Southern Chef Paula Deen Celebrates 15 Years of True Love With Husband Michael Groover

Getty Images | Noel Vasquez

If you have a soft spot for wholesome, hearty, butter-laden southern cooking, you know Paula Deen. Paula was born in Albany, Georgia, back in 1947, and became a wife for the first time early in life; she married her high school sweetheart, Jimmy Deen, at just 18 years old. Paula gave birth to two sons, but troubles ensued and the marriage was not a happy one.

Paula tragically lost both of her parents at the tender age of 23, which contributed to her heartbreak, but she persevered, trying to make her marriage a success. In 1989 and after 24 years of marriage, however, the couple went their separate ways. Paula suffered through years of anxiety, until in 2004 she finally caught her break: the healing power of true love from a most unlikely source.

Paula met and married Michael Groover, a tugboat captain in the Port of Savannah, Georgia. Today, Paula has been married to her tugboat sweetheart for almost 15 years, and her fans love him just as much as they love her. But what’s the secret to Paula’s success the second time around?

According to Delish, the pair were neighbors when they met. Paula’s dogs escaped one day and ventured into Michael’s yard. Michael, seeking the opportunity to get to know his beautiful neighbor, invited Paula for a ride on his new boat, and romance blossomed.

On the couple’s 12th wedding anniversary, Paula released her epic, southern-themed wedding-day menu on her website. According to Delish, the married couple did not disappoint expectations; their wedding day included a wonderful homage to southern favorites such as pickled okra sandwiches, crab-stuffed shrimp, and fried collard greens.

Interesting fact: Famously, Groover won a “Hemingway Look-Alike Contest” in 2018 (you can see the photos: what do you think?). It was his ninth attempt. Paula was there, cheering her husband on and loving every minute. Fun, laughter, and mutual support are clearly key ingredients in this happy union.

“How were you open to receiving a good man when Michael showed up?” Oprah Winfrey asked the world-famous chef in 2012. “I did a lot of praying,” Paula responded. One of the best things about finding Michael, the talented chef continued, was that Paula has never had to dig for the truth. Sometimes, in fact, Michael can be a little too honest! “Listen, he hurt my feelings so bad,” Paula once told Good Housekeeping. “He said his mama made the most fabulous pear crisp in the world, so I said, ‘Well, I can do that!’”

“So I made it.”

Michael absolutely loves his wife’s cooking these days. Speaking of Michael’s mother’s banana cake recipe, Paula shared: “He loves it so much that when we got married, I selected this to be his groom’s cake. I made it for him myself,” the proud chef continued. “I guess this is one of his mother’s recipes that I seem to have gotten right!”

Perhaps most importantly of all, Paula’s grown sons love Groover. They honored him on his birthday in 2017 with a sweet message on Facebook: “We’re glad to have you as a part of our family because you always make Mom so happy,” they said.

Five years into marriage with his beloved wife, Michael even wrote a book called My Delicious Life With Paula Deen, revealing details from his life before and after the marriage that changed everything.

Paula and Michael, you give us hope! True love truly comes to those who wait, and can be just as delicious as that trademark stick of butter.