Gerry Turner, the Former Golden Bachelor, Announces Engagement to Lana Sutton
Gerry Turner, the star of the inaugural season of "The Golden Bachelor," is engaged to his girlfriend, Lana Sutton. The 73-year-old reality star shared the news on Instagram, showcasing photos of the couple and Sutton's engagement ring. This announcement comes 15 months after Turner finalized his divorce from Theresa Nist, whom he married after meeting on the show.
The Instagram Announcement
Turner's Instagram post featured several images of the couple, including one on the beach where Sutton prominently displayed her diamond ring. "We've got BIG news. The Golden Bachelor is OFF the market. I found my perfect match and she said ‘YES,’" Turner wrote. "I Love this woman." The ring appears to feature a round-cut diamond with a diamond-encrusted band.
How They Met
Turner revealed that he and Sutton connected on Facebook. After initially ignoring her friend request and initial message, he responded to a second message where she mentioned growing up near his hometown in Indiana. Their first date was in March, and Sutton has since met Turner's family.
A Whirlwind Romance
Since confirming their relationship in April, Turner and Sutton have been sharing their adventures on social media. They've traveled extensively, including trips to Charleston, SC, St. Louis, Indianapolis, London (to attend Wimbledon), Paris, and Niagara Falls on the Canadian side. Sutton posted about their Niagara Falls trip, saying, “Had a wonderful trip to Niagara Falls on the Canada side! Loved every moment with @goldengerryturner! Oh Canada.” Turner had told PEOPLE that they were going to a new city “pretty much every weekend".
Divorce from Theresa Nist
Turner's engagement to Sutton follows his divorce from Theresa Nist, which was finalized in June 2024, just three months after their televised wedding in January 2024. The couple announced their split in April 2024. The marital settlement agreement stated that both Turner and Nist were entitled to their "sole and separate property," including housing and bank accounts.
Turner's Cancer Diagnosis
After his divorce from Nist, Turner revealed that he had been diagnosed with bone marrow cancer. He discovered the condition after suffering a shoulder injury playing pickleball, which led him to an oncologist. “Unfortunately, there’s no cure for it. So that weighs heavily in every decision I make,” Turner said. Nist, however, claimed that Turner's diagnosis had "zero factor" in their split.
Nist's Perspective on the Divorce
Theresa Nist reflected on her brief marriage to Gerry Turner. "You really can't know somebody in four weeks," Nist said, implying the short courtship period may have contributed to their split. She also clarified that their divorce wasn't solely based on location, as they lived in different states.
