Who is the “Golden Bachelor”? All about Jerry Turner

Jerry Turner thought he found love on ABC bachelor's degree spin-off golden bachelor.

However, in April 2024, he filed for divorce from his wife Theresa Nist, whom he had married just three months earlier.

“Teresa and I have had many heartfelt conversations, carefully considered our situation, and have come to the mutual conclusion that perhaps it is time to dissolve our marriage,” Turner said in a statement. Ta. Good morning America.

in front of golden bachelor Turner (whose first name is pronounced Gail-ee) said her two daughters encouraged her to audition after their mother, Turner's wife, passed away. Pressure can make anyone nervous, but he said: GMA “It feels great” to be the first older man to lead the show.

So who is the first Golden Bachelor?Here's everything you need to know about rising new member Jerry Turner bachelor's degree franchise.

he lives in indiana

Turner is originally from Indiana, where he lives in a “dream house on a beautiful lake,” he said. golden bachelorOfficial synopsis.

Before their split, Turner told PEOPLE that she and Nist, who is from New Jersey, were planning to move south to Charleston, South Carolina.

“One of the things that I think fate has influenced is the possibility of where we end up living,” Turner tells PEOPLE. “For the last few years, every time we get together as a family, we talk about moving to South Carolina, and it's an idea I've been thinking about. And in a private conversation with Teresa, she says, 'Well, yeah. , my son lives near Charleston, South Carolina.

He was excited about the first ever event. golden bachelor

As the first elderly man bachelor's degree The spin-off show “Turner'' set a precedent for dating men in their 70s. But the pressure didn't get to him and he remained positive about his future, saying he had “nothing to lose”.

In ABC's promo video for the show, the network teased some snippets of what viewers can expect with Turner starring.

“He posts thirst traps on leather-covered albums. His DMs come with shipping charges,” the teaser trailer revealed. He does not have gray hair, but has “highlights of wisdom.” Florida wants to retire and move on with him. ”

In an interview with PEOPLE, Turner said it didn't take much convincing to sign up for the show.

“When they sent me a text about it, I was watching ads throughout the show. In the back of my mind, I thought, 'That would be quite an experience.' That would be a lot of fun,” he said. “So when they hit it hard on me one night, they probably didn't have to push as hard as they thought they would. I went back and forth, but I'm really glad I answered.”

He is a retired restaurateur with many hobbies

Before becoming a reality TV star, Turner was a restaurateur, but is now retired. He also has many hobbies that he enjoys sharing with Nist, such as pickleball and golf.

The official description reads: “He hosts barbecues, plays pickleball, cheers on his favorite Chicago sports teams, rides his four-wheel drive, and spends time with friends and family at restaurants and local hangouts. “I'm often busy spending time with others.”

he was previously married

Turner married his high school sweetheart, Toni, in 1974. The pair lived a “full and happy life” until Toni's sudden death in 2017, six weeks after he retired and became ill.

“She got robbed. That's what I think about every day,” Turner said. GMA. “I have a picture of her hanging on a dresser in my closet. Every morning I nod to her and say, 'So, what do you think about this?' For a while, I wonder if she's okay. It seemed like they were having a hard time doing that, but we always hope that when one of us goes, the other one will be there cheering us on. [for me]. She says, “Yes, Jerry.” Do this. '''

He told PEOPLE in September 2023 that after her death, he sold the lake house they had planned to retire to and sought grief counseling, which he said was “life-changing.”

“After about three years, I wasn't sure if I was on track. I wasn't sure if I was repairing properly,” Turner admitted. “I remember having two sessions with a counselor, and he said, 'You're going to be okay.' You just have to give yourself credit for being okay.” Around that time, I started thinking about counseling. has changed. This is something I would recommend to anyone who has had a loss and feels like they are not recovering from it quickly enough or in a healthy way. ”

he has two daughters and two granddaughters

Turner raised two daughters, Angie and Jenny, with his late wife. He also has his two granddaughters, Charlie and Peyton.

Turner's daughters encouraged him to join the show and were cheering him on when he was selected for the first show. golden bachelor.

“They started screaming and everyone gathered around,” he said. GMA My daughter's reaction to the news.

bachelor's degree Host Jesse Palmer told Turner the good news via video call. Ms Turner's daughters and grandchildren also joined in on the call, with Angie telling Mr Palmer: “One of the 25 women will be super lucky…They will be happy and say, “Yes, we crossed the line!'' Ta. ”

Angie, Jenny, and Charlie's input meant everything to Turner moving forward with the process, and when he saw how pleased the family was with choosing her, he knew Nist was the right choice. He described the moment he saw Nist as the winner as “very magical.”

“Because of the way the sun looked and the walk that Teresa had to take, she remained in silhouette for a very long time. And my daughters say to me, 'Please do Teresa.' Please do it Teresa,” Turner told People. “And when the light came on enough to see that it was her, they were overjoyed. They were in tears. They were excited.”

He further added: “I am very pleased that their response is such, as I rely heavily on them to strengthen the decisions that I have taken in the interim.” .

He had a date deal breaker

While chatting with PEOPLE in October 2023, Turner shared two deal violations. “I don't want to date someone who smokes,” he said, adding that he would hesitate in a relationship where geography would be a “significant obstacle.”

But Turner added that he is “trying hard to keep an open mind” in the face of red flags.

“Something may seem like a red flag on the surface, but if you dig a little deeper, you might find that it's not a problem at all,” he explained.

He and Nist got married on live TV.

Following the finale, golden bachelorTurner and Nist announced they were getting married during a live event on ABC.

The lavish wedding took place on January 4, 2024 at the La Quinta Resort & Club in La Quinta, California. Ms. Nist, who walked down the aisle with her son Tom, wore a Badgley Mischka dress, while Ms. Turner wore a classic black tuxedo.

“From the first sip of your chocolate shake to the last taste of your Costa Rican coffee, I knew you were the woman I couldn't live without,” Turner told Nist at the altar. the feel of your hands. I found that you made me laugh with your light-hearted consolation of long-lost friends. ”

He and Nist announced their breakup in April 2024.

In a joint interview aired on Good morning, America, Nist and Turner announced their decision to “dissolve” their marriage. The couple hinted that moving away from their families in Indiana and New Jersey was a major factor in their decision to separate.

“We feel that it is best for our respective happiness to live apart,'' Turned said. “I still love this person. There is nothing in my heart. There's no doubt about it,” he added.

He officially filed for divorce from Nist on April 12, 2024.