Hollywood had to learn that faith comes first in ‘Duck Dynasty’



“Duck Dynasty” star Willie Robertson had humble beginnings, but the wild success of his family’s reality show would have any spectator guessing otherwise.

“A lot of Christians told us like ‘Oh you can’t do this, you’re going to destroy your family.’ But I was like ‘if not us, then who?’” Robertson tells Glenn Beck, recalling the beginning of his family’s rise to fame.

“I felt firm in our faith and who we were,” he continues, adding, “You get a chance, and I felt like maybe God led us to this and said, ‘Hey, here’s your opportunity.’”

When Willie pitched the idea to his father, Phil Robertson, about starting a reality TV show, he wasn’t interested until Willie told him it could help get the gospel to more people.

“That was what attracted me,” Glenn says. “I heard people talk about you guys. They said, ‘There's this show, and they pray at the end.’”

While prayer and faith were a large part of their show, the Hollywood producers that worked on it at first weren’t pleased.

Willie concedes that the production company used to edit out “in Jesus’ name,” which they have since stopped doing. “I think they always struggled with what made it work,” he continues. “They would put shows behind it that were, you know, I wouldn’t say anti-faith but definitely you know, super worldly.”

When the viewers would be confronted with the show that followed, they’d switch the channel.

“They struggle with knowing, I think, especially, I think the faith part and the prayer part, how much that played into it,” Willie says.

“If you could boil it down in one sentence, what was the secret of the show? Why did it work?” Glenn asks.

“I think it was a combination of authenticity, faith, and funny,” Willie says.


Want more from Glenn Beck?

To enjoy more of Glenn’s masterful storytelling, thought-provoking analysis, and uncanny ability to make sense of the chaos, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

'Cooking with the Robertsons' drops TODAY; don’t miss out on the best recipes from the Robertson family



If you were an original fan of “Duck Dynasty,” then you surely recall the culinary wonders that came out of Miss Kay’s kitchen. From frog legs to squirrel and dumplings to fried deer steak, Robertson recipes should be in every foodie’s personal cookbook.

Lucky for you, BlazeTV just launched a new show called “Cooking with the Robertsons.” Episodes drop the second and fourth Mondays of the month starting TODAY.

To learn how to whip up a pot of duck gumbo that Phil says will make people say, “I have hit pay dirt of the highest caliber ever,” go to blazetv.com/robertson and use code ROBERTSON30 to get $30 off your subscription.


— (@)

Want more from the Robertsons?

To join the Robertsons as they cook up their favorite family recipes, pray, and dig in, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.