Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertson, a father of four boys, has just discovered he’s a father of five – thanks to a DNA test which has led to the discovery of a long lost daughter.
The 74-year-old patriarch admitted on Thursday that he recently learned he has a 45-year-old daughter from an affair he had in the Seventies, well after marrying his wife Kay in 1966. The pair are still married.
On his Unashamed podcast, the outwardly religious Robertson discussed the novel turn of events with his sons Jep, 42, Willie, 48, Jase, 50, and Al, 54, the last of whom explained that he had received a bombshell letter that started it all.
Bombshell: Duck Dynasty patriarch admitted on Thursday that he recently learned he has a 45-year-old daughter from an affair he had in the 70s, well after marrying his wife Kay in 1966; the pair seen here in New York in 2013
‘As it turns out’: Phil Robertson of Duck Dynasty fame has discovered a long lost daughter, as seen on his Unashamed podcast on Thursday
‘Basically, it was from a woman who said that by a DNA search, she thinks that [our] Dad might be her dad,’ Al, 54, said, identifying the 45-year-old woman by the name of Phyliss.
Al also said that he had at first ‘dismissed’ the letter as a wild claim, but Jase, 50, had also received a letter from the woman, claiming to be his sister.
‘We both concluded, this is not one of those frivolous things we’ve got,’ Jase said.
‘I started thinking, there’s a 45-year-old woman out there who doesn’t know who her dad is, and she’s looking,’ Al agreed. ‘And I thought, even if it’s not dad, she needs to know it’s not dad.’
Former philanderer: When Phil – who’s admitted to his philandering ways before devoting himself to the church – commented on the matter, mentions of God weren’t far behind
‘We know that in all things – in all things – even sin, God works for the good of those who love him who have been called according to his purpose,’ he said; seen here in 2017
And when Phil – who’s admitted in the past to his philandering ways before devoting himself to the church – commented on the matter, mentions of God were not far behind.
‘We know that in all things – in all things – even sin, God works for the good of those who love him who have been called according to his purpose,’ he said, in a paraphrase from the bible.
And when Phil agreed to take a DNA test, it was a ‘99.9 percent match,’ according to Al.
They’ve got a sister: The Robertsons’ story is just one of many accounts of long-lost family members coming to the fore thanks to the newfound trend of genetic and DNA research, with companies like 23andMe
The Robertsons’ story is just one of many accounts of long-lost family members coming to the fore thanks to the newfound trend of genetic and DNA research, with companies like 23andMe.
‘It’s a pretty cool explanation of redemption, reconciliation, love,’ Robertson said. ‘As it turns out, 45 years, you have a daughter that you don’t know about, and she has a father she doesn’t know about. 45 years that doesn’t sound like very long but you say, that’s a while. So finally, after all those years, we come together.’
The professional duck hunter added that his family has already met his daughter Phylliss, and that fans will get to hear her side of things on an upcoming episode of his Unashamed podcast.
Growing family: Phil said his family has already met his daughter Phylliss, and that fans will get to hear her side of things on an upcoming podcast episode; Phil (right) seen here in 2013 with (from right) brother Si, wife Kay, son Jase, daughter-in-law Korie, and son Willie Robertson
‘It was super awesome, I was so excited,’ Jep said of finding out he has a big sister.
He added that he had always wished he had a sister while growing up as the baby brother in a family of boys.
‘It was like a dream come true.’
It should be noted that Phil’s daughter, Phyliss, most probably was named for him.
No information was readily available on Phyliss’s mother.