You ever grow up in one of those households where the rules didn’t always make sense, but you followed them anyway because, well, that’s just the way it was? That’s exactly how it was for the Robertson kids when it came to music — and not just any music.
We’re talking country. Yep, good ol’ country music was pretty much outlawed in the “Duck Dynasty” household.
On a recent episode of the “Unashamed” podcast, Jase and Al Robertson cracked open the memory vault and let everyone in on one of their dad’s lesser-known but very real house rules.
Phil Robertson — duck call inventor, reality TV patriarch, and a man of very strong opinions — apparently had no time for country tunes. It wasn’t exactly a written rule, but more like an unspoken law of the land. Jase said it best: “We couldn’t listen to country music… it was just like, that’s just stupid.”
Al jumped in with the clarification that Phil was more of a classic rock guy. So much so, that Al went full-on country as a teenager just to rebel — and yep, it worked. Phil hated it. Forget tattoos or sneaking out — for the Robertson boys, rebellion came in the form of steel guitars and southern twang.
Fast forward to today, and the story gets a bit more heartfelt. Jase admitted that he hadn’t really explored country music until way later in life. He only just discovered Larry Fleet because his son played him a few songs.
The real story was the time Jase tried to win his dad over with Hank Williams Jr.’s “A Country Boy Can Survive.” A bold move. The song could have been an anthem for their lives — rugged, rural, and resilient. But one little word in the lyrics tripped the whole thing up. Phil shut it down immediately. “Turn that off,” he said. So close, yet so far.
Sadly, this walk down memory lane came just months after Phil Robertson’s passing in May 2025 following his battle with Alzheimer’s. The Robertson family shared the news with a mix of grief and gratitude, saying goodbye to a man whose faith was as unshakable as his opinions. His daughter-in-law, Korie, shared a moving tribute that reminded everyone what Phil stood for — a life saved by grace and a voice unafraid to share the Gospel.
And in the months since, the family’s been healing. Kay Robertson, Phil’s wife of more than 60 years, had a rough time following his death. Willie Robertson admitted earlier she wasn’t doing well, but by July, things had turned around. He said she was “doing so much better,” crediting her resilience and the strength of family and faith.
So now, with the next generation stepping forward, the Robertson clan keeps telling stories, sharing laughs, and honoring the legacy of a man who might not have liked country music — but who definitely lived the kind of life a country song could be written about.
