While chatting about her new Walmart line, the beloved Food Network star Ree Drummond shared her heartfelt reaction to the news from her daughter Alex Drummond.
Ree Drummond has known about her daughter Alex’s pregnancy since Mother’s Day — but the news is still sinking in for her.
The Pioneer Woman star shared the joyful announcement that her eldest daughter Alex, 27, and her husband Mauricio Scott are expecting their first child, marking Ree’s first venture into grandparenthood. In an exclusive talk about her latest Walmart line of kitchen appliances, Ree opened up about her initial reaction.
“Gosh, it feels totally different than I thought it would feel,” Ree admits. “Since we just kind of became empty-nesters, Ladd and I feel like we just finished raising our kids — not even finished! A couple of them are still in college, so we’re still raising our kids.”
Alex and Scott celebrated three years of marriage on May 1. Despite this milestone, Ree mentioned she wasn’t quite prepared for the grandma role just yet.
“We weren’t necessarily in a big rush to enter the grandparent stage,” Ree laughs. “I thought when I eventually heard the news, I would feel more, ‘Oh no, here it comes.’ But in reality, the overwhelming feeling I have is happiness for my daughter and her husband.”
The onset of this new life chapter has stirred a lot of nostalgia in Ree.
“Thinking back on the days when my kids were babies and those years, I mean, I can hardly look at old pictures because it was such a precious, fun time,” Ree reflects. “I’m just so thrilled that she is going to experience that part of her life. There’s just nothing better in the world.”
The cookbook author is also guessing the baby’s gender.
“I feel like it’s a boy, but then again, I have a 50-50 chance of being right,” she jokes. “It’s really just a guess.”
Regardless of the gender, Ree believes the family will be ecstatic.
“I know they will cherish either one. Alex and her sister Paige were the first in the family, so they kind of see the benefits of having older girls. I think Alex might prefer a girl, and Mauricio is so easygoing, he’ll love whatever they have,” she says.
Ree and Ladd also have Paige, 24, Bryce, 21, Jamar, 21, and Todd, 20. Alex works alongside her mom on the Pioneer Woman blog, assisting with various events and photoshoots, including those for Ree’s Walmart Pioneer Woman collection.
Ree’s latest Walmart collaboration features an appliance collection that offers a clean and modern look. With a “linen speckle” design and wood tone handles, the new 2-slice toaster, 6-quart slow cooker, and 6-quart pressure cooker aim to blend seamlessly into any kitchen. This collection signals a new era for the Pioneer Woman line, with a “rustic, old-fashioned feel.”
“Anyone familiar with my line knows I love flowers, which has been a signature style,” Ree says. “[I’m] definitely not abandoning flowers, but we’re evolving into a slightly more subdued direction for 2025.”
The collection also includes more bakeware and cookware like iron skillets and Dutch ovens. The new small appliances, particularly the toaster, cater to cooks of all ages.
“Everyone needs a toaster, whether you’re a college freshman or a 55-year-old mother of five like myself,” she says. “The Pioneer Woman style was always meant to be layered into what you already have. I love seeing how people incorporate these pieces into their own kitchens.”
