Just one year after his highly publicized split from Theresa Nist, The Golden Bachelor star Gerry Turner is giving love another chance. The 74-year-old reality TV personality confirmed that he is officially engaged to Lana Sutton, a retired teacher he began dating earlier this year.
Gerry Turner Finds Love Again
Turner announced the happy news on Instagram on October 3, sharing photos of himself and Sutton enjoying a beachside moment together. The post featured Sutton proudly displaying her sparkling diamond engagement ring.
“We’ve got BIG news,” Turner wrote. “The Golden Bachelor is OFF the market. I found my perfect match and she said ‘YES.’ I love this woman.”
The couple first went public in April 2025, nearly a year after Turner’s divorce from Theresa Nist, whom he married during a televised ceremony in January 2024.
Lana Sutton Shares Her Excitement
Sutton, who spent decades working as a schoolteacher before retirement, shared her own heartfelt announcement.
“BIG announcement… we’re ENGAGED!” she posted. “The Golden Bachelor led me to the man of my dreams—Gerry Turner! I love you, Babe, more than I ever thought possible! We are perfect together, and I am so proud of us as a couple.”
The pair reportedly bonded after reconnecting on Facebook and discovering that they grew up just 20 minutes apart in Indiana.
From Heartbreak to Happiness
Turner’s new relationship comes after a difficult chapter in his love life. His marriage to Theresa Nist ended only three months after their televised wedding, citing differences in where they wanted to live. Turner resides in Indiana, while Nist is based in New Jersey.
At the time, Turner admitted the breakup was mutual: “We’ve looked closely at our situation and have come to the conclusion it’s best for both of us to live apart.”
Despite the heartbreak, Turner revealed on the Bachelor Happy Hour podcast in April 2025 that he had started dating again. “I am dating someone, and it’s going well,” he said cautiously, not wanting to “jinx” the new romance. That “someone” turned out to be Sutton.
Theresa Nist Supports His New Chapter
Interestingly, Nist has been supportive of Turner’s new relationship. Speaking to Us Weekly in April, she described Sutton as “phenomenal” and admitted the pairing seemed like a healthy, loving match.
“He needed somebody in his life that he wanted to love again,” Nist explained. “They talked about really important things, including his health, and she is all in. From what I can tell, it’s a great relationship.”
Bachelor Nation’s Ongoing Love Stories
Turner’s engagement is the latest in a long line of Bachelor Nation relationship updates. Other notable headlines include:
- Spencer Conley and Jess Edwards — The Bachelor in Paradise season 10 couple recently got engaged and left the show with a $190,000 prize.
- Andrew Spencer and Alexe Godin — Still dating after Paradise, the pair are making plans to live together in Chicago.
- Joan Vassos and Chock Chapple — The Golden Bachelorette star is engaged after a romantic proposal in Bora Bora.
- Zach Shallcross and Kaity Biggar — Married in May 2025 in an intimate chapel ceremony.
- Charity Lawson and Dotun Olubeko — Still engaged, with wedding plans set for 2025 or 2026.
On the other side, several high-profile couples, such as Grant Ellis and Juliana Pasquarosa, as well as Jenn Tran and Devin Strader, have recently split, proving that not every Bachelor Nation romance ends in happily ever after.
A Bright Future Ahead
For Turner and Sutton, however, things appear to be moving toward forever. With Sutton already declaring her love and Turner calling her his “perfect match,” fans of The Golden Bachelor are thrilled to see the widower find joy again after years of searching for lasting companionship.
The couple has not yet revealed wedding details, but their engagement marks a hopeful new chapter for one of Bachelor Nation’s most recognizable stars.
