Is Paula Deen Still Married?
When you think of Paula Deen, there's a good chance that one of two things probably come to mind — butter and the controversy surrounding her use of a racial slur. Fans of — or those who are simply curious about — the Southern TV chef might not know all that much about Deen's personal life. She has two sons, Jamie and Bobby, who have culinary careers of their own and occasionally show up on Deen's current show, Positively Paula.
How about Paula Deen's husband, though? The Food Network did broadcast her wedding way back in 2004, but that was quite some time ago. Is she still with the guy or did the divorce rumors turn out to be true?
Paula Deen has been married to Michael Groover since 2004
Spoiler alert: Paula Deen has been married for 15 years, y'all! Deen tied the knot with her second husband Michael Groover in 2004 at Bethesda Academy in Savannah, Georgia (via Delish). Deen first got married at the young age of 18, and the marriage produced two sons, but it ultimately ended after 24 years.
Deen's current husband, Michael Groover, is a tugboat captain in Deen's adopted hometown of Savannah, and the pair were reportedly neighbors at the time of their meeting. Deen's dogs wandered into Groover's yard, the pair met, and the rest is history. The couple has celebrated their union a few times over the years. First, in 2012, the pair celebrated with a party complete with Southern food like pickled okra sandwiches and crab-stuffed shrimp. Most recently, the couple shared a photo with fans on Facebook marking their 15th anniversary. A photo caption of the couple read, "Happy anniversary to my handsome hubby! I can't believe it has been 15 beautiful years. I guess time flies when you're havin' fun!"
As for the "fun" Deen mentioned, Groover shared on Deen's podcast that the pair love to travel and catch the occasional concert. Groover is a self-professed Allman Brothers fan, and attending one of the group's concerts was one of Deen and Groover's first dates. Deen said that she surprised Groover with the show, and recalled how his eyes really lit up.
When Deen gifted Groover the deed to their house, there were rumors of divorce, but those turned out to be nothing more than tabloid gossip (via Page Six). Judging from a recent Instagram photo of the two fishing, the pair seem to be pretty happy simply enjoying each other's company.