Golden Bachelor's Theresa Nist Reveals What Gerry Turner Told Her About New Romance

Theresa Nist is glad to see Gerry Turner in paradise.

After the Golden Bachelor star debuted his new relationship with a woman named Lana, Theresa, whose divorce from Gerry was finalized last year, shared her thoughts on his "really cute" romance. 

"I felt that sense that he really needed somebody in his life that he wanted to love again," the 71-year-old told Us Weekly in an interview published April 29. "He had a lot of love to give. I think he dove into this really quickly, but I think it's a great relationship from what I can tell."

"She's phenomenal," Theresa continued. "They talked about really important things, his cancer. And she is all on board and she's like, 'Whatever years I have with you are perfect.' They've talked really long-term."

She revealed that with the guidance of The Golden Bachelor alums Joan Vassos (who went on to become The Golden Bachelorette) and Leslie Fhima, Gerry shared the news with her before it went public.

"He said, 'I just wanna let you know I met someone,'" Theresa recalled of their phone call. "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.' 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."

Although Theresa and Gerry—who revealed in December he had been diagnosed with an incurable bone marrow cancer—announced their split in April 2024 after only three months of marriage, the finance services professional believes their story played out as it was supposed to.

"I don't like to regret anything," she reflected, although, she admitted, "We probably should have waited. That would've been the right thing to do."

Nonetheless, Theresa—who shares kids Jen, 40, and Tommy, 47, with her late husband William "Billy" Nist—wished Gerry, 77, all the best in his new relationship. She noted, "I want him to live a long, healthy, prosperous, wonderful life. I'm rooting for him."

Meanwhile, Gerry—dad to daughters Jenny, 50, and Angie, 42, with his late wife Toni Turner—shared more insight into his new romance with the retired teacher, who grew up just 20 minutes from him in Indiana.

"I think at this point it's going well," he said on the Bachelor Happy Hour podcast earlier this month. "I think the fun part there is she has daughters that I really relate to, and she relates well to my daughters. So we've been around each other briefly. It's been fun. It's been a very enjoyable encounter."

Want more updates on Bachelor Nation couples? Read on to see who's kept their rose close to their chest.