Lana Del Rey surprised fans everywhere when she walked down the aisle to Jeremy Dufrene in September 2024, just four months after she officially hard launched their relationship.
Since the unexpected nuptials, we still don't know much about Dufrene, who works as an alligator tour guide in Louisiana—but it seems like the couple would like to keep it that way. The “Summertime Sadness” singer tends to keep her love life out of the spotlight, and she defended her man against the flurry of media and public attention shortly after they got hitched.
Commenting on a paparazzi video shared by a fan account on Instagram, Del Rey wrote, “Unfortunately, a local couple from Houma won’t stop flying drones into our windows every morning and following us with a tracker.” She added, “All that being said Jeremy is the one and only. And amazing. And we’re very happy.”
Ahead, we break down everything we know about Dufrene so far.
They met through his job.
Dufrene is an airboat captain for Airboat Tours by Arthur, a Louisiana-based tour guide company that takes passengers through swamps and marshes to observe local creatures, including hawks, bald eagles, and—of course—alligators.
Del Rey first posted a picture with Dufrene back in 2019, when she embarked on one of Dufrene's airboat tours. “Jeremy lemme be captain at Arthur’s Air Boat Tours,” she captioned her Facebook post at the time.
View full post on FacebookHe used to work at a chemical plant.
According to his bio on the Airboat Tours by Arthur website, Dufrene made a major career pivot: “Jeremy decided life at a chemical plant working 7 days a week and shrimping on vacation days was not his calling. After a little convincing by his family, he got his captain's license and started running tours. He quickly realized that this was a great fit and he has never thought of going back to his previous career at the plant. Jeremy's a great airboat captain and loves interacting with wildlife & customers.”
View full post on InstagramHe's a father.
People reported that Dufrene has three kids: two daughters and one son.
His ex-fiancée is “happy for him.”
Kelli Welsh first dated Dufrene when she was 16 years old and he was 19; the two split up after a year, but eventually rekindled their romance years later after Dufrene split from his first wife, Gina, according to the Daily Mail. Welsh and Dufrene got engaged in 2012, but split in October 2023 before ever tying the knot.
“I am in shock because we were engaged for 12 years, and he got married after one month,” Welsh told the outlet. “But I am happy for him. He is a very protective, hardworking, manly man. He needed to get out of his comfort zone. He was used to bayou life and being out on the swamp. He is deserving of this blessing.”
Of Dufrene's relationship with Del Rey, Welsh said, “I will say that he really does look happy with her. And she does with him which is a good thing to see. It's not a fake happy—he truly is in love with her.”
She added, “He has always been a giver so to have someone give to him, he deserves it. He is a very solid guy. I care about him deeply as a friend. His ability to love and care and protect people makes him so attractive.”
