Lana Del Rey is officially a married woman! Surprisingly (or rather unsurprisingly) given it’s Lana Del Rey, her new husband happens to be a much older and relatively unknown guy from Louisana called Jeremy Dufrene.
Since the couple sparked dating rumors in August, fans of the singer, most of whom are baffled, to be honest, have expressed keen interest in knowing more about Dufrene. As it turns out, he is a father to three kids and was previously engaged to a woman named Kelli Welsh for over a decade.
Kelli Welsh Reacts to Jeremy Dufrene’s Whirlwind Louisana Marriage to Lana Del Rey
Kelli Welsh, ex-fiancée of Jeremy Dufrene, recently shared her reaction to the surprising news of his wedding to famed pop icon Lana Del Rey. The Louisana native, 45, who had been engaged to Dufrene for 12 years admitted she was shocked when she bumped into wedding photos of the couple circulating on Facebook. Dufrene, a 49-year-old alligator tour guide, tied the knot with Lana Del Rey in an intimate ceremony by the water in Des Allemandes, Louisiana, just one month after their relationship became public.
Welsh and Dufrene share a long history, dating back to their teenage years. The two first met when Welsh was 16 and Dufrene was 19, and though their relationship ended after a year, they reconnected after Dufrene’s divorce from his first wife. They got engaged in 2012 but never married, partly due to the emotional toll Welsh faced after her father’s death. Despite their long engagement, the couple ended things in October 2023, only for Dufrene to marry Lana less than a year later.
“I’m in shock,” Welsh said, as she was taken aback by how quickly Dufrene moved on. Despite her initial surprise, she couldn’t be happier for her ex, stating he “deserved this blessing.” She described him as a “hardworking, protective, manly man,” who had always been a giver, and added that she was glad to see him in love and looking genuinely happy.
Kelli Welsh’s daughter, Alana, who was raised by Dufrene, continues to live with him in Louisiana, while Welsh now resides in Texas. Even though her romantic relationship with Dufrene is over, Welsh points out that she still cares about him deeply as a friend and is supportive of his newfound happiness with Lana.
Lana Del Rey and Jeremy Dufrene reportedly met in 2019 during one of Dufrene’s famous alligator tours. The couple reconnected earlier this year when Lana returned to Louisiana for a performance, and their whirlwind romance has been making headlines since August 2024.
The unlikely pairing of the swamp tour guide and the pop icon has fans buzzing on the internet, with fans dying to know more about their life out in the Louisiana bayou. They got married in Dufrene’s stomping grounds, with Lana’s father, Rob Grant, walking her down the aisle in a simple but sweet ceremony by the water.
Insiders: Lana Del Rey’s Wedding to Jeremy Dufrene Has Sparked Family Feuds with Kelli Welsh
Lana Del Rey is reportedly jealous of her new husband Jeremy Dufrene’s longtime ex-fiancée, Kelli Welsh. Insiders claim the singer’s uneasiness stems from Welsh’s past with Dufrene, which has created some noticeable tension between everyone involved.
As we mentioned earlier, there was hardly anyone who wasn’t caught off guard by Dufrene and Del Rey’s surprise wedding in a private ceremony in Des Allemandes, Louisana. Dufrene’s ex, Welsh, reportedly learned the news of his marriage the morning after the ceremony, and she was shocked given their shared past.
It turns out that Del Rey and Dufrene have been in touch for years, even when he was engaged to Kelli Welsh. This continued communication raised some eyebrows and might even have contributed to the deteriorating relationship between Dufrene and Welsh, who believed she was the main focus of his love.
When Del Rey moved into the home Dufrene used to share with Welsh, she made it clear she wanted to get rid of all traces of Welsh, including personal belongings like crystals. Del Rey felt it was important to wipe away any lingering “energy” from Dufrene’s past relationship so they could start fresh.
One of the most surprising parts of this story is Dufrene’s choice to ban Welsh from their shared home. This has made Welsh feel sidelined and bewildered, especially since Dufrene’s ex-wife, Gina, is still allowed to come and go. If this is true, the double standard is a bit crazy, it has to be said!
Kelli Welsh’s daughter, Alana, still lives with Dufrene, which makes the whole situation even more complicated. Alana has always seen Dufrene as a father figure, but the way the households have changed out of nowhere, on top of the absurdly poor communication seems to have created a big mess and a feeling of distance among everyone involved.
Despite all the drama, sources say that Del Rey and Dufrene are truly in love. Del Rey has really made an effort to connect with Dufrene’s kids, even taking them on an extravagant trip to Los Angeles and giving them money to spend, which has helped her win their approval.
Interestingly, even though Del Rey is worth about $30 million, she and Dufrene have decided to live in his humble childhood home. It appears Del Rey values a more down-to-earth lifestyle, which to be fair must be quite refreshing for her. The ability to enjoy some privacy and simplicity away from the constant attention of fame is definitely a welcome change for a superstar like Lana Del Rey.
Kelli Welsh, meanwhile, is staying focused on her own future but still wishes the best for her ex-fiancé and his new wife. Life in Louisiana might never feel the same, but she looks back on her time with Dufrene with gratitude, knowing they’ve both moved on to new chapters in their lives.
