Former Bachelor Star Emily Maynard Embraces Grandmotherhood
Emily Maynard, who rose to fame on the hit reality television series The Bachelor, has officially entered a new chapter of her life as a grandmother. The 39-year-old television personality's daughter, 20-year-old Ricki Hendrick, welcomed her first child this week, marking a significant family milestone.
Joyful Social Media Announcements
Ricki Hendrick took to Instagram on Friday to share the happy news with her followers. She posted two poignant black and white photographs from the hospital setting. One image captured a medical professional gently holding her swaddled newborn near her head as she rested in bed following the delivery. The second photograph showed her stepfather, Tyler Johnson, cradling the infant while her mother, Emily Maynard, looked on affectionately, placing a tender hand on the baby's arm.
"Best day ever," Hendrick captioned the precious pair of snapshots, encapsulating the overwhelming emotion of the moment.
A Family Celebration
Emily Maynard and her husband Tyler Johnson also made a joint announcement on their own Instagram account. They shared photographs of themselves holding the newborn in the hospital and expressed their profound joy in becoming grandparents. "We became grandparents today!! The feeling is inexpressible. This is love," they wrote, accompanying their message with the bible verse 1 John 4:7-11, which speaks of love originating from God.
The new arrival makes Ricki a big sister to her five younger siblings – four brothers and one sister – who were reportedly present to surround her with support after she gave birth.
Background and Pregnancy Journey
This joyful event follows Ricki Hendrick's pregnancy announcement in August, when she shared an ultrasound photo on social media. According to reports from Us Weekly, she confirmed she was expecting a baby girl in another post, writing, "My heart is so full, yet my stomach is so empty because she hates all food. I’m convinced."
Ricki's journey has a poignant backstory. Her biological father was Ricky Hendrick, Emily Maynard's fiancé, who tragically died in a plane crash in 2004 at the age of 24. Maynard discovered she was pregnant after his untimely death and gave birth to Ricki at 19 years old. Ricki's full name is Josephine Riddick Hendrick, but she has always been called Ricki in honour of her late father.
Emily Maynard's Reality TV Legacy and Family Life
Emily Maynard first captured public attention on season 15 of The Bachelor in 2011, where she beat other contestants and became engaged to Brad Womack. The engagement ended shortly after the season finale. She later starred as The Bachelorette in 2012's season eight, getting engaged to Jef Holm, though that relationship also dissolved before marriage.
Maynard found lasting love with Tyler Johnson, whom she married in 2014. Together, they have built a large family, raising five children: sons Jennings (10), Gibson (9), Gatlin (8), Jones (3), and daughter Nola (5).
Supportive Family Dynamic
Despite being open about her strong Christian faith, Emily Maynard has shown unwavering support for her daughter throughout the pregnancy. In a light-hearted social media video following the pregnancy announcement, Maynard humorously addressed a follower's question about having a "baby outside marriage." She facetiously responded, "Very against it. I cannot believe anybody would ever do that. Unforgivable," while her daughter Ricki playfully piled on with mock seriousness.
The video then showed baby items Maynard had already purchased in anticipation of her grandchild, revealing her genuine excitement and support. This moment highlighted the close and loving bond between mother and daughter, dispelling any notions of familial discord.
While the identity of the baby's father has not been formally confirmed in official statements, social media tags in photographs have pointed to a young man named Carter Dyer. The family now celebrates this new addition, with Emily Maynard transitioning from a reality television star and mother-of-six to a doting grandmother, embracing this new role with the same grace and warmth she has shown throughout her public life.
