For years, Korie Robertson stood strong beside her husband Willie as the Duck Dynasty family became one of the most beloved households in America. But behind the scenes, as Phil Robertson’s health quietly declined, the family was walking through one of its hardest seasons—one marked by prayer, pain, and ultimately, peace.
Now, for the first time since Phil’s passing at the age of 79, Korie is breaking her silence in an emotional and exclusive revelation. She shares the private battles the family faced in those final weeks—and one tender moment with Phil that none of them will ever forget.
“We were trying to stay strong,” she said softly. “For him. For each other. But inside, we were breaking.”
Korie revealed that in the last month of Phil’s life, the decline was faster than any of them expected. “One day he was sitting on the porch quoting Scripture, and a week later, he was sleeping more than he was talking.”
Still, Phil never lost his sense of peace. “He told us, ‘Don’t be sad for me. This body’s just a tent—I’m heading home.’ But for the rest of us, letting go was harder than we ever imagined.”
What followed were weeks filled with hushed prayers, long nights, and quiet moments with Phil as the family gathered at his side. Korie described how even in pain, he remained focused on others.
“He made sure Miss Kay had her hand in his. He told each grandchild he loved them. And he looked Willie in the eyes and said, ‘Lead with courage. Don’t soften the truth.’ Even at the end, he was still leading.”
But there was one moment Korie had never shared before—until now.
“It was just me and him,” she said. “Everyone else had stepped out of the room for a few minutes. I sat down beside him, thinking he was asleep. But he opened his eyes, and he smiled. And in the faintest voice, he said, ‘Thank you for loving my boy. You gave him a soft place to land.’”
Tears filled Korie’s eyes as she recalled it. “That was Phil. Rough around the edges, but tender where it mattered most. I’ll carry that moment for the rest of my life.”
Phil passed peacefully that evening, surrounded by the family he had led in faith, love, and truth for decades. The house was quiet. The fire was crackling. Miss Kay held his hand until his last breath.
“We didn’t lose him,” Korie said. “We released him. Back to the God he walked with every day of his life.”
In the weeks since, the family has leaned heavily on one another—and on their faith. They’ve shared laughter through tears, remembering Phil’s stories, his wisdom, and his favorite Bible verses. And while the grief still comes in waves, so does the gratitude.
“I think Phil would want people to know it’s okay to grieve, but it’s not the end,” Korie said. “He’d want you to know Jesus. That’s what mattered to him most.”
The world may have known Phil Robertson as a reality TV icon. But to Korie, and to those who knew him best, he was something more: a man of deep conviction, surprising tenderness, and unwavering purpose.
And in his final days, that purpose never wavered.