As a mother of two young girls, I can completely relate to Sadie Robertson Huff and her screen-free approach for her children. It’s a delicate dance we all do as parents, trying to find that perfect balance between educational entertainment and overexposure.
For 11 seasons on A&E, until it ended in 2017, “Duck Dynasty” viewers watched Sadie Robertson Huff navigate not only the larger-than-life members of her own family — the Robertson clan, owners of the Louisiana-based hunting and recreational gear company Duck Commander — but also her own personal growth from precocious high schooler to wife, mother, and motivational speaker. The popularity of the series also allowed Robertson Huff to establish her own media presence: she appeared on Season 19 of “Dancing With the Stars” and in the faith-based features “God’s Not Dead 2” and “I’m Not Ashamed,” while lending her vocals to a duet with Alison Krauss on the chart-topping “Duck the Halls: A Robertson Family Christmas” album in 2013.
Since the conclusion of “Duck Dynasty”, Sadie Robertson Huff has continued to thrive in various arenas beyond television, including podcasting, publishing, and other media projects. She’s also encountered several personal hurdles during this time, which she’s opened up about to her expanding audience. Here’s a glimpse into what Sadie Robertson Huff has been doing since leaving “Duck Dynasty.
She got married and had two children
One major factor behind Sadie Robertson Huff not being as prominent lately, compared to her days with “Duck Dynasty,” is that she’s been preoccupied with raising a family. Since tying the knot with Christian Huff, another popular social media personality, at her parents’ residence in November 2019, they welcomed their first child, Honey James Huff, on May 11, 2021.
Approximately a year ago, Robertson Huff shared an Instagram post displaying ultrasound photos she was holding, signaling that she was expecting their second child. The caption read, “A miracle is unfolding.” Their second daughter, Haven, arrived on May 22, 2023, via C-section. Fortunately, Haven’s birth was less complicated than the difficult labor experienced by Honey James; Robertson Huff discussed her challenging firstborn’s delivery in a podcast from 2021, explaining that her daughter’s shoulder became stuck in the birth canal.
In their attempt to transfer Honey to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), doctors found that she wasn’t breathing. However, surprisingly, she began to breathe independently – as if receiving a small amount of oxygen nearby triggered this response on her own. This was recounted by Robertson Huff in her podcast (via Today.com).
She’s hosted a podcast since 2018
Despite being widely recognized for her TV roles, Sadie Robertson Huff is also an accomplished author, having published eight books, including the 2014 bestseller “Live Original” and a novel from 2016 titled “Life Just Got Real.” The popularity of these books has opened up other media ventures, such as her podcast, “WHOA That’s Good,” which started in 2018.
Robertson Huff, who is the primary host of the faith-based podcast, bases many episodes on posing a single question — what’s the best advice you’ve ever been given? — to guests like “Black Panther” star Letitia Wright, Grammy-winning gospel musician Tasha Cobbs Leonard, and “Today Show” co-host Kathie Lee Gifford. More often than not, the show has featured semi-regular reunions of the “Duck Dynasty” cast. Robertson Huff is frequently joined on episodes by her husband Christian, mom Korie, and brother John Luke, among many other members of the extended “Dynasty” clan, to discuss personal issues — including relationships, parenting and family life, and body image — from their own perspectives.
She’s written a number of books
Previously, Sadie Robertson Huff gained fame from reality TV and later became a bestselling author with her 2014 book “Live Original.” This title was inspired by the faith-based advice it offered on remaining genuine and true to one’s values. Over the subsequent eight years, this book paved the way for numerous other publications under Sadie’s expanding media and lifestyle brand.
In collaboration with Cindy Coloma, Robertson Huff authored the young adult novel “Life Just Got Real” (2016), which tells the story of two teens who are polar opposites but develop a bond through their shared religious beliefs. Subsequently, he joined forces with Beth Clark to produce “Live Fearless” in 2018 and “Live: Remain Alive, Be Alive at a Specified Time, Have an Exciting or Fulfilling Life” (also known as “Live: Live Original”) in 2020. These works further elaborated on the principles established in “Live Original.” More recently, Robertson Huff and his spouse Christian co-wrote “How to Put Love First,” a self-help book centered around a 90-day challenge that explores relationships and faith themes.
Robertson Huff has built a lifestyle brand
Just like the popular show “Duck Dynasty” opened doors for Sadie Robertson Huff in publishing, her collection of books has expanded into a multifaceted lifestyle brand. This brand includes various products and services tailored for her fanbase. The main hub for all her endeavors, Live Original, welcomes visitors to book tickets for her talks and conferences, access her podcasts and literature, and read a blog filled with tips on personal struggles, daily encouragement, and more.
Live Original not only offers an extensive selection of merchandise, mostly clothing items, but also strengthens its bond with the followers of Robertson Huff through the LO Sister app. This platform facilitates connections within community groups, delivers exclusive content, and for those who subscribe, grants access to a collection of virtual workshops and speakers associated with Live Original. Moreover, there’s LO Counseling, a service that provides faith-based individual counseling sessions with Freddie Amos, a friend of Robertson Huff, who holds a master’s degree in clinical mental health from Auburn University. However, it’s important to note that these services are only available for Louisiana residents.
Her book was optioned for TV
Sadie Robertson Huff was set to expand her career by becoming a TV producer, with plans to adapt her young adult novel “Life Just Got Real” into a scripted series. In 2021, she signed an agreement with producer Brad Krevoy to bring her book to television. Furthermore, it was announced that Robertson Huff would not only produce the series but also make occasional appearances on the show.
It appears that Robertson Huff may have struck a promising partnership with Krevoy, who previously served as co-president at Orion Pictures and has credits for movies like “Dumb and Dumber”. Krevoy is also known for producing numerous family-friendly and holiday-themed shows on networks such as Hallmark Channel, Netflix, and the Great American Channel, including “When Calls the Heart” series. However, it seems that despite Krevoy’s extensive track record, the proposed “Life Just Got Real” series never took off; any subsequent news about this series appears to be limited to the initial wave of articles from 2021.
She struggled with an eating disorder
In 2014, Sadie Robertson Huff ventured beyond her usual routines for Season 19 of “Dancing with the Stars.” During a 2020 chat with E! Online, she admitted that she put in a lot of effort to build the physical power and endurance needed for weekly competitions. Although it resulted in a second-place finish alongside partner Mark Ballas, the true struggle came afterwards.
Robertson Huff stated that after ceasing her rigorous “DWTS” exercise routine, people started making critical comments about her physical appearance. She recalled them saying things that were not encouraging regarding her looks and the need for her to keep her physique as it was. During this time, these remarks escalated as Robertson Huff was also modeling and faced pressure from the industry to shed even more pounds. She admitted that she would often look at herself in the mirror and think, “I’m overweight,” despite not being so. In 2017, Robertson Huff publicly disclosed on Instagram that she had been grappling with what she termed as “an eating disorder stemming from a negative body image for approximately a year.
Reflecting on it now, I can’t help but feel a pang of regret for letting negative thoughts diminish the stunning charm of that initial snapshot. The second image, however, truly encapsulates who I am – the gamer girl hidden behind the screen. That’s the real world for you.
Robertson Huff dealt with postpartum anxiety
Sadie Robertson Huff has openly discussed her struggles with mental health issues following complications during the birth of her daughter, Honey. On an episode of her podcast (as reported by Today.com), Robertson Huff admitted that she found herself trapped in a cycle of overwhelming postpartum anxiety.
She described her thoughts as constantly questioning the ‘What if’ scenarios, such as what would have transpired had she not arrived or not survived. This line of thinking left her wondering about her own safety and her companion’s well-being, creating a harmful cycle of doubt that she referred to as a “toxic thought spiral.
In a state of intense anxiety, Robertson Huff found it hard to share her feelings with her husband, Christian, and family. However, when he unexpectedly discovered her crying in a closet, she confessed her struggle with anxiety and sought professional help. As Robertson Huff put it, “There will be moments that trigger fearful thoughts or anxious feelings, but it’s crucial not to let these thoughts control you entirely. Instead, try to replace them with thoughts of gratitude.
She found out she had a secret aunt
People have been wondering what’s happened with the “Duck Dynasty” crew since the series ended. In 2020, both fans and family found out about an unbeknownst member of the Robertson clan: Phil Robertson, Sadie’s grandfather, had a daughter he didn’t know existed due to a challenging phase in his life. Struggling with drug addiction and infidelity during his marriage to Kay Robertson in the 1970s, Phil met Phyliss only in 2020 after a DNA test showed their genetic similarity was nearly identical (99.9%).
Robertson Huff shared with E! News that her initial meeting with Phyliss took place over lunch in 2023. She expressed, “I was just there with her, feeling astounded, saying something like, ‘This is unbelievable! I’m conversing with my aunt whom I hadn’t known for a long time, yet now you’re my father’s sister.’
Robertson Huff shared with E! News that the family had imitated their grandmother’s actions and accepted Phyliss as a cherished addition. In her words, “If grandma Kay hadn’t pardoned Phil four decades ago, there’s no way she could have welcomed Phyliss so warmly. If you’re prepared to endure the tough moments, move past that remorse, you can open your heart to experience the wonderful things.
She faced criticism over a Disney World vacation
2023 found me, Sadie Robertson Huff, amidst a small stir when my family and I visited Disney World. Some people have criticized Disney for their backing of the LGBTQ+ community and content deemed inappropriate by certain conservatives and religious groups. As a prominent figure within the faith movement, some saw our visit as going against its values.
Robertson Huff addressed criticisms about certain content on an episode of her podcast “WHOA That’s Good”. She explained that while she doesn’t endorse morally questionable themes, she also believes that one’s faith can remain intact when associating with people who deal in such content. Additionally, she mentioned that popular Disney films like “Frozen” and “Moana” have positive aspects, which she considered sufficient reason to take her two daughters – both enthusiastic Disney princess fans – to the theme park.
Robertson Huff has dabbled in acting
Most people might know Sadie Robertson Huff from her stints on “Dancing with the Stars” and “Duck Dynasty,” but she’s also branched out into acting. In addition to her roles in faith-based films like “God’s Not Dead 2” (where her father, Willie, and mom, Korie, made appearances too), she acted as the love interest for reality TV star-turned-country singer Lawson Bates in his 2017 music video “Past the Past.” That same year, she also played a similar role in Brett Eldridge’s music video for his single “The Long Way.
As a gamer, I stepped out from the virtual world to play a charming hotel staffer in the TV romance “Sun, Sand, and Romance,” alongside Tricia Helfer and Paul Campbell, once familiar faces from “Battlestar Galactica.” I couldn’t help but feel elated when I learned that I was joining the cast of the 2017 Hallmark Channel production. The cherry on top? Discovering that we were heading to Cancun, Mexico, for filming!
She also explained why she’s taken on so few acting roles. “My primary focus in life has always been to uplift and support individuals, both male and female, to embrace their true selves with confidence,” she stated. “Given that this is the cornerstone of my beliefs, if a film doesn’t align with this mission — it doesn’t promote self-improvement — then I simply can’t participate.
She managed to keep her kids almost 100% screen-free
Like all parents of very young kids, Sadie Robertson Huff and her husband, Christian, know that allowing screen time for their two daughters can be a delicate balancing act. While some screen time can be educational and entertaining, too much screen time can be detrimental to the physical and mental health of children aged 12 and under. The American Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry recommends limiting non-educational screen time for kids between the ages of 2 and 5 to 1 hour per weekday and 3 hours on weekends.
During an episode of her podcast (through Movieguide), Christian and Sadie commented that they’ve significantly reduced screen time for their kids. “I should probably say, around 90%, but closer to 95%: virtually no screens. This is a major shift for us,” said Sadie.
The action taken was triggered by observing unusual behavior in their eldest daughter, Honey. As Sadie put it, “She became irritable and edgy.” Eventually, they felt that too much screen time was influencing her behavior negatively. Once they reduced the screen time, they observed a rapid change in her demeanor. “It was delightful and rewarding,” said Sadie. “Without the screen, we had so much additional time for play… it’s been quite pleasant.
Should you or someone you’re acquainted with require assistance with eating disorders, mental health struggles, or substance abuse problems, kindly reach out to the following resources:
Visit the website of the National Eating Disorders Association or reach out to their Live Helpline at 1-800-931-2237. Alternatively, you can text “NEDA” to 741-741 for 24/7 Crisis Support via text messaging.
If you’re facing a tough time, you can reach out for help by texting ‘HOME’ to 741741, calling the National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), or exploring resources on the National Institute of Mental Health website.
You can find information on the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s official website, or you can reach out to their National Helpline by dialing 1-800-662-HELP (4357) if you need assistance.
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2024-09-07 14:30