‘Golden Bachelor’ Gerry Turner on ex Theresa Nist, alleged secret girlfriend — and ‘frustration’ that led to new memoir

He’s ready for his rose.

Two years after Gerry Turner rose to fame on the inaugural season of the “Golden Bachelor,” he’s speaking out in an explosive tell-all book. 

“The motivation [for the book] came from the frustration of not being able to tell the whole story about myself my feelings while I was on the show,” Turner, 74, exclusively told The Post. 

“There was so much left unsaid and unrevealed,” he explained. “I wanted that information out there.”

Called “Golden Years: What I’ve Learned From Love, Loss, and Reality TV,” the book is out Nov. 4. 

Turner ended up marrying Theresa Nist, 72, at the end of “The Golden Bachelor” Season 1 – but the two got divorced after just three months. 

The former couple haven’t talked since. 

“We haven’t been in touch. Has there been any real reason to? Not having much experience with ex-husbands and wives, is it normal to stay in touch with exes?” he quipped. 

But Turner faced turmoil and drama off-camera, too. Two months after the ABC show aired, his ex-girlfriend claimed to The Hollywood Reporter that he wasn’t being truthful. 

On the show, Turner said that he hadn’t had a serious relationship since his wife of over 40 years died in 2017. However, in the Nov. 2023 article, a woman identifying herself only as “Carolyn” told the outlet that she and Turner dated for 10 months, lived together in his home on Big Long Lake in Hudson, Indiana, and she alleged that he dumped her for gaining weight. 

“That’s old news. That’s years old news. Now it’s time to move on from that,” Turner told The Post. “So, I don’t have anything more to say.”

Turner is now ready to walk down the aisle again — this time, with Lana Sutton. He’s known his fiancée since Jan. 1, he told the Post, and announced their engagement on Oct. 3.

They met when Sutton sent him an Instagram direct message after watching “The Golden Bachelor.” 

“The thing that really got my attention was an Instagram message from her telling me that she would love to meet me – that she grew up in the town that’s 20 minutes from where I live,” the father and grandfather explained. 

“I knew that there were Midwestern values and Midwestern outlooks, and morals on things. I was quite attracted to that,” he said of their first meeting. “I feel so good about having a partner that I can trust, and laugh with, and enjoy.” 

He and Sutton have yet to set a wedding date, however.

“We actually haven’t even really sat down and had a conversation about it yet. This week, she has a minor foot surgery coming up. And, you know, I will be doing my best imitation of a nurse,” he said. “And I think we’ll have some really good time to talk about some of those important things, during that time.” 

In Dec. 2024, Turner also revealed that he was diagnosed with a slow-growing “bone marrow cancer” called Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia.

“In my last appointment with the doctors, actually, I felt kind of positive… And the doctor was also optimistic about some of the new drugs that are being used that can significantly extend life,” Turner said.

“So I actually feel kind of good about where I’m at right now.” 

Season 2 of “The Golden Bachelor” debuted on Sept. 24 with new lead Mel Owens.

“I don’t think anyone that has gone through that experience would say they have no regrets. So certainly, I wasn’t perfect,” Turner told The Post of his own experience. “And I wish there were some things that I could do over again.” 

But he can’t overlook that the franchise ultimately brought him to Sutton.

“[She’s] the person that I am supposed to be with,” he said. “And for that, I’m thankful. Even with the things that I would say I would love to do over again.”