in an interview with Taste of Country, suggesting that it would be a plot line early on.
“As a grandpa, traveling … and so that’s kinda why there’s other reasons why Jase and Jep aren’t on this season.”
Sadie Robertson Reveals Why Jase + Jep Skipped Duck Dynasty Revival
→ Swipe to see more articles
During the premiere episode, fans get to see how the company runs now, in 2025: Son John Luke runs the coffee business on site, daughter Bella runs Duck Commander’s gift shop and Sadie host her ministries and podcast out of the warehouse.
“My mom actually runs a lot of things up here at Duck Commander,” Sadie says. “I have my all of my podcast and Live Original team work out of Duck Commander. My brother, John Luke, works for my mom’s production company at Duck Commander. My sister manages the whole Duck Commander store, so the next generation works here.”
The Robertson children — who have grown up since the original Duck Dynasty series ran 2012-2017 — being more hands on in the business explains why fans only saw Jase and Si at the beginning, or just in shots during their Unashamed Podcast clips.
The show show far leans into Willie stepping into retirement, with many of the scenes poking fun at the fact that he isn’t around as much. He walks around the office trying to conduct business, when in reality, there are already people who are getting things done without him.
At the end of Ep. 1, Willie finds himself with all of his children and heir spouses. He tells them he is trying to determine which child should take over Duck Commander when he retires.
So far, he’s done that by taking the adult kids skeet shooting, but that outing didn’t give him a clear answer.
Willie and Korie have five children and eight grandchildren, with another on the way from Sadie and her husband, Christian.
Duck Dynasty: The Revival aires on A&E at 8PM ET weekly.
‘Duck Dynasty’: What Happened to the Kids?
Duck Dynasty was centered on the lives of Willie, Si, Phil and Jase Robertson, but their respective children and grandchildren became breakout stars, too. Here is what each of the Dynasty children have been up to since the A&E reality show ended in 2017. There are marriages, career achievements and babies — so many babies.
Gallery Credit: Billy Dukes
John Luke Robertson, Then
Ethan Miller, Getty Images
John Luke Robertson, Then
John Luke Robertson is Willie and Korie’s oldest child, technically (more on that in a moment). He was part of the Duck Dynasty show as a teenager, but he’s certainly grown up.
John Luke Robertson, Now
John Luke Robertson, Now
John Luke and Mary Kate married in 2015, and since then they’ve had two children. In 2019 he became camp director at Camp Ch-Yo-Ca in Calhoun, La. Both John Luke and Mary Kate graduated from Liberty University.
Sadie Robertson, Then
Michael Loccisano, Getty Images
Sadie Robertson, Then
Sadie Robertson was just 15 when Duck Dynasty first aired, but she soon filled her resume with books, television and film appearances and more. The oldest of Willie and Korie’s daughter’s has not slowed down.
Sadie Robertson, Now
Sadie Robertson, Now
Sadie Robertson turns 28 in 2025, and she’s written even more books, started a podcast called Whoa, That’s Good and taken a career in public speaking.
In 2019 she married Christian Huff and the couple now have two daughters, Honey and Haven. They are expecting their third child.
Sadie Robertson is involved in the revival series that’s coming to A&E.
Bella Robertson, Then
Monica Schipper, Getty Images
Bella Robertson, Then
Little Bella was 9 years old when Duck Dynasty started filming. She’s all grown up now.
Bella Robertson, Now
Bella Robertson, Now
Not only has Bella Robertson graduated from Liberty University, she’s gotten married. In 2021, the then 18-year-old Bella married Jacob Mayo on Duck Dynasty property.
It’s not clear what her next career or personal movie will be, but she has been announced as part of the reboot.
Rebecca Robertson, Then
Ethan Miller, Getty Images
Rebecca Robertson, Then
Rebecca is referred to as Willie and Korie Robertson’s oldest child, but they never legally adopted her after fostering the then-teenage girl in 2004. They consider her to be a daughter, and during Season 5 she was introduced to the world.
Rebecca Robertson, Now
Rebecca Robertson, Now
In 2016, Rebecca married John Reed Loflin, and together they have two kids. She is the founder of a retail outlet called Me and My.
Rebecca Robertson is expected to be part of the new show on A&E.
Will Robertson, Then
Ethan Miller, Getty Images
Will Robertson, Then
Willie Robertson Jr. is Willie and Korie’s first adopted son. He was close to 10 years old when the TV show began, but had been a part of the family since he was just a few weeks old.
Will Robertson, Now
Will Robertson, Now
In 2023, Willie Jr. married Abby. It’s not clear what either do for a living or if they’re in college, but he says he lives in Dallas, Texas.
He has been announced to take part in the new Duck Dynasty: The Revival.
Rowdy Robertson, Then
Rowdy Robertson, Then
Rowdy Robertson came to the family in May 2016, and they adopted the teen a few months later. It was all kept pretty quiet to allow him time to adjust. There’s not a whole lot known about his background.
Rowdy Robertson, Now
Rowdy Robertson, Now
In 2025, Rowdy Robertson is roughly 23 years old and is an aspiring nature photographer. He does not appear to be involved in the Duck Dynasty revival.
Reed Robertson and Girlfriend Brighton, Then
Ethan Miller, Getty Images
Reed Robertson and Girlfriend Brighton, Then
Duck Dynasty fans literally watched Reed Robertson grow up. Jase’s oldest son graduated high school in Season 6 and married in Season 11.
One remarkable stat about this show is the percentage of relationships that work out — we’ve yet to find a breakup!
Reed Robertson and Wife Brighton, Now
Reed Robertson and Wife Brighton, Now
Reed and Brighton now have two kids, and he’s thriving professionally in the real estate development business in Nashville.
Wife Brighton keeps fans up to date on their personal lives on Instagram, while Reed shares his takes on society and politics on Twitter.
Cole Robertson, Then
Ethan Miller, Getty Images
Cole Robertson, Then
Cole Robertson is Jase and Missy’s quiet second son. He graduated high school during Season 10 of Duck Dynasty.
Cole Robertson, Now
Cole Robertson, Now
In 2020, Cole graduated college from Pepperdine University in Malibu. He announced that he’s a licensed health insurance agent that November, but has largely stayed out of the spotlight.
Mia Robertson, Then
Paul Morigi, Getty Images
Mia Robertson, Then
Mia Robertson is one of the more famous grandkids to Phil and Kay Robertson.
Her health journey to fix a cleft lip and palate has involved many surgeries, ad in recent years she’s become an advocate for others with similar conditions.
Mia Robertson, Now
Mia Robertson, Now
The now 21-year-old Mia Robertson has begun a college career at Lipscomb University in Nashville. She continues to undergo surgeries — in 2023 she had her 15th. However she smiles through it with joyful pictures on Instagram.
Lily Robertson, Now
Lily Robertson, Now
Lily Robertson is Jep Jessica’s oldest daughter. She was a recurring character on Duck Dynasty. In 2023, she married boyfriend Austin, with the full family in attendance. She’s not active on social media and very little is known about their life together.
Merritt Robertson, Now
Merritt Robertson, Now
In 2024, Jep and Jessica looked to be involved in a second wedding. Their second daughter Merritt married Tyler Metro that June after a November 2023 engagement.
Priscilla Robertson, Now
Priscilla Robertson, Now
Priscilla Robertson was only six years old when the show started and was hardly seen. Now 18, she appears to be living her best life on Instagram.
River Robertson, 2018
River Robertson, 2018
River Robertson is about 17 years old in 2025, meaning he was just four when the show started.
His mother Jessica began to share more of his journey on social media afterward, revealing a dyslexia diagnosis that led to remarkable improvements in his ability to read.
Jules Augustus Gus Robertson, 2017
Jules Augustus “Gus” Robertson, 2017
Jep and Jessica first opened up about adopting Gus in 2017, meaning fans of Duck Dynasty never got to know the little boy. He’s growing up fast, turning eight in 2025.
Read More: ‘Duck Dynasty: The Revival’ Premiere Reveals Why Willie’s Leaving | https://tasteofcountry.com/duck-dynasty-revival-premiere-recap/?utm_source=tsmclip&utm_medium=referral
