According to his wife, Korie Robertson, that clean-cut season of life was actually his rebellious phase.<\/p>\n
“I always say Willie\u2019s 20s were his rebellious period,” Korie told Fox News Digital with a laugh. “He shaved and showered regularly and didn\u2019t wear any camo. He wore polo and Girbaud jeans. He was, like, preppy in his 20s.”<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a far cry from the Duck Commander CEO fans recognize today, but Willie says stepping away from the family\u2019s hunting roots felt natural at the time.<\/p>\n
‘DUCK DYNASTY’ STAR SADIE ROBERTSON HUFF SAYS PEOPLE ARE ‘TIRED OF FAKING IT’ AND WANT ‘AUTHENTICITY’<\/a><\/p>\n Willie Robertson and wife Korie Robertson reflected on how the “Duck Dynasty” star eventually returned to the family\u2019s Duck Commander business. (Bryan Tarnowski\/A&E 2026\u00a0)<\/p>\n “In my 20s, I never would have dreamed I\u2019d have worked at the family business,” Willie said. “That\u2019s not where I thought I would end up.”<\/p>\n Back then, Duck Commander was still a growing operation founded by Willie\u2019s father, Phil Robertson. The now 53-year-old businessman had ambitions that extended beyond duck calls and camouflage.<\/p>\n But as he approached 30, something began to shift.<\/p>\n WATCH: KORIE ROBERTSON SAYS WILLIE\u2019S CLEAN-SHAVEN 20S WERE HIS \u2018REBELLIOUS\u2019 PHASE<\/p>\n “Gradually, he kind of started turning more into his dad,” Korie said. “The beard started growing, he started wearing more camo, and went back to the family business.”<\/p>\n LIKE WHAT YOU\u2019RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS<\/a><\/p>\n Willie and Korie Robertson share stories about their family, the Duck Commander legacy and the return of the Robertson clan on “Duck Dynasty: The Revival.” (Bobby Bank\/WireImage)<\/p>\n What began as a return eventually turned into leadership. Willie helped expand Duck Commander into a nationally recognized brand and later into one of cable television\u2019s biggest reality hits with the original “Duck Dynasty.”<\/p>\n Looking back, he says the path was far from predictable.<\/p>\n ‘DUCK DYNASTY’ STARS CALL SEATTLE, SAN FRANCISCO ‘UNLIVABLE’ UNDER ‘WOKE’ LEADERSHIP<\/a><\/p>\n “You never know how life changes,” Willie said. “They may end up being interested.”<\/p>\n Now, decades later, Willie \u2014 who recently joked that he\u2019s “fully semi-retired” \u2014 finds himself in a different role. As the Robertson family returns for season two of “Duck Dynasty: The Revival<\/a>,” he\u2019s watching his own children and their spouses step into the spotlight and explore their own business ventures inside the Duck Commander warehouse.<\/p>\n WATCH: WILLIE ROBERTSON SAYS HE \u2018NEVER WOULD HAVE DREAMED\u2019 OF JOINING FAMILY BUSINESS IN HIS 20S<\/p>\n “We\u2019ve grown a lot,” Willie said of the family\u2019s current chapter. “We\u2019ve expanded.”<\/p>\n “So back in the day, it was just ducks. And so now there’s so many different flavors of business that happened in our location,” he added.<\/p>\n With that growth, he has gained a fresh perspective.<\/p>\n ‘DUCK DYNASTY\u2019 STAR CALLS MOST OF TV ‘GARBAGE,’ SAYS FAITH IS WHY THEY STAYED ON AIR<\/a><\/p>\n “I always want them to do what it is that they love and enjoy,” Willie said of his children. “If that happens to be Duck Commander, that\u2019s great. If it\u2019s some other business, that\u2019s fine as well.”<\/p>\n WATCH: WILLIE AND KORIE ROBERTSON PRAISE IN-LAWS FOR GOING \u2018ALL IN\u2019 ON REALITY TV<\/p>\n As the next generation takes the stage, some of the Robertson in-laws are getting their first taste of reality television.<\/p>\n Korie said her son-in-law, Christian Huff<\/a>, embraced filming right away.<\/p>\n CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER<\/a><\/p>\n “I\u2019ll say Christian, I think he had the most fun. He loved filming and had a blast, went all in,” she said. “That\u2019s kind of one of our family mottos, is like just go all in, don\u2019t hold back, just have fun, don\u2019t take yourself too seriously and just go all in.”<\/p>\n Willie laughed, joking that Huff might have been auditioning for the role long before the cameras returned.<\/p>\n Willie and Korie Robertson met in summer camp and got married in 1992. (Willie Robertson\/Facebook)<\/p>\n “Christian was probably watching \u2018Duck Dynasty\u2019 saying, \u2018I could totally do that. Just turn that camera on and let me go,\u2019” Willie said.<\/p>\n Korie laughed and added, “Just give me my chance.”<\/p>\n The Robertson family’s return to the screen<\/a> continues as “Duck Dynasty: The Revival” moves into its second season.<\/p>\n New episodes of “Duck Dynasty: The Revival” air Saturdays at 10 p.m. ET\/PT on A&E.<\/p>\n![\"Willie](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Willie-Korie-Duck-Dynasty-The-Revival-S2.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Korie](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/korie-willie-robertson-eric-trump-golf-fox-news-001.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Screenshot](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Korie-Robertson-Willie-Robertson-Youth.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n