Bachelor Brad Womack has a lot of wonderful women to choose from this season, each with their own story and background. One story in particular that hit the girls in the house hard during tonight’s episode was Emily Maynard’s tragic love story with her former fiancé Ricky Hendrick.
I wrote about this when Season 15 of The Bachelor first started but I know there will be a renewed interest in their love story after tonight’s episode. So here’s the story of Emily Maynard and Ricky Hendrick (the slideshow of photos at the bottom of this post proves that what these two had was a once in a lifetime kind of love):
Emily and Ricky had been dating for about 4 years when he died in a plane crash in 2004. Ricky was traveling to a race and Emily was set to accompany him on the plane but wasn’t feeling well that morning so she stayed home. The plane crashed into a mountain and all 10 passengers were killed.
4 days later, Emily learned that she was pregnant with Ricky’s baby. She told Ricky’s parents (and the grandparents of their baby) that she was pregnant during Ricky’s memorial service.
Emily and Ricky started dating when she was 15 years old and were engaged for six months at the time of his death.
Her heartbreaking story really put things in perspective for the girls in the house during tonight’s episode.
Emily may be on the show but the question is whether or not she has fully grieved the loss of Ricky (or if she ever will) which may end up being a hard obstacle for Brad to overcome as the season progresses.
Here is a photo slideshow of Emily and Ricky. From what I see in the photos, Emily and Ricky had that type of love that most people search their whole lives for. So tragic.
I’m a huge nascar fan and when this season started and I was watching the show and when I heard your story I knew who you were and knew which plane crash you were talking about … first I would like to say I’m so deeply sorry for you and your daughter … but I want you to know that I’m pulling for you on the show I think you are a very sincere person and I hope Brad will be able to see that in you … but if not I know you will find happiness someday you are truely a beautiful woman and you deserve to be happy … Good Luck !!! in everything you do from this moment on
I was watching the Batchelor and I too knew exactly who you were talking about. I am a Nascar Fan and I was so saddened by the lose for the Hendrick Racing Family. Emily you are a truly beautiful person inside and out, I know Brad can already see that. But know this, even if its not Brad, God has a plan for you and your daughter. You do deserve the best. God bless and all the best to you in your journey. An Angel is watching over you both.
So she was 15 dating a 20 year old then a 24 year old got an 18 year old pregnant? I think in death, people are glossing over this story? How hard is it at 15 to think you found your “true love” when he is a MAN and rich?
Karen,
who are you to judge how old she was when she fell in love with this young man. God doesn’t put age on Love.. Obviously, you can tell that this young, beautiful woman must have truly loved him or it wouldn’t be hard for her to talk about now. Shame on some people for thinking the thoughts they think….
Poor Karen. You must be a lonely soul.
Hopefully she will win Brad’s heart and shove it in Michelle’s face!!!
Aside from the tragic death, a 20 year old dating a 15 year old is absolutely gross. Also, Rebecca “shame on people for thinking the thoughts they think”??? I can’t do much but laugh because that was simply one of the dumest things I have ever heard.
i also know the story from being a race fan…it was tragic!! i’v been thru a tragedy & it does get better but it will never go away!! they messed up by not saving emily for the next bachelorett she deserves to do the choosing!! brad also deserves to be happy just not with emily they didnt look good together..an i also think she will have a hard time leaving NC & the hendricks as it should be!!! above all love & happiness to emily & lil ricki!!!
Thanks for the kind words from some of you! The bottom line is that none of us know Emily’s intentions. But we can gain some insight through the women who have been living with her on the Bachelor. I’ve NEVER seen women care for a person like they do Emily. They all say the same thing…she is beautiful inside and out. That is good enough for me!
When I heard Emiily’s story on the Bachelor my first thought was Ricky Hendrick. I just never thought I was right. My heart goes out to her and her daughter. I hope she finds love with someone that will treat her and little Ricki with all the love and respect she deserves, and defend her when people attack her for any reason. I know there are people that have a hard time with the age difference when Emily and Ricky got together. But everyone needs to realize she was 18 when she got pregnant. It’s not like she was 15 and pregnant. If her parents didn’t have a problem with them dating than noone else has the right to pass judgement. And by watching Emily on the Bachelor she truly loved Ricky. Not for the money but for him. She could have made millions on her story and hasn’t so please don’t tarnish their love and his memory by thinking she loved him for the money. I truly believe she loved him and still does but deserves to find a wonderful man.
Her parents were wealthy too. The happen to meet while their families were building beach houses right next to each other. Pretty sure she wasn’t after his money!
I think Emily honestly deserves someone better than Brad.. Just saying..
I love this girl and I’ll be honest she’s too good for Brad ! And I hope she finds someone who will appreciate her and her circumstance.
I honestly don’t know how I would be in that situation. Good for her in being able to move on !
Beautiful love story…and to think that the producers of the Bachelor show are sending the girls to a race track next week.. are you serious??? They can’t come up with something else!! That is just WRONG. I know Ricky was killed in a plane crash; but, to put Emily through that – is cruel.. and disrespectful.. How tasteless Bachelor show!
I love her so much! she really is like a Barbie doll and mother Teresa, so beautiful and perfect yet so loving and kind. she deserves to be very happy!..Deff. the kind of girl who can have any man, yet make them happy in any way. i want her to be with brad..GOOD LUCK!!!
KAREN- LAME. OLD HAGGARD.
I’m confused… she found out she was preggo 4 days after his death, but she looks pregnant in a few of those photos in the montage? Maybe it’s just baggy clothing? Either way, she seems to be a lovely person and I hope she finds the love and happiness she’s looking for!
Emily, I pray you have found peace and happiness. Your story is incredible and you deserve nothing less than the very best of what God has designed for you. God bless you and all your loved ones, also to Ricky who is watching over you and your daughter.
Emily you are a class act..you are beautiful inside and out!! I hope you find love again!! You deserve it!! My heart breaks for you. I remember hearing about this, my husband and I never missed a race and this was just devastating to hear!!! You will do great things in life, I just know it!!
Girlfriend left her very young daughter to compete for a husband on TV. Following this she will be gone for another 2 months to be the Bachelorette, slutting herself out to 25 men, shopping for a husband, fame and big paycheck. She may very well be a nice young girl, but there isn’t anything noble or classy about that.
What happened to the baby??? I am so lost
Jean,
She deserves to find happiness. She has been single for 6 years and it is time for her to find the missing part to her heart.
I love em!! She deserves happiness just like brad does!! We all do people!! So what on how we find it or how we get there!! I hope she and her daughter have a happy life with or without a man in it!!! I support you Emily a 100%!!!!!!!!
Age doesn’t matter when it comes to love. I met the love of my life when I was 15 and he was 20. Now here we are 12 years later married for 5 years and a beautiful 3 month old. Good for her for finding her love so soon in life. I know I did!
@Karen – You can’t put a number on love. Her family was rich as well. She did not need his money. Have a heart!
@Jean – She has focused on her child as her heart was healing. She now wants to find true love. How could you possibly judge? Have you ever been on the bachelor/bachelorette? NO…so don’t judge!
Emily has so much class. I absolutely adore her. She has shown class through a process which has made most of the girls just look catty and jealous. She is a beautiful girl with a beautiful heart. You can see why Ricky loved her. I pray for her to have a full happy life, Im sure that is what he would want for her too. May love always carry you thru….
Emily you are so beautiful & strong God will lead you just hold his hand remember He knows your life plan.
I think Emily is just an amazing woman. She seems to be pretty much one of few classy women on the show. Never getting involved in arguments or gossip, always keeps her cool. Just an all around great person/monther and forsure a wife. I would love to see her and Brad get together. The look on his face when she came out of the limo the first night? I new then.. he’s always nervous around her. All the best to you and your daughter, yous’ deserve it!
I started dating my husband when I was 17, and he is 6yrs older then me and we have 2 beautiful childeren, and when we started dating I knew we were going to get married, I feel bad for Emily, and the Bachelor shame on u for putting her through this
@ the comments about her being too young, my parents started dating when my mom was 15 and dad 21, they were married when my mom was 18 and have been married ever since! (32 yrs later) I think it happens and works and is true, who is anyone to judge! Go Emily!!! I hope she finds true fulfillment and happiness again!
Some of you people need to chill out about the age difference. I got pregnant by my husband at 18 and he was 23. 7 years later we are still together and pregnant again Age doesn’t mean anything. It’s only 5 years. its not 20 like some people. Love knows no age. Even at 15 i knew my husband and knew one day we would end up together.2 years later we were dating and very happy together.
Emily truely deserves to have another true love in her life, and will not be able to have that, until she moves on and gets over the loss of Ricky. Brad is right, she is sabotaging any relationship that could possible develop because of she sadness. She must move on, keep the good and love in her heart that she gained from Ricky, focus on her daughter and her happiness !!!!
Yes, Emily deserves happiness…but can Brad Womack really be the man for her? In fact all the woman deserve happiness. Even the ones we think are crazy. This is a show that is filmed for entertainment purposes and for ratings. The producers let us see what they want us to see. They knew what they were doing settig up “the scene” for Emily at the NASCAR track. Regardless, she has to deal with it. I honestly can’t figure out why some of the women would even want Brad. You rarely see any of the woman on The Bachelor walk away on their own volition.(I remember only one episode of a Bachelor season- she was a doctor. There may have been more I don’t remember / haven’t seen.)
hello i just want to let you know that you are a verry sweet young pretty girl and if you did not find love with brad you will find love with somone even more special and you will find that love once agian and i know you will never forget Ricky you can remember him as something verry special in your life that was your first love and you had a verry nice daughter with him i saw her on the show and you are a special girl i hope you find love and screw brad if he dosnt pick you
Ok does emily win????????Please someone tell me????
Chantel O. wins!!!!
Chantel O is a fatty and a liar and a $#!+ stirrer and my 2nd least fav woman on the show….right after michele.
Emily you are a class act.. You deserves so much better. He did you a huge favor by not picking you!!! You will find the right person.
I can’t believe he picked Chantel O. I thought it was in such bad taste when she slapped him on the first meeting, and all she’s done ever since is whine whine whine!
I like Emily a lot and was very saddened to hear her story. My husband and I have a big age difference, though we found each other when I was 19 and he 37(we’ve been married for close to 20 years now and have two kids.) Age is a number. However, if I were a guy looking for love, it would be difficult for me to be “second best” to someone Emily already considered “love of her life”. She deserves to be happy, but sometimes I wonder if she is truly ready to move on. In any way, I hope she can find someone better than Brad.
Im a Nascar fan & an Emily fan Dont leave your roots& beliefs love will find you just the way you are for who your are.the negavtive you might read is because they hadnt been there love is just around the corner for you . is Jr too old ? you will make some man very happy someday there will be a day youll be very happy dont give up on love you deserve love
Emily, I get the best feeling in the world to watch you. I said from day 1 that you were too much for Brad and I think that was his problem. God has better things in store for you and your precious Rickie
Hey Smart Ladies – They were dating since THEY were 15 – They were born in the same year. Look it up.
Actually Duh, you are wrong. Emily and Ricky were not the same age. Ricky would be 31 this year. Emily just turned 25 this month. That makes a 5 year age different. Ricky was born April 2rd, 1980. Emily was born February 1st, 1986.
WHY is she even on this joke of a show? If she is so well off, and as some of you said, left her child back in NC, for this jerk, why else would she be on TV like this? I know the Hendricks, a very, very sad loss, we have had a very sad loss as well, and we are not putting ourselves out on TV trying to date a jerk like this. Believe me, young girls flock to these drivers like flies on poop. They know if they can nail one of them, get pregnant, they are set for life. It’s like that with all sport stars, and NASCAR is very much included. The Hendricks have a very large amount of money, so don’t feel ‘bad’ for Emily. She need not go to CA for a cheap dating show if she wanted to “find love”. Give me a break.
I don’t know why people criticize the girl because of her age. My husband and I got married when I was 19 and he was 25. We have been happily married for 46 years now, with 4 children and 7 grandchildren. I also don’t understand everyone thinking that Brad was a jerk. To me, he did the right thing. If he wasn’t in love with either of the girls a few years ago, he did them and himself a real favor. People are so cruel. I wish the best for Emily and for Brad.
Who doesn’t LOVE Emily? She is hot, beautiful, so kind, a mother, and an event planner at a CHILDRENS HOSPITAL. She is clearly a special person & deserves the best, happiest future. If Brad & her don’t work out then my guess is SHE doesn’t choose him.
HOW does Emily have such an enormous house? (Why would anyone want one, too much to clean in my opinion
). That house is pricey and filled with pricey “stuff”. I wondered if she had received a settlement from the airline, but probably not since she wasn’t married to Ricky?
I wonder why she hides her prettiness under so much makeup, bleached hair and fake teeth? She doesn’t need it – i wish i didn’t :O)
I can’t stop looking at her veneers either
Well. I think the settlement must have, obviously, gone to his daughter-Rikki (Emily is the Mommy) so that’s why she’s got her beautiful home. I don’t get why Emily did this to begin with. Maybe she really likes FAMOUS (so called) men-in the spotlight. I think she knows exactly what she’s doing. She’s in the limelight and she’s beautiful and lovely. She’ll have her own sitcome or will be on Dancing with the Stars before we can say “Brad” out loud. I can tell he’s not in love with her. So obvious he’ll pick lil rich girl Chantel. I don’t worry about Emily. She’s going to be FAMOUS this time herself. She’s freaking gorgeous. Will do hair and makeup adds too. Carrie Underwood look out. Emily-”looking for love in all the wrong places”. Meet someone from you home town, settle down and get married. He guy who passed had sad eyes. Very sad…
allie, because Rick Hendrick is little Ricky’s grandfather. Rick Hendrick as in the owner of NASCAR teams of Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Mark Martin and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Hendrick also owns over 60 automotive dealerships. So I am sure Papa Rick see that they are taken care of. But given the wealth of Hendrick, Emily’s home is very modest…but I am sure she doesn’t clean it herself.
and the plane they were killed in was a private jet owned by Hendrick
Wow, she was cute back then. Too bad she went the overly made up and over peroxided fake route after he died.
I think Emily is showing a lot of grace and not acting like a whore like some of the other girls. I really hope Brad does not choose her because she is to good for him. For some reason he changed his name. I hope next week she does not choose to spend the night in the suite as a couple. I think she would be better off with someone in the racing community. It is clear sh still loves Ricky. Emily is great. She does not need someone like Brad.
ok so this is how it goes…Emily is by far the most classy and adorable in this show. Yeah, she has a daughter and left her for some time…but it was to find love and not only for herself but to give her daughter a father figure in her life. It had to happen eventually so why not start with the bachelor.
Karen, sounds to me like you’re jealous..Emily is the classiest girl on the show and you talk nothing but trash on her..idk how any one could say negative things about Emily after how sweet and kind hearted she is. The world would actually be peaceful if everyone had the personality of her.
No way in hell I would let my 15 year old daughter date a 20 year old man!!!!! That being said I do think she appears to be a lovely young lady and I wish her well
Emily is a really classy lady. I hope Brad is in love with her. They deserve each other. Brad is very respectful and deserves a beautiful woman like Emily.
I hope Em is picked for the Bachelorette
They were SO cute together
He does not choose Chantal, he picks Emily at the end and they are engaged. Her house is up for sale. Ashley Spevey will be the next bachelorette.
Awwwwww I feel so bad for her to b so deeply in love and to have it gOne that suz
I toatlly believe Emily is telling the truth.I think people are just trying to cause drama to get every one rilled up.Emily if your reading this I just wanna say “Follow your heart and what ever you do never give up on love!”
fake and a gold digger….everyone knows that here in charlotte. don’t believe everything you hear OR SEE. i feel sorry that the Hendricks family even has to deal with this. glad the lies are finally starting to catch up!!!…it’s about time! yay US Weekly!!!
Hey guys
Emily says she MET Ricky when she was 15. They didn’t become an official couple until 2003, when they fell in live and began planning their lives together. They got engaged 6 months before his death. It is a beautiful love story. But I think people are misunderstanding the exact timeframe.
And @ michelle Charlotte:
Everyone here in Charlotte seems to have a pretty bad impression of Cori Tietsort Kurek- Emily is a sweet girl and I don’t think anyone has a problem with her. All I know is that Cori who sold the stupid InTouch story got paid $20,000 and is on pills plus she is a psychotic alcoholic nutjob. She is like the least cedible source of info! Cheating on your husband and getting arrested for assault. Really? And you want to go after someone like emily? Come on. Soon that $20,000 will be gone too.
srsly, search for youtube videos that date way back. there have been vids with slideshows for ricky when he passed on and the some included photos of him and emily. i totally have faith in emily. cori’s really trying to get fame.
http://www.scenedaily.com/news/articles/sprintcupseries/waiting_on_a_miracle.html “Hendrick said Ricky and Emily had known each other for years, had been engaged for about six months and planned to be married in December 2004″ Why would the Hendrick family lie?
reality steve posted brad does pick chantal unless he has been duped again by the bachelor team. he likes brunettes clearly. but she is southern like him so they have more in common; however, he seemed enchanted with chantal’s family’s money – who knows.
Anyone would be a fool not to pick Emily. All the ladies who find fault w/her, come on… she has what every female wants, class, style, beauty, she has it all and now she has Brad! Congratulation! And you see that he was head over heels in love with her from the beginning. The other ladies on the show had to see that as well. I think some did.
Can’t wait to see the final show.
Mother Theresa? Really? C’mon… She is not Mother Theresa. The woman’s dream career is to be television host and she’s been on-air since 2006. She knows how to dress, perform, etc. I’m not saying her grief was not real, but she appears to be different thatn what she’s trying to be – to me.
And I have dated men like her ex. who are members of a wealthy family … yes, it’s likely he had more than one girlfriend. I just have a feeling she is not what she seems.
I grew up with Emily in Morgantown, WV. She has an older brother whom I was friends with. First of all, her family is very well off. She grew up in a beautiful home and her family had more than one home. She is everything she seems. She is a genuinely sweet girl and not only does she not need to date for money, but she would never do such a thing. She’s really a great girl and always has been. She comes from a nice family and she only deserves great things in life.
wow he was 21 dating a 15 yr old ~ i guess money CAN get you underaged girls!
Clearly you didn’t read the article, idiot! They dated for 4 yrs before he died. That would make her 19…
Clearly you didn’t read the article, idiot! They dated for 4 yrs before he died. That would make her 19…
she was 19 when he died… whos the idiot now?
Clearly you didn’t read the article, idiot! They dated for 4 yrs before he died. That would make her 19…
Clearly you didn’t read the article, idiot! They dated for 4 yrs before he died. That would make her 19…
Clearly you didn’t read the article, idiot! They dated for 4 yrs before he died. That would make her 19…
he was 21 when he DIED….not when they started dating; read first and then comment!
You should READ! He was born in 1980 and died in 2004…seems like he was 24 when he died not 21! And the daughter is five now, Emily is 24 now…so simple math shows that she was 18 or 19 when Ricky died, 19 when she gave birth to her daughter and 15 when she and Ricky started dating…4 years before his death 5 years ago…9 minus 24 = 15. Facts are facts. BTW – BIG mistake for Brad to pick her…she is damaged goods and will be that way for a very long time!
You should READ! He was born in 1980 and died in 2004…seems like he was 24 when he died not 21! And the daughter is five now, Emily is 24 now…so simple math shows that she was 18 or 19 when Ricky died, 19 when she gave birth to her daughter and 15 when she and Ricky started dating…4 years before his death 5 years ago…9 minus 24 = 15. Facts are facts. BTW – BIG mistake for Brad to pick her…she is damaged goods and will be that way for a very long time!
You should READ! He was born in 1980 and died in 2004…seems like he was 24 when he died not 21! And the daughter is five now, Emily is 24 now…so simple math shows that she was 18 or 19 when Ricky died, 19 when she gave birth to her daughter and 15 when she and Ricky started dating…4 years before his death 5 years ago…9 minus 24 = 15. Facts are facts. BTW – BIG mistake for Brad to pick her…she is damaged goods and will be that way for a very long time!
You should READ! He was born in 1980 and died in 2004…seems like he was 24 when he died not 21! And the daughter is five now, Emily is 24 now…so simple math shows that she was 18 or 19 when Ricky died, 19 when she gave birth to her daughter and 15 when she and Ricky started dating…4 years before his death 5 years ago…9 minus 24 = 15. Facts are facts. BTW – BIG mistake for Brad to pick her…she is damaged goods and will be that way for a very long time!
So you can’t date when you’re 15? It didn’t say they were having sex, it said they were dating!
So you can’t date when you’re 15? It didn’t say they were having sex, it said they were dating!
She seems like a typical track rat. She would have dumper him like a bad habit soon as a bigger name came along. This Brad cat should run for his life from this psycho!!!
He was born in April 1980 and died in October 2004 so he would have been 24 when he died. She was 19 when he died and they were together for 4 years prior to that. So Evan is correct, he would have been dating a 15 year old!
This show exploits women, and breaks more hearts than candy on Valentine’s Day. Emily has cold feet? So she wants all the glamour and none of the responsibility? Brad is a spoiled little boy who wants his wife but dates on the side is OK, and ABC foots the bill for all this ‘entertainment’? It looks like the real winners are the ladies Brad sent home in a limo.
Emily is a ho and Brad is too dumb to see it. The only thing more ridiculous than watching this show is being an actual contestant.
Emily is a ho and Brad is too dumb to see it. The only thing more ridiculous than watching this show is being an actual contestant.
People the big picture here is that Brad will be driving the 88 car next year in the Great American Race
Emily seems like a very sweet person and thought she and Brad would make a great family. It’s very clear that unless she works on her insecurities, the relationship is going to fail. Deal with your anger, Brad. Nobody finds an angry person attractive.
I’m sorry, but really people who cares? Simple fact he went on a dating show which means 15 seconds of fame or he’s that lame that he can’t find a girl without help. For two, she went on a dating show competeing against other woman for a lame ass and is NOW going to get upset about is actions with the other woman? Grow up, what the hell did she think that she was the only girl he was wooing? The whole thing is a pathetic scandal wrapped up in one pathetic show. As for romance? I’m sorry but if I have to find a man by competeing on tv with other woman I’d rather be single and ya the relationship is going to fail look at the odds!!
I’ve been working with brides and grooms for years. yes, she is everything you’ve stated..Beautiful, Sweet etc. However, their last date, Chantel being an easy adjustment, Brad is also not ready. He has issues and I know he was going to prove this by going with the “Challenge”..That is typical for a committment phobic person. If he was ready, Chantel was the perfect fit. No drama..Think people..He went after Em because deep down he knew he wouldn’t get her. He also chose her because his family loved her and that’s who he wanted to please. There is also something else that is bothering me..Her look on after the rose..She looked like the “Devil Wears White”..She redid her hair etc..new image..When she said when asked about moving..”I love you, but Neooo. Iy had a tone that changed my feelings. BIG time. They are over as quickly as they started. They both need therapy..She can blame it on the TV, but this is what reality shows do..He made the wrong choice if he was REALLY ready. If you don’t want to settle down, yes avoid the “sure thing”..The challenge is always more intriguing..Her behavour was not so em…anyone think the same?
What I find so interetsnig is you could never find this anywhere else.
For those commenting on her house… if you look up public records, her house was last sold in 1980, which means it could not have been purchased by her since she wasn’t even born yet. And yes, it’s big, but its in NC which has a much cheaper cost of living. It has a estimated value of $200k.
I grew up in Palmer Springs virginia
on a farm next to the Hendricks family. They were the nicest people.
Emily god has blessed you with a beautiful daugher and Ricky Hendricks with a beautiful grandaughter. I wish you the best. Stay where you are with your daughter.
Hi, Rebecca.
I read your comment about the Hendricks. I was born in Palmer Springs. Would love to talk with you, or email. Please contact me. My mother, and many family members (Reads) are also buried at Union Chapel. Feel free to call anytime. I’m in Atlanta. memlane1@aol.com Cordially yours.
i am a single mom with a 4 year daughter, i am a very lovely women, i like to cook and i like to have a good family life with a good honest hearted man , i am 35 looking a lively hearted boy friend and husband of 40 – 45 year old,