Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · August 8, 2025 · Entertainment

Ree Drummond's Secret to a Thriving Marriage: Long Drives and Deep Conversations

Food Network star Ree Drummond has opened up about the secret to her nearly 30-year marriage to Ladd Drummond; pictured in 2017

PIONEER WOMAN REVEALS SECRET TO HER 29-YEAR MARRIAGE: LONG DRIVES IN THE PICKUP TRUCK!

Get ready for a dose of marital bliss and a peek into the private life of food network star Ree Drummond, who's been married to her cowboy husband Ladd Drummond for a whopping 29 years. The couple will be celebrating their silver anniversary in September, and we can't help but wonder what secrets they've uncovered over the decades.

In her latest blog post on Pioneer Woman, Ree spills the beans on the secret to her enduring marriage, and it's not what you'd expect. Gone are the romantic candlelit dinners or luxurious spa days; instead, this power couple prefers a more low-key approach to date night: long drives in their pickup truck!

In her latest Pioneer Woman blog post, the mother-of-four revealed that the couple's favorite date night activity is a long drive in her pickup truck

"At the risk of sounding like an old married couple," Ree confesses, "we love to take drives together." And it's not just about the scenery - although those Oklahoma sunsets must be breathtaking. No, this is about connection and quality time with each other.

Ree explains that there's something magical about the peace and quiet of their pickup truck, where they can tune out the world and focus solely on each other. "No laptops, devices, TVs...it's such a great time to catch up," she gushes. It's like a digital detox, minus the detox part!

So, where do they go? Well, that's the best part! Ree says it's different every time, but they often stick to the county roads, checking on fences and cattle or stopping at convenience stores for a Dr Pepper (because priorities, folks!). Sometimes Ladd will take the wheel and drive into a pasture to show Ree some hidden gem of a creek or a particularly impressive cow fence.

'At the risk of sounding like an old married couple, we love to take drives together,' the redhead beauty shared

But what's even more surprising is that this couple doesn't need a fancy vacation home to feel connected. In fact, as empty nesters, they already have plenty of time alone at home - but there's something special about the pickup truck that sparks meaningful conversations. It's like their own personal "happy place."

Of course, we can't help but wonder what's next for this lovable couple. With four kids and a new grandbaby on the scene (Sofia, Alex's adorable daughter born in December 2024), life must be busy - but Ree seems to be embracing every stage of her journey.

In fact, she wrote about becoming a grandmother just months ago: "My sweet little pookie head granddaughter Sofia was born ten days ago...I thought it would be the perfect time to show you some of my favorite snapshots of the first week-and-a-half of her life." We can only imagine how thrilled Ree must have been to welcome that precious bundle of joy into her family!

The husband and wife are parents to four kids - Alex, 28, Paige, 25, Bryson, 22, and Todd, 21. And they welcomed their first grandchild, Alex's daughter Sofia, in December 2024

And did you know that Ree and Ladd also fostered a son named Jamar back in 2018? It just goes to show that this couple is all about spreading love and connection - whether it's with their own children, each other, or even the occasional foster child.

So what can we learn from Ree Drummond's marriage secrets? It seems that sometimes, the most romantic gesture of all is simply taking time for each other in a quiet moment. Whether you're driving through the countryside or just enjoying a peaceful evening at home, remember: connection and quality time are the keys to a happy marriage.

Sources:

The TV personality and her husband, both 56, will celebrate their 29th wedding anniversary in September; pictured at their 1996 wedding in a 2020 Instagram post

  • Pioneer Woman blog post by Ree Drummond (Kelsey Hurwitz)
  • Frontier Follies: Adventures in Marriage and Motherhood in the Middle of Nowhere (Ree Drummond's 2020 book)

Originally published on TheScholarlyNote.com