'Pioneer Woman' Ree Drummond's Humiliation Exposed: The Affair That Tore Her Family Apart!
Jan. 4 2018, Published 9:57 a.m. ET
Ree Drummond has no problem inviting cameras into her Oklahoma ranch to document her family life for her hit show, The Pioneer Woman. But before her life was picture-perfect on the small screen, RadarOnline.com has learned the TV chef was once at the center of a dirty affair that resulted in a nasty divorce.
RadarOnline.com obtained the bombshell divorce documents confirming Drummond's parents, Gerre and William Smith, divorced in 1997 after 33 years of marriage. An insider confirmed to RadarOnline.com the real reason for the divorce: Drummond's mother was having an affair with the family's church rector!
"It was at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Bartlesville," the insider confirmed to RadarOnline.com.
The rector's name is Doug Schwert, who at the time of the affair, was also married. Shortly after the affair was exposed, the insider confirmed to RadarOnline.com that Drummond's mom divorced Smith and moved out of state to marry Schwert.
The Schwerts are still married today and currently live together in Signal Mountain, Tennessee.
According to the insider, the embarrassing scandal not only tore Drummond's family apart, but it also ruined the family's reputation in Bartlesville, where the TV star grew up.
"Oh, they were a big family," the source said of the Smiths in the 90s. "Ree's dad was a surgeon – I believe he still is – and Gerre was very well liked and active in the community."
Drummond was 28 at the time of her parents' divorce, and just a few months prior had tied the knot to her cowboy hubby, Ladd. Drummond spent what was supposed to be a blissful time as a newlywed watching her parents duke it out in court.
According to court documents, Drummond's dad did not want out of the marriage.
"The defendant desires to continue to live in a loving and supportive marriage with the plaintiff," William Smith's response stated.
William ultimately caved. According to court docs, the divorce was finalized on March 7, 1997. Although it was 20 years ago, the insider admitted the affair is still talked about today in Bartlesville.
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"If it was my family, I'd still think it was shocking!" the insider said.
As RadarOnline.com previously reported, Drummond has other scandals in her past. In her 2011 memoir, she said she was dating someone else when she met her now-husband. She was also accused of making racist jokes on her show and in a deleted blog post.
Are you surprised by Drummond's family scandal? Sound off in the comments!
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