Kay Robertson, the cherished matriarch of the "Duck Dynasty" family, is battling serious health issues following the death of her husband, Phil Robertson. The 77-year-old was noticeably absent from the June 1 premiere party for Duck Dynasty: The Revival in her hometown of Monroe, Louisiana.
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"Kay is not in the best of health," her son Willie Robertson told the USA TODAY Network, via the New York Post. "We're trying to help her out as much as we can."
Her husband, Phil, died on May 25 after a battle with Alzheimer's disease. He was 79. The couple had been married for more than 60 years.
"She's just depressed," Willie said. "She lost her partner of six decades."
Earlier Health Scare
Kay's health problems became public in April. That's when son Jase Robertson revealed on the family podcast Unashamed with the Robertson Family that she had suffered a fall. The incident resulted in an infection and hospitalization.
"We were kind of dealing with the fact that maybe this is it," Jase said. "My mom is not doing great physically. She has to have pretty much 24/7 professional healthcare."
Although Kay filmed early scenes of the Duck Dynasty reboot, she was unable to appear in later episodes due to her condition. Family members say her spirits have been lifted somewhat by regular visits from friends and relatives, dubbed "Kay's Kingdom."
"She's helping my dad's morale, and he's helping hers," Jase added in April, weeks before Phil's passing.
Faith, Family, Farewell
Phil Robertson, the founder of Duck Commander and spiritual anchor of the A&E reality series, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in December 2024. In the days after his death, Willie honored his father with a heartfelt tribute on Instagram.
"I remember Phil's many prayers on Memorial Day and all the times with my dad," he wrote. "Most of our conversations were not about hunting or business, but about sharing the Gospel. He was the Real Deal."
Willie added, "Phil, I love you and already miss you. Thank you for raising me the right way and teaching me the most important lesson to prepare me for the day you passed on. Not sure how people deal with loss without the Lord."
New 'Duck Dynasty' Moves Forward
Despite the family's personal challenges, Duck Dynasty: The Revival debuted this month with a focus on Willie, his wife Korie, their adult children -- John Luke, Sadie, Will, Bella, and Rebecca -- and a new generation of Robertsons. The original show aired from 2012 to 2017 and peaked at 11.8 million viewers.
A&E announced the reboot earlier this year, hoping to reintroduce the faith-driven, family-focused dynamic that made the Robertsons household names.
