Gerry Turner, lead of “The Golden Bachelor” season 1, announced his engagement on Friday, October 3rd via Instagram. Turner proposed to girlfriend Lana Sutton with the caption, We’ve got BIG news. The Golden Bachelor is OFF the market. I found my perfect match and she said ‘YES.’ I Love this woman.”
Gerry Turner’s ‘Golden Bachelor’ Journey
Turner was the first man selected to lead “The Bachelor’s” newest spin-off, “The Golden Bachelor.” A 73-year-old grandfather, Turner was looking for love after his wife tragically passed away. The two had been together since high school and married for 43 years.
22 women ages 60 and over vied for Turner’s love on the ABC reality show. Former “Bachelor” lead Matt James’s mom, Patty, was one of those women. Another contestant, Joan Vassos, left the show early due to a family emergency. She later became the lead of “The Golden Bachelorette” season 1.
Luckily, Turner was able to open his heart up to love once again. At the end of the season, he proposed to Theresa Nist, a financial services professional. She said yes, and the two left the show happily engaged.
Their wedding aired live a few months after “The Golden Bachelor” season 1 finale. Various “Bachelor” Nation stars were in attendance, including Kaitlyn Bristowe, Tayshia Adams, Michelle Young, and “Bachelor In Paradise” bartender Wells Adams, according to E! News.
Unfortunately, Turner and Nist’s relationship wasn’t destined to last. They got divorced just three months after their wedding. On Good Morning America, the couple said they hadn’t fallen out of love. However, on the Almost Famous podcast, Nist admitted, “You really can’t know somebody in four weeks. I’ll just say that.”
Gerry Turner’s Dating Life Post-Bachelor
Nist wasn’t the only “Golden Bachelor” contestant Turner dated after filming wrapped; he dated Christina Kempton after divorcing Nist. Kempton had been eliminated in week 3. She and Turner dated for about six months before ending the relationship.
Turner started dating Sutton in March 2025, according to TMZ. Turner told the TMZ staff that he and Sutton met in an interesting way: Facebook. Sutton sent him a friend request, which he accepted. He ignored her first message, but when she later said she grew up in an Indiana town nearby Turner, he knew he had to respond.
The two have been together ever since, and have posted their travel excursions on Instagram. They’ve met each others’ children and enjoy playing pickleball together. Turner previously didn’t believe in love at first sight, but Sutton changed his view on that.
Various “Golden Bachelor” contestants have congratulated the happy couple on Instagram, including Kathy Swarts, who wrote “Congrats Gerry! All the best!” Nancy Hulkower also left a comment, saying, “Wishing you all the best!!”
