The Shocking Truth: Is The Golden Bachelor Still Married? Inside Gerry Turner's New Engagement And Divorce Drama
The Golden Bachelor: Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist Biography & Relationship Timeline
The journey of Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist was a whirlwind, taking them from strangers to husband and wife, and then to ex-spouses, all within a year. Their relationship was a beacon of hope for senior singles, proving that love could be found at any age, but the reality of merging two established lives ultimately proved too difficult to overcome.
Gerry Turner: The First Golden Bachelor
- Full Name: Gerry Turner
- Age: 74 (as of late 2025)
- Hometown/Residence: Hudson, Indiana (living in his dream house on a beautiful lake)
- Previous Career: Retired restaurateur
- Family: Widower (of his first wife, Toni, who passed away in 2017); two daughters (Angie and Jenny); two granddaughters (Charlee and Payton).
- Relationship Status (2025): Engaged to Lana Sutton.
Theresa Nist: The First Golden Winner
- Full Name: Theresa Nist
- Age: 71 (as of late 2025)
- Hometown/Residence: Shrewsbury, New Jersey
- Previous Career: Financial services professional (a senior compliance officer/wealth manager)
- Family: Widow (of her late husband, Billy); one daughter (Jenna); two grandsons (Brandon and Brody).
- Relationship Status (2025): Single, focused on family and career.
The Golden Relationship Timeline
- Filming (August/September 2023): Gerry meets 22 women, including Theresa Nist and runner-up Leslie Fhima.
- Finale Airs (November 30, 2023): Gerry proposes to Theresa.
- The Golden Wedding (January 4, 2024): The couple marries in a lavish, televised ceremony in La Quinta, California, featuring many *Bachelor Nation* alumni.
- Divorce Announcement (April 12, 2024): Gerry and Theresa appear on *Good Morning America* to announce their decision to divorce, just three months after their wedding.
- New Engagement (Late 2025): Gerry Turner announces his engagement to Lana Sutton, a woman he met outside of the *Bachelor* franchise.
The Real Reason Gerry and Theresa’s Marriage Collapsed
The sudden announcement of the divorce between Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist sent shockwaves through the reality TV world. While the couple initially presented a united front, citing irreconcilable differences, the core issue ultimately came down to geography and an inability to compromise on their established lives.
The dream of a shared life quickly hit the reality of two distinct, well-rooted existences. Gerry was committed to his lake house in Hudson, Indiana, close to his daughters and granddaughters, while Theresa was equally tied to her job as a financial services professional and her family in Shrewsbury, New Jersey.
The couple revealed that they had considered several options, including moving to a halfway point like South Carolina, but neither could commit to leaving their respective support systems. Theresa, in particular, was unwilling to leave her career and the close proximity to her daughter and grandsons. Gerry also claimed in later interviews that Theresa had initially promised to leave her job once she found "the right guy," a promise he felt she broke after the wedding.
The Controversial Cancer Claim
The divorce became even more contentious with the release of Gerry Turner's book in 2025, where he claimed a secret, incurable cancer diagnosis was a significant factor in the split. According to his account, the diagnosis made him hesitant to uproot Theresa's life, contributing to the decision to separate.
However, Theresa Nist quickly disputed the claim. She stated that while she was aware of his cancer diagnosis, it was not the reason for their breakup. Theresa maintained that the geographical distance and their inability to decide on a shared location remained the primary and publicly stated reason for the end of their brief marriage. This public disagreement highlighted the underlying strain and communication breakdown that occurred in the months following *The Golden Wedding*.
Gerry Turner’s Shocking New Chapter: Engagement to Lana Sutton
In a development that has stunned *Bachelor Nation*, Gerry Turner is no longer just a divorced man—he is an engaged man again. Just months after his divorce from Theresa Nist was finalized, Gerry announced in late 2025 that he is engaged to a new girlfriend, Lana Sutton.
This engagement to Lana Sutton, a woman who was not part of the *Golden Bachelor* cast, marks a significant and rapid turnaround in Gerry's personal life. The news, shared across his social media platforms, confirmed that "The Golden Bachelor is OFF the market."
Who is Lana Sutton?
While details about Lana Sutton are still emerging, Gerry has shared that he met his new fiancée outside of the typical reality TV circuit in early 2025. The connection was reportedly immediate and intense, a stark contrast to the highly scrutinized and televised courtship with Theresa. The speed of the new engagement, coming only 15 months after his divorce was finalized, has sparked considerable debate among fans and critics alike, with many questioning the sincerity of his search for lasting love on the ABC show.
Gerry's new relationship with Lana suggests that he has found a partner who is perhaps more willing to accommodate his life in Indiana, or that the couple has successfully navigated the geographical challenges that ultimately doomed his marriage to Theresa. This second engagement for Gerry Turner is a clear signal that he is determined to find his happily ever after, even if it has to be on his own terms and far removed from the cameras of the *Bachelor* franchise.
The Legacy of The Golden Bachelor’s First Season
The story of Gerry and Theresa has become a cautionary tale about the pressures of reality television and the difficulty of blending two senior lives. While their marriage failed, the first season of *The Golden Bachelor* was a resounding success for the network, proving that there is a massive audience for love stories in the senior demographic.
The show paved the way for a second season, featuring a new lead, Mel Owens, and other successful relationships, like Bear and Sunny, who remain a couple as of late 2025. The initial success of Gerry and Theresa’s televised wedding, despite the short-lived marriage, has cemented the show's place in the *Bachelor* universe, promising future seasons and more chances for senior love stories to unfold.
The definitive answer to "Is the Golden Bachelor still married?" is a decisive no, but the story is far from over. Gerry Turner has moved on with Lana Sutton, proving that his quest for companionship did not end with his divorce. The focus now shifts to whether this new, non-televised engagement will lead to the lasting happiness that eluded him and Theresa Nist.
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