1000-Lb. Sisters star Tammy Slaton recalls the moment she learned of husband Caleb Willingham’s death – as Amy Slaton talks divorce
1000-Lb. Sisters star Tammy Slaton recalls the moment she learned of husband Caleb Willingham’s death – as Amy Slaton talks divorce
Tammy Slaton has recalled the moment she learned her husband Caleb Willingham had died in a new interview with her sister Amy Slaton.
Caleb died from unknown causes at age 40 on June 30, just seven months after the couple tied the knot in November last year.
During an interview with People, Slaton revealed a friend of Caleb’s told her over text message that her husband wasn’t doing well – before he informed her just 20 minutes later that he had passed.
At the time, Tammy was at her home in Kentucky and Willingham was at the Ohio rehab facility she had previously been at with him.
‘I was sitting in the fetal position,’ she told the publication. ‘I got a text message from his friend up there and the text said, “Caleb’s not doing good. They’re in there working on him.” 20 minutes later he texted me back and said he was gone.’
Tammy Slaton has recalled the moment she learned her husband Caleb Willingham died as she opened up about her late husband in a new interview with her sister Amy Slaton
The TLC star says she has been ‘doing fairly well’ getting through the tragedy, and has even made a ring and musical note-shaped necklace with the ashes of her late husband.
She has grown attached to the jewelry and finds comfort knowing a piece of him remains with her.
‘He’s going to live on now forever because his memory is encapsulated,’ she said.
‘Knowing that he’s with me, it’s helping me pass the day. I find myself grabbing my necklace and holding it a lot. When I take off my jewelry, I feel like it’s weird, separation anxiety. I start panicking.’
Watching him on their show has also provided her with some joy: ‘Every time I miss him, I can always look back at the show and watch it and see what made me happy again.’
As far as moving on, Tammy isn’t rushing to meet someone new: ‘I’m not in any kind of rush right now to settle down or meet anybody.’
Tammy’s sister, Amy Slaton, also opened up about divorcing husband Michael Halterman earlier this year.
‘There was no support. There was no love. There was no kindness. There was just mental abuse,’ she told People. ‘I just got tired of hiding it from people.’
The TLC stars took part in an interview with People as the fifth season of their show 1000-Lb. Sisters premiered
Caleb died from unknown causes at age 40 on June 30, just seven months after the couple tied the knot in November last year
She revealed a confrontation between her, her sisters and Michael will be shown on the next season of her reality series.
‘That’s the day I left,’ she said. ‘But I was falling out of love with him before that.’
She now only communicates with him about their children.
‘I see him Friday when I drop the boys off and I pick them up Monday,’ she explained. ‘And that’s as far as it goes. I’ll ask him if he can watch the kids if I have to work or something.
‘But other than that, it’s just a matter of “Hey, can you watch the boys on this day, at this time?”‘
Tammy’s sister, Amy Slaton, also opened up about divorcing husband Michael Halterman earlier this year
Season five of 1000-Lb. Sisters premiered on Tuesday, and a sneak peek released ahead of the premiere showed Tammy opening up about her life with Caleb.
Tammy, who underwent surgery to drop the pounds at the end of 2022, discussed some of the issues she faced during her marriage – including their struggle to find private time as newlyweds, in a clip filmed before her husband died.
‘It’s been two months since I got married,’ Tammy said in a preview for season 5 of 1000-Lb. Sisters, obtained by Entertainment Tonight.
‘I am really happy with Caleb. He’s the best thing that has possibly ever happened to me,’ she says.
‘But they won’t let us sleep in the same bed for safety reasons,’ Tammy continued in the clip. ‘It’s our first apartment [but we] still kinda feel like roommates.’
In the clip, Tammy admitted it was difficult to find time to be intimate with each other as they were both in the rehab center.
Season five of 1000-Lb. Sisters premiered on Tuesday, a sneak peek released ahead of the premiere showed Tammy and Caleb together before his death
‘I think one of the hardest parts about being newlyweds in a facility is the privacy,’ she acknowledges in the clip.
‘Not only… people don’t knock… but every time we turn around there’s somebody there,’ she added.
However, she gushed about how she loves sharing her life with Caleb.
‘He’s someone that I’m comfortable with. I mean, if I’m farting in front of him, that says a lot. I’ll burp in front of you all day long, but to pass gas? That’s magical,’ she quipped.
Caleb added at the time: ‘Everybody tells me that Tammy and I are such a cute couple. In my opinion, we’re the type of couple who makes people sick.’
In the upcoming season of 1000-Lb. Sisters, viewers will be taken through their journey as Tammy adjusts to life outside the rehab clinic after leaving in February this year.
Caleb and Tammy were reportedly estranged when he died on June 30, according to The Sun
It will also show Tammy struggling with Caleb gaining weight and ‘backsliding’ in his recovery, which was apparently a point of contention in their relationship.
Caleb and Tammy were reportedly estranged when he died on June 30, according to The Sun.
An insider told the publication that Tammy was ‘ready to file for divorce’ after they had a falling out over their diets.
‘They split up because Caleb hasn’t been following his diet in rehab,’ they alleged at the time. ‘He has gained 30lbs and hasn’t been working his program.’
They claimed Caleb tried to repair their marriage while they were separated, but his efforts were unsuccessful and Tammy was reportedly set to finalize the divorce.
The TLC star was still heartbroken after his death, sharing a tribute to Instagram which read: ‘RIP sweet angel, you will forever be missed and loved so much thank you Caleb for showing me real love and happiness.’
