Brad Kelly’s Love Life Uncovered: From a 38-Year Marriage to a New Beginning, Inside the Bering Sea Gold Star’s Personal Journey

Brad Kelly, best known for his role on Discovery Channel’s Bering Sea Gold, has led a life filled with both rugged adventure and emotional upheaval. While fans know him as a daring gold dredger off the icy coast of Nome, Alaska, his personal life—marked by a decades-long marriage, family drama, legal trouble, and a recent remarriage—tells a far more complicated story. From his early years with Wendy Kelly to his troubled relationship with Courtney, and now a new chapter with Gina Larsen Kelly, Brad’s journey through love, loss, and reconciliation reveals a side of him few viewers have seen.

Brad Kelly’s First Wife Wendy: Long Marriage, Emotional Fallout, and Family Life

Brad was married to Wendy Kelly (née Barth), with whom he shares two sons, Kris Kelly (born in 1980) and Andy Kelly (born in 1982). Their relationship began in their youth and spanned nearly four decades, encompassing not only marriage and parenthood but also emotional strain and public confrontation.

In a deeply personal Facebook post from March 2015, she offered a vulnerable account of her state of mind following their separation. Her words painted a portrait of enduring love, sorrow, and the difficult act of letting go:

“This is how I will always think of my husband… I will always love him, I will always hold a place for him in my heart… I will always be there for him as a friend.”

She reflected on the depth of their history:

“How could I not, I have been married to him for 38 years… He chose to stop loving me… my future… to move on, to love again… his loss… not my future, but my past.”

Even amid pain, she sought peace:

“Time to lay you to rest… for my future… peace, a pure heart, and a smile on my face in the morning… a positive outlook for my future… I lay you to rest.”

Her message also balanced forgiveness and frustration:

“Let karma serve what she serves best… your future to come… your decision, your choice… I forgive you for not loving me… I forgive you for who you are… I forgive you for promising me the world, but abandoning me, and leaving me with nothing.”

Yet she concluded with a message of gratitude and closure:

“I thank you for the one thing you can’t take away from me. Ever. My soul. And my sons… I forgive you Brad for being you.”

But as time went on, her tone sharpened, shifting to anger and regret. By October 2015, she posted a quote by Mary Oliver:

“Someone I loved once gave me a box full of darkness. It took me years to understand that this too, was a gift.” And captioned it pointedly: “Thank you Brad… the best thing you ever gave to me, besides my 2 sons, and a life full of lessons.”

By April 2016, the relationship had unraveled into a torrent of emotional fallout. Wendy made several posts referring to Brad as toxic and dismissive. In one, she sarcastically listed him as:

“EXCRIMENT (SHIT), EXHAUSTED (DONE WITH), EXIT (GONE FROM MY LIFE)… EXTERMINATED.”

She also reflected on the psychological toll of their time together:

“That door is triple deadbolted, barred, nailed, brick and mortar, and wired to blow up if opened in this lifetime!”

In another emotional moment, she shared:

“I helped him make an ass of himself, look stupid, and get many points across… on TV. How many people can say they got to do that?”

Her accounts offer a deeply human side to a man better known for surviving the icy waters of Nome than the emotional waves of a long, complicated marriage.

That duality played out publicly during her brief appearance on Bering Sea Gold, when Wendy was introduced by her son Kris in a 2016 episode. Kris expressed heartfelt hope for reconciliation: “I want this all to work out… we’re going to get together like a big happy family again.” Wendy responded with a smile, and the family—at least momentarily—stood together again on the ice.

But the moment didn’t last. Brad, unimpressed, shot back with a cutting remark: “What are you guys, the mentally ill Brady Bunch?” Later in the episode, he admitted to the camera: “My relationship with Wendy is terrible,” voicing concern that her return would worsen an already difficult mining season.

Still, Kris remained determined to hold the family together and finish the job. By the episode’s end, he declared with optimism: “Everything’s going to be awesome.” Then, in a telling moment that brought both levity and longing, Kris added, “Now let’s go to work,” reaffirming his belief that, despite the dysfunction, the family could push forward.

Wendy’s short appearance helped illuminate the emotional undercurrents often hidden beneath the Kelly family’s gruff exterior. It reflected the real-life complexity of her relationship with Brad—a mix of loyalty and estrangement, love and disappointment. Her presence onscreen gave shape to a family dynamic that viewers had long sensed but rarely seen in full.

Relationship with Courtney and Legal Troubles

Brad Kelly later entered a relationship with a woman named Courtney Tucker, with whom he had a daughter, Nia Kelly, in September 2014. While Courtney Tucker did not appear on Bering Sea Gold, her name surfaced publicly through social media posts, including those made by Brad’s ex-wife, Wendy Kelly.

In April 2016, Wendy publicly alleged that Courtney had been jailed and that child protective services had been involved. She expressed concern over the safety of Nia, writing:

“Courtney went to jail today. CPS was called again. Nia unsupervised, running loose, the swamp rat passed out drunk, as usual… violated probation, DA let her out again 2 hrs…”

Wendy’s concern for Nia’s well-being was evident. In a separate post just days earlier, she revealed she had briefly cared for the child herself:

“Only thing I really feel bad about? Leaving Nia behind when I leave. I love that little girl. I had her with me for a while. I was willing to go back to Brad, just for the sake of her… Knowing she is left behind with the parents she has, breaks my heart. May God keep her safe.”

These accounts suggest that Wendy played a temporary caregiving role in Nia’s life and was emotionally affected by the environment the young girl was exposed to.

In addition to Nia, Courtney had another daughter with Brad—Lani Lynn Kelly—who tragically passed away as an infant. Born on November 13, 2018, and passing on April 4, 2019, Lani’s memory was later honored by Courtney in a heartfelt post. On what would have been her fifth birthday, Courtney wrote:

“Before the day is over, I’d like to wish my Heavenly Daughter, Lani Lynn Kelly, a Happy 5th Birthday. Always in my Heart ❤️ my angel 🧸 😘”

Courtney and Brad were engaged on May 12, 2017, according to a public Facebook post from Courtney. However, their relationship appeared to grow increasingly unstable in the years that followed.

A post from February 2021, shared by Courtney, shows a smiling Brad and family at Universal Studios, captioned, “Brad and I’s favorite family pic (per his request to share).” The image, which includes Courtney, Brad, their daughter Nia, and another family member, reflects a moment of togetherness that stood in contrast to what would later transpire.

According to law enforcement records, the instability in Courtney and Brad’s relationship escalated in February 2022, when Brad was arrested and later pled guilty to second-degree felony assault following a domestic incident involving Courtney. The assault caused serious physical injury, and Brad was sentenced to four years in prison, with eligibility for release after eight months and probation thereafter. It remains unclear how much time he ultimately served.

Courtney has not spoken publicly about the incident No official interviews or public statements have been issued on her behalf, and her current circumstances, including any custody arrangement for Nia, remain private.

Disclaimer: Allegations referenced in this section are based on publicly visible social media posts and court records. No accusations are independently verified by this publication.

A New Chapter: Marriage to Gina L. Kelly

Brad’s next relationship became public by October 2022. On October 30 of that year, he shared a photo with a woman named Gina Larsen, captioned simply, “My love Gina Larsen.” The post featured several images—one of Brad and Gina smiling together in the snow, and others showing Gina with baked goods—hinting at a more grounded domestic life.

On June 11, 2025, Brad announced that he and Gina had gotten married. In the post, Gina was identified as Gina L. Kelly, signaling a new beginning in Brad’s personal journey.

In a follow-up post later in their relationship, Brad described a family outing as “a great day with my family.” The accompanying photos showed the couple with their children, suggesting moments of bonding and shared parenting.