The Queen of the Bayou: Why Cheyenne ‘Pickle’ Wheat Temporarily Left Swamp People and Her Beautiful Double Life

In the muddy, chaotic, and relentlessly demanding world of Swamp People, Cheyenne ‘Pickle’ Wheat is not just another cast member; she is a force of nature. Born and raised in the Louisiana wild, she’s a gator hunter whose toughness is matched only by her unforgettable charm. She’s the woman who handles a 10-foot gator with the same ease most people tie their shoes.

So, when she seemingly vanished from the spotlight, fans—who had fallen in love with her fearless energy and easy laugh—were left worrying. Did she quit the show for good? Did her rumored romance with Chase Landry end in heartache? Was there a crisis in the bayou bigger than a massive gator?

The rumors swirled online, fueled by silence and speculation. However, the truth behind Pickle’s mysterious absence is far more personal and heartwarming than any television drama. It’s a story of love, family, and a new life chapter that saw the swamp queen balancing her rifle with a baby’s crib.

Raised by the Wild: The Legend of Pickle

Cheyenne ‘Pickle’ Wheat, born in 1995 in Pyrass, Louisiana, was destined for a life in the swamp. For her family, hunting wasn’t a sport—it was an inherited tradition and a demanding way of life. Her father, Eddie Wheat, and her grandfather were both seasoned alligator hunters, and Pickle learned to hold a gun before she learned to tie her shoes. She hunted her first gator at the tender age of 12 and never looked back.

Despite being in her late twenties, Pickle hunts with the seasoned skill of someone twice her age. She knows how to track, tie lines, and wrestle the biggest gators without breaking a sweat. It was this fearless, authentic energy that made her the perfect addition to Swamp People when she joined the cast in Season 12.

Her nickname, “Pickle,” is often misunderstood. It has nothing to do with her love for the briney snack; it was simply a name her mother gave her as a baby that stuck. Today, it’s a household name, known by hunters in the deepest bayou and fans across the country. In a world full of manufactured reality TV stars, Pickle is the real deal: a full-blooded Louisiana woman who embodies the grit and heart of the swamp.

The Unforgettable Chemistry: Pickle and Chase Landry

No discussion of Pickle’s time on Swamp People is complete without addressing the intense fan curiosity surrounding her relationship with Chase Landry, the skilled son of the “King of the Swamp,” Troy Landry.

From the moment Pickle joined the show, her connection with Chase was undeniable. They shared a boat, a passion for the hunt, and an undeniable on-screen chemistry that fueled widespread speculation. They appeared together in photos, attended family events, and seemed to share a deeper bond than mere coworkers. For years, the question lingered: Were they dating?

The rumors seemed to get confirmed around 2020 when Pickle’s Facebook relationship status changed to indicate she was in a relationship with Chase Landry. The minor social media update sent fans into a frenzy. They looked like the perfect match: both were raised in the gator hunting life, sharing values, traditions, and a fierce love for Louisiana. They were seen at holidays and family gatherings, making the relationship appear serious, especially since Chase’s father, Troy, seemed to openly approve of Pickle.

However, just as suddenly as the rumors began, the public photos stopped. Older pictures were even deleted, leaving fans in a fog of speculation. Did they break up, or did they simply decide to keep their private lives private? Neither Chase, who has always been guarded about his personal life (including the mother of his first child, born in 2017), nor Pickle chose to speak publicly about a potential split. In a swamp-centric tradition where survival and family bonds take precedence over social media drama, their silence became the most authentic “Swamp People thing” they could do. What is certain is that the connection was genuine, a real-life romance born in the wild, whether it lasted or not.

The Real Reason for the Hiatus: Love and Family

While fans worried about breakups and show politics, the real reason for Pickle’s temporary absence from a past season of Swamp People was far more profound: real life happened. Her time away was influenced by two major, positive developments.

1. Troy Landry’s Health Battle

The show’s production schedule was unexpectedly interrupted when the revered Troy Landry—the undisputed patriarch and “King of the Swamp”—was diagnosed with prostate cancer. This serious health battle forced production to slow down and pause filming. As a close member of the Landry family’s hunting team, Pickle was directly affected by this hiatus, giving her an unexpected period of time away from the constant grind of filming.

2. The Surprise Wedding and Marriage

Pickle used this unexpected break to focus on a vital new chapter in her life: marriage. In a move that surprised many fans, she got engaged and later married Joshua Kippies, an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). Joshua is not a reality TV personality, but his demanding job—dealing with danger, long hours, and emergencies—proves he understands the meaning of hard work and commitment, making him an ideal partner for the fearless hunter.

Their wedding, which took place in September 2024, was simple, heartfelt, and deeply reflective of Pickle’s down-to-earth Louisiana roots. In a beautiful testament to their bond, none other than Troy Landry himself, whom Pickle considers a father figure, officiated the ceremony. While fans wondered if she had left the swamp for good, the truth was that the Queen of the Bayou was simply stepping into a new role as a wife, balancing her life with love.

A New Strength: Balancing the Swamp and Motherhood

Far from leaving the swamp, Pickle’s life has simply become fuller and richer. She continues to be an integral part of Swamp People, appearing with Troy Landry and showcasing her expertise. However, her home life has undergone an even more significant transformation.

Pickle Wheat is now a mother of two.

The unstoppable gator hunter welcomed her first child, a daughter named My, on April 27th, 2023. Less than two years later, in a post that thrilled her massive fanbase, she gave birth to her second child, a son named Casey, on April 4th, 2025.

Having two young children is an immense challenge that she balances with her demanding career. Her daily life now begins with the sound of baby cries before the sounds of the bayou. She has replaced her boat work with diaper changes, feedings, and the long nights of new parenthood. Yet, her ingrained strength and resilience, honed over years in the challenging swamp environment, now serve her in a different but equally demanding arena: her home.

She and her husband, Joshua, work as a team, sharing the load of two demanding careers and two young children. Joshua’s support has been a cornerstone of her ability to manage both worlds, allowing her to continue hunting and exploring the wild while also cherishing her family.

Thriving in Honesty

Cheyenne ‘Pickle’ Wheat’s story is a rare gem in reality television. She remains deeply connected to her roots, her values, and the hard-working Louisiana life that shaped her. She hasn’t been swayed by fame, nor has she created artificial drama for the cameras. She is still the honest, reliable, and tough woman who loves the land.

She wants her children to grow up strong, respecting nature, and learning the traditions of the bayou. Through small social media glimpses—a photo of her husband holding their children or a clip of her daughter chasing bugs—she shares a window into a real life, unpolished and cherished.

For those who worried, the answer is clear: Pickle Wheat did not leave Swamp People. She simply took time for life’s biggest, most beautiful moments—a marriage and the start of a family. She is not just surviving; she is flourishing, living her best life as a dedicated gator hunter, a loving wife, and a devoted mother of two. She is the Queen of the Bayou, and her legacy is only just beginning.