Gerry Turner, the first-ever “The Golden Bachelor,” is getting deeply personal in his memoir, “Golden Years: What I’ve Learned From Love, Loss, and Reality TV.” In an excerpt from his book (via TMZ), Turner opens up about one of the darkest times in his life, revealing how he struggled to find a reason to keep going in the aftermath of his divorce from Theresa Nist.
The 74 year old, who proposed to Nist on “The Golden Bachelor,” details how tough it was to move past the backlash of their divorce following just three months of marriage, and how he thankfully found his way to move forward.
Gerry Turner Reflects on His Darkest Days After Split From Theresa Nist
GettyGerry Turner revealed that he questioned whether life was worth continuing amid the public scrutiny and backlash following his split from his wife, Theresa Nist. In his new memoir, “Golden Years: What I’ve Learned From Love, Loss, and Reality TV,” Turner admits he had thoughts of suicide during that painful time in his life.
“One night, while I was lying in bed and staring at the ceiling, it all became too much, and for the briefest moment, I thought about putting a gun to my head,” he wrote in his book.
Turner shared that he usually has a “marathon mentality” when it comes to overcoming negativity and said he’d “never been the depressed type,” but admitted this backlash felt completely different.
The reality star began thinking of his two daughters at that time, which made him realize that he could not lose his sense of purpose. Instead, he contemplated moving away, sharing, “I dreamed of renting a room in some remote part of Alaska no one had ever heard of and not coming out for a month.”
Turner was named the first “The Golden Bachelor,” which premiered in September 2023. He ended up choosing Nist and proposing to her in his finale. The pair wed in a televised special on Jan. 4, 2024, but announced their divorce just three months later while appearing together on “Good Morning America.”
Turner Is Engaged to Lana Sutton
Turner has moved on from his short-lived marriage to Nist and is now engaged to his girlfriend, Lana Sutton. The couple shared the happy news in October, just 15 months after his divorce from Nist.
Sharing a few selfies on Instagram, with Sutton showcasing her diamond ring, Turner’s caption read, “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.”
Speaking on an episode of the “Bachelor Happy Hour: Golden Hour” podcast, Turner shared that he wanted Sutton’s ring to mimic that of the Eiffel Tower, after the couple had gone on a European vacation that summer.
“We went to London and Paris, and I saw the Eiffel Tower. And it was spectacular that night. We woke up, you know, put those shades up, and there it was sparkling in front of us,” he said. “I want the side of Lana’s engagement ring to look like the Eiffel Tower.”
The pair went on another trip in the U.S., where Turner popped the question in their hotel room during a stop in Asheville, North Carolina. “He did like a little magic trick,” Sutton detailed. “There were some questions that he kind of guessed my thoughts. And then there was another piece of paper that said, ‘Will you marry me?'”
Turner’s memoir is out now.
