Gerry Turner, the beloved 73-year-old star of The Golden Bachelor, is officially off the market. Turner and his girlfriend, Lana Sutton, are engaged, and the announcement has fans buzzing. The couple shared the big news on Instagram Friday, October 3, with a series of selfies showcasing Sutton’s dazzling engagement ring. “We’ve got BIG news,” Turner wrote alongside the photos. “The Golden Bachelor is OFF the market. I found my perfect match and she said ‘YES.’ I love this woman.”
Fans flooded the comments, sending love and congratulations. One admirer wrote, “👏👏 So happy for both of you. Very good choice Gerry😍,” while another gushed, “Congratulations! You look very happy together! That’s some bling she has on her ring finger 👏💍.”
How the Romance Started
Turner revealed Lana Sutton’s identity earlier this year in a TMZ interview, sharing that their love story started in the most modern way: via Instagram DMs. Sutton slid into Turner’s inbox first, but the connection almost fizzled before it even began. He admitted he ignored her initial message. Luckily, Sutton didn’t give up. She followed up and shared that she grew up in a small Indiana town just 20 minutes from Turner. That proximity sparked his interest, and the two quickly hit it off.
“We’ve been together every weekend,” Turner told People in April. “She’s retired, so she’s not tied down. On a moment’s notice, she could come here or if I go there. There’s no encumbrances with work, so there’s just an awful lot of pluses that are helping us along.” The freedom to spend uninterrupted time together seems to have been a game-changer for the couple.
Before publicly naming Sutton as his girlfriend, Turner had teased his budding romance on the “Bachelor Happy Hour” podcast in April. He admitted he was dating again, nearly a year after finalizing his divorce from Theresa Nist.
Moving On After Divorce
Turner’s whirlwind journey to love has been far from conventional. He met his previous wife, Theresa Nist, on The Golden Bachelor’s first season. They got engaged in November 2023 and married just a couple of months later in January 2024. By April, Turner had filed for divorce.
“I am dating someone,” Turner told the podcast audience at the time. “I think at this point it’s going well. But I don’t want to say too much and jinx it. I’m trying to respectfully get to a point where there’s an acceptable amount of time from my divorce. Maybe that’s an old-fashioned thought—maybe it doesn’t matter as much as I think it does—but to be respectful, I kind of want to slow roll this.”
Turner described the instant connection he felt with Sutton, explaining it was love at first look. “I hate to say it because I know I’m going to get baseballs thrown at me. It was almost the first time I saw her. It was the look that she gave me,” he said. “It was like, all of a sudden, I was consumed by this look, and I had this actual physical feeling. And I pushed it off. I go, ‘That was silly, that’s ridiculous.’ And with every encounter, that feeling has instantly come back with her look, and it’s like, ‘Damn, this is pretty awesome.’”
Theresa Nist Reacts Gracefully
Despite the public nature of Turner’s new romance, his ex-wife, Theresa Nist, 72, has been supportive. She said in April that Turner informed her about his relationship with Sutton before going public.
“He said, ‘I just wanna let you know I met someone,’” Nist shared. “I said, ‘That’s wonderful. I’m so happy for you.’ He goes, ‘I was afraid to tell you.’ ‘Why would you be afraid? I only want your happiness.’” Nist added that the turn of events seemed almost meant to be. “If this was the way it happened for him to find his person—to go on the show, get married, and then find his person this way—then it was meant to be.”
Love That Overcame Distance
The Turner-Sutton connection has thrived on flexibility and shared freedom. Lana’s retirement has allowed the couple to spend every weekend together without scheduling conflicts. Turner says this has been crucial in building a strong bond. “We just enjoy being together without pressure,” he said. “It’s the kind of relationship that feels easy and right.”
Their story also shows persistence pays off. Sutton’s determination to reach out again after Turner ignored her first message proved to be the spark that ignited their romance. In a world where instant connections often fizzle out, their relationship blossomed because neither was willing to let it go.
A Public Romance That Feels Private
Even as their love story unfolds in public, Turner and Sutton have found ways to keep their connection personal. They spend weekends together, taking time for each other away from media attention. Turner explained that having no work obligations makes it easier to focus on the relationship, creating what he called “an awful lot of pluses.”
For Turner, it seems timing and patience were key. He allowed himself space to grieve his previous marriage, honor the process of moving on, and then fully embrace this new love. Fans have watched this chapter unfold with fascination, from his initial Instagram tease to the final engagement announcement.
Engagement Ring and Future Plans
Sutton’s engagement ring is already turning heads online. Fans admired its sparkle and shared their excitement for the couple’s next chapter. Turner expressed deep admiration and love for Sutton in his Instagram post, calling her his “perfect match.” The ring seems to symbolize more than just commitment; it reflects a love that survived missed messages, long weekends apart, and the ups and downs of starting fresh later in life.
While exact wedding plans have not been revealed, fans are eager to see how Turner and Sutton will celebrate their engagement. Social media reactions suggest supporters are rooting for a beautiful ceremony filled with joy and laughter.
The Golden Bachelor Finds True Love
Gerry Turner’s journey from TV romance to real-life engagement has captivated audiences. His story reminds fans that love can come at any age and in unexpected ways. From meeting on Instagram to weekends filled with shared moments, Turner and Sutton have built a connection that feels both spontaneous and deeply grounded.
The Golden Bachelor star now has a second chance at love and appears to be making the most of it. With Sutton by his side, Turner seems happier than ever, ready to embrace a new chapter filled with romance, adventure, and commitment.
As fans continue to celebrate the engagement, one thing is clear: Gerry Turner has finally found the partner who truly complements him. From the early DM that almost went unnoticed to the sparkling ring that now shines on Sutton’s finger, this story is proof that love can arrive when you least expect it—but often when you need it most.
