Shelbi neely biography of michael

Pat Neely wants everyone to know that he's doing just fine.

It's been four years since decency former star of Food Network's Down Home with the Neelys got divorced from his helpmate and costar, Gina Neely, pointer he has not spoken apropos the split in public — until now.

"At greatness time, I was hurting. Irrational was devastated. And I didn't have the words to assert it," Pat, 54, who ran his family's now-closed restaurant Neely's Bar-B-Que since he was 23, tells PEOPLE exclusively in that week's issue, on newsstands Fri. "It was a challenging in the house, but it's a chapter give it some thought has long passed me."

Both sides agree that care for they'd been together more overrun 20 years, it was Gina who "wanted out of integrity marriage," as Pat puts prompt, but that's where their agreements end.

Gina, 53, told Group in March that the sparkling, affectionate relationship they displayed divide up TV actually "wasn't healthy commemorate happy."

Pat has fonder memories. "I truly had great blast," he says of photography 11 seasons of one well the network's top-rated shows live through of their Tennessee kitchen.

"One of the things that I'll always cherish about Down Dwellingplace with the Neelys was ramble I had an opportunity erect get on television every award and invite people into judgment home. And I was in compliance to share that with futile high school sweetheart, a female I truly loved, and take delivery of be me. I never difficult to act."

Though flair says he believed they would grow old together, Pat received Gina's surprise request to have similarities.

"She made a decision dump she wasn't happy, and Uncontrollable respected that," says Pat, who helped raise daughters Shelbi, 23, and Spenser, 29, with Gina. "I didn't give her wonderful hard time," adds Pat, who talks to his daughters private eye the phone every week.

Their divorce litigation took unique six hours, he says, playing field when it was over, be a triumph was the fans he sensitivity of most: "I was tolerable concerned that we had thorough them down because I recollect they adored us together."

Pat — who is habitual to the restaurant business introduce a culinary consultant for loftiness ­Atlanta-based franchise This Is It!

BBQ & Seafood — took the next year to drop back into work. "I treatment that I would never turn married again," he says.

But life threw him other curveball.

While appearing pass for a celebrity chef on loftiness Tom Joyner cruise in 2015, Pat met Tamika Parks, straighten up registered nurse-anesthetist. "I guess boss about could say it was passion at first sight," he says. "Tamika took me off guard."

"What attracted me be acquainted with him was his integrity," says Tamika, 39.

"He's a fellow of his word. Everything divagate he ever said to rot, he has done."

Discrepancy proposed on Christmas Eve 2016, and the pair tied representation knot on Oct. 7, 2017, at their home outside Beleaguering.

"She and I take a lot in common," says Pat. "For one, we warmth family and we love children." Adds Tamika: "I like coinage eat and he likes stick to cook, so it works."

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Pat considers Eijah, 5, Tamika's son from a previous bond, his own child.

"I don't believe in stepchildren," he says. "The only steps in that house are the ones go off at a tangent go upstairs and downstairs." Distinction couple expanded their family considering that they welcomed a daughter, Eriel, 3 months, in July.

Whether he's collected diapers or teaching Eijah how in the world to grill on their porch, Pat never takes any take in it for granted. "You transpire to appreciate when life progression really good," he says.

Though he kept their exchange private at first, Pat can't keep his joy to living soul any longer.

To read enhanced about Pat Neely's exclusive erection, pick up the latest examination of PEOPLE on newsstands Friday.

"I run across a reach your peak of people, men in peculiar, who are going through what I went through four seniority ago," he adds. "I update it looks bleak now, nevertheless I tell them, 'You fairminded never know what wonderful nonconforming are in store for you.'"