Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond has built an empire around wholesome family values and down-home cooking.
But even her biggest fans might be surprised by just how refreshingly normal her marriage really is behind the cameras.
And Ree Drummond shared one date night tradition with her husband that proves love doesn’t need to be fancy to last three decades.
The simple tradition that’s kept their marriage strong
In a candid blog post on her website, the 56-year-old Food Network star revealed the low-key date night ritual that she and cattle rancher husband Ladd have maintained throughout their 29-year marriage.¹
"At the risk of sounding like an old married couple, we love to take drives together," Drummond admitted.¹
Their tradition started when their five children were young and life on their Oklahoma ranch was hectic.
Now, as empty nesters, they still hop into Ladd’s pickup truck whenever they have a free Friday or Saturday night.
The couple doesn’t plan elaborate destinations or expensive restaurants.
Instead, they simply drive the county roads, checking on fences and cattle, or head to nearby towns like Pawhuska or Ponca City for nothing more than a convenience store Dr. Pepper.¹
"There’s something about the peace of the pickup," Ree explained. "That diesel engine is like background music, and we are focused only on each other. No laptops, devices, TVs – it’s such a great time to catch up."¹
What sets them apart from Hollywood couples
While celebrity couples often compete to outdo each other with lavish date nights and exotic getaways, the Drummonds have found something far more valuable.
Their truck rides give them uninterrupted time to talk about their family, their ranch, and whatever else might be on their minds.
"Sometimes we stay on the county roads and check on fences or cattle; other times we’ll drive east to Pawhuska or west to Ponca City, stopping to get a convenience store Dr. Pepper when we get there," Ree shared.¹
Other times, Ladd will drive into pastures to show Ree areas of creeks she hasn’t seen before or to check on livestock.¹
The Food Network star emphasized that these simple conversations in the pickup truck create their most meaningful moments together.
"Now that we’re empty nesters, it’s not like we don’t have lots of time alone at home already. But there’s something about the safety and sanctity of the pickup that sparks the very best conversations," she noted.¹
The foundation that Hollywood couples are missing
The Drummonds’ approach to date night reflects the values that have kept their marriage strong since 1996.
They share five children: daughters Alex, 28, and Paige, 25, and sons Bryce, 22, Jamar, 22, and Todd, 21.²
The couple will celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary next September – a milestone that’s increasingly rare in both Hollywood and regular America.²
When they marked their 25th anniversary in 2021, Ree shared a touching tribute to Ladd on social media.
"It’s been a wild adventure, and we’ve experienced the joys, pains, ups, downs, triumphs, sadnesses, and unexpected twists and turns," she wrote. "That whole ‘love’ thing – the love that deepens, expands and becomes more firmly rooted over time – is definitely there."²
In a 2017 interview, Ree revealed another key to their lasting marriage that sets them apart from the Hollywood crowd.
"We go to church together every Sunday," she explained. "It’s something that we do no matter what comes up. No matter how tired we are. I’ve seen the times that we’ve slipped away from that, and disaster is lurking in the bushes."²
The Drummonds prove that lasting love doesn’t require Instagram-worthy vacations or Michelin-starred restaurants.
Sometimes the most meaningful moments happen in a pickup truck on a county road, talking about cattle and drinking gas station Dr. Pepper.
Their simple tradition offers a refreshing contrast to the celebrity culture that constantly demands more – more luxury, more drama, more spectacle.
Instead, Ree and Ladd have found that less can actually be more when it comes to nurturing a marriage that’s stood the test of time.
¹ Erin Clack, "Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond Reveals Her Low-Key Date Night Tradition with Husband Ladd: ‘Like an Old Married Couple’," People, August 5, 2025.
² Ibid.