Duck Dynasty star Willie Robertson shares late…
“Duck Dynasty” star Willie Robertson revealed the ultimate message that his late father shared with their household before his death.
In May, Phil Robertson, well-known for founding the Duck Commander looking company that grew to become the main focus of his A&E show, died at the age of 79.
The “Duck Dynasty” household patriarch had beforehand battled a number of health circumstances, including Alzheimer’s illness.
“Phil had been struggling with Alzheimer’s for a while,” Willie, 53, mentioned. “It was on our mind for sure, his condition. It’s part of life.”
He continued, “Phil had such a strong faith. He told us before, ‘Do not cry at my funeral. I know where I’m going.’”
“What a life he lived,” Willie added. “We heard that from thousands of people, the people he impacted. Phil would have wanted us to do exactly what we’re doing. Whatever is a reflection of that faith, and our show is a reflection of our faith.”
“Not overtly. We’re not trying to preach to people or convert people, but I think you can see the fruit in the faith of our show and our family and how it sticks together through good times and bad. That’s why we are on this earth. As we move on, I think it’s a reminder to all of us the time will come. I hope I have a funeral like that where people feel that way about me as well.”
Phil, who was identified with Alzheimer’s in December, handed away during the identical week that his household’s new show “Duck Dynasty: The Revival” premiered.
Though Phil didn’t take part in “Duck Dynasty: The Revival” due to his health points, the collection’ first episode included a tribute to him.
Willie Robertson shared his late father Phil’s closing message to his household before his death. Instagram
The video begins with footage of Willie studying an introduction for the show off his laptop computer to Phil, who was seen sitting in an armchair.
“So ladies and gentlemen, start your engines. Only one will earn the bandana, so let the games begin. What do you think, Phil?” Willie requested.
Phil replied by giving his son a huge thumbs-up.
The scene light to black as a photograph of Phil appeared alongside the in-memoriam tribute.
“Ah, that was awesome!” Willie was heard saying in response to his father’s gesture in the background of the tribute.
Phil Robertson died on May 25, 2025.
Willie’s spouse Korie, who joined him for the interview, advised TV Insider that the timing of Phil’s death was “a little surreal.”
“It was really special to our family that we had that one little clip,” she mentioned. “When filming this time around, he was already in the throes of Alzheimer’s, so he wasn’t able to be part of the show. We did film that one little thing where he gave Willie the thumbs up.”
“It was really special because, for our family, it felt like, ‘OK, this is his opportunity to pass on the torch to us,’” she continued. “It’s humorous to see the feedback [from fans] who are like, ‘The next generation are yuppies. They aren’t passing issues on.’
Phil was well-known for founding the Duck Commander looking company that grew to become the main focus of his A&E show. Art Streiber
“But we are passing on Phil’s legacy because his legacy was first about faith,” she mentioned. “His whole motto was faith, family, ducks, in that order. His first was faith. All our kids are living that out in really beautiful ways and family.”
“That’s what this show is about,” Korie added. “It’s about family, inner-generational family living life together and what that might look like. And then ducks. We’re still running Duck Commander, the business he started from the duck call he invented years and years ago. That has been really special to carry that legacy on now after his passing.”
Phil based Duck Commander in 1972. The “Duck Dynasty” tv show premiered 40 years later, in 2012, before it ended in 2017.
The actuality tv star died during the identical week that his household’s new show, “Duck Dynasty: The Revival,” premiered. Jason Kempin
During a latest interview with Fox News Digital, Willie and Korie defined how they have been coping after dropping Phil and how they have been touched by the outpouring of assist that they acquired from followers.
“I think it’s a combination of some sadness, just we miss him, but also joy and happiness from what he believed and where he was going and all the things he was able to accomplish in his life,” Willie mentioned. “And so many people that he helped and we were reminded of that at his passing. And just so many people just flooded us with messages of how he had helped change their life, either directly or indirectly through the show or through the podcast or books he has written.”
President Donald Trump laughs with Willie Robertson and Phil Robertson, the household patriarch, at a marketing campaign rally in Monroe, La., Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2019. AP
While Willie shared that it was “tragic” watching his father endure during his battle with Alzheimer’s, he mentioned it helped put together the household for his passing.
“You’re ready,” he mentioned. “We knew, he’s ready to move on and so yeah, it’s kind of mixed. But there was really more joy.”
“Phil pre-warned us,” he added.
“We told a lot of funny stories and just brought back all those fun memories,” Korie chimed in. “It’s a little bit the Robertson way. Even in the hard things, we laugh a lot through it.”
Phil’s spouse, Kay, beforehand spoke out about how the couple struggled during the early years of their marriage. Phil Robertson / Facebook
Korie mentioned they hoped future generations can be impressed by Phil’s dedication to his religion and how it reworked his life.
“Just in passing down that legacy — one of the things that we’ve just been reminded of over and over again is just this man who lived down on the river, didn’t own a cell phone or a computer — what God did with his life. Because he was just truly passionately sold out for Jesus,” she mentioned.
Korie continued, “And so I think for all of us, it’s brought even more of a boldness to our faith to say like, ‘Hey, we follow Jesus, and that’s who we are.’ And if you want to know more about it, come talk to us because it’s brought a full life.”
“And a changed life,” Willie added. “There would never have been a ‘Duck Dynasty’ show. There wouldn’t have been company had his life not changed. This family would not have stayed together.”
Phil’s spouse Kay, 77, has beforehand spoken out about how the couple confronted marital struggles in the early years of their union due to Phil’s alcoholism and infidelity before he dedicated to his religion.
The pair, who married in 1966, had 4 sons including Willie, Alan, 59, Jase, 55 and Jep, 47, as nicely as many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
“It’s all responsible to his faith and his life change, of he and mom together to keep this family together,” he mentioned. “And now we’re seeing so much fruit of that.”
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