In Her Own Words: Korie Robertson Opens Up About Phil’s Final Days — A Family’s Pain, Faith, and Farewell
Just days before “Duck Dynasty” patriarch Phil Robertson passed away at 79, his daughter-in-law Korie Robertson spoke candidly about his rapid decline — both heartbreaking and inevitable.
Last week, in a somber interview with The Post, Korie revealed the truth: “Phil’s health was declining really rapidly.” His battle wasn’t with just one illness, but with multiple health conditions — most notably, Alzheimer’s disease, a slow thief that had taken much of him already.
Korie, 51, who has been married to Phil’s son Willie, 53, for decades, described the experience as “so hard to watch.” Still, love surrounded him. “He’s so loved,” she said tearfully. “All the family is just coming around him and taking really good care of him.”
On Sunday night, the family took to Instagram to share the heartbreaking news: Phil Robertson had passed away. But the message was one of hope more than sorrow.
“We celebrate today that our father, husband, and grandfather, Phil Robertson, is now with the Lord,” the post began.
The message continued as a tribute to Phil’s enduring legacy:
“Thank you for the love and prayers of so many whose lives have been impacted by his life saved by grace, his bold faith, and his desire to tell everyone who would listen the Good News of Jesus. We are grateful for his life on earth and will continue the legacy of love for God and love for others until we see him again.”
The family noted they’re planning a private farewell for now — but promised that a public celebration of Phil’s life is coming soon.
A New Chapter for a Familiar Family
The timing of this loss comes as “Duck Dynasty: The Revival” prepares to air on A&E, premiering June 1 at 9 p.m. Already renewed for Season 2, the revival shifts its lens to focus on Willie, Korie, their six adult children, and eight grandchildren. But Phil’s absence will be felt deeply.
While the original “Duck Dynasty” (2012–2017) captured the family’s bond through humor, faith, and duck calls, this new season brings with it a sobering layer of reality. Korie shared that Phil was too unwell to participate. “He is not able to be on the show at this time,” she confirmed.
Still, she and daughter Sadie, 27, visited Phil shortly before his passing.
“He’s not saying very much anymore,” Korie said quietly. “But when we visited, he looked up and said something like, ‘full steam ahead.’ It was so sweet. It didn’t really make sense… but he said that to Sadie, and it was just really special.”
Moments like that — fleeting, tender, and difficult — became treasures.
A Man, A Family, A Legacy
Phil Robertson’s journey began not in Hollywood but in the Louisiana backwoods, where he built a dynasty on duck calls and faith. With Miss Kay, his wife of more than five decades, Phil raised four sons: Willie, Jase (55), Jep (46), and Alan. He also stunned fans in 2020 when he revealed the existence of a fifth child — Phyllis, 50 — from an affair in the 1970s.
Korie shared another sobering truth: Kay Robertson, now 77, is also in poor health.
“She’s actually in quite a few of the early episodes of this season,” Korie said, reflecting on the matriarch’s growing absence.
From the Screen to Our Hearts
In its heyday, “Duck Dynasty” was more than a show. Its Season 4 premiere drew over 11 million viewers in 2013 — a cultural moment. It wasn’t just about hunting. It was about prayer before meals, tight family bonds, and the unapologetic celebration of Christian values in the mainstream.
The new series brings that spirit back — with a deeper awareness of aging, legacy, and loss.
Even now, as viewers prepare to return to the world of beards, camo, and family dinners, they’ll do so with Phil’s final words echoing softly:
“Full steam ahead.”
It’s not just a phrase. It’s a reminder — of a life lived with purpose, of faith held tightly until the very end, and of a family moving forward, forever shaped by the man at its center.