Realtor.com/Fox News
Celebrity chef Paula Deen welcomed “Fox & Friends” host Steve Doocy to her expansive 4.6-acre home a couple of miles east of Savannah, GA. As the pair made their way around the $8.4 million estate, Deen recalled how excited she was to be showing off the property’s unique amenities and stunning views.
Doocy couldn’t help but comment on some of the estate’s standout features. “Those are your husband Michael’s garages? I’ve never seen a garage that big,” Doocy said during the walk-around.
“Big boys have big toys. And he’s got a GTO,” said Deen, playfully admitting that she doesn’t spend much time in that area.
In 1987, Deen moved to Savannah, but is originally from Albany, GA, which is located more inland in Southwest Georgia. The couple’s 14-bed, 11.5-bath property sits halfway between Savannah’s downtown and the beach, says Deen.
Savannah properties are diverse, featuring historic homes with varied architectural styles alongside modern luxury estates and waterfront properties on islands like Tybee and Wilmington. Savannah’s median home price is $422,450.
Residents enjoy properties that often include access to nature and water in a variety of neighborhoods, from pedestrian-friendly suburbs like Ardsley Park to master-planned communities with golf courses.
(Realtor.com)
(Realtor.com)
(Realtor.com)
(Realtor.com)
During the interview, Doocy pointed to another stunning home across from her current property where Deen used to live when she was single and caring for a couple of furry friends.
The TV personality said she had been praying for a neighbor to show up for years. After a mishap with her dog Otis, who ran into the neighboring Savannah home, she locked eyes with the property’s owner, Michael Groover, whom she later married and moved in with.
Deen calls this property her “forever home,” as per the Fox interview. She and Doocy toured the house, marveling at the roaming chickens, the courtyard’s stunning water fountain, and the massive dock that her step-grandkids swim in.
The house also has views of Turner’s Creek, a narrow waterway off the Wilmington River about 200 feet across, with a depth of 10 to 12 feet. Many Savannah residents use the creek as an anchorage spot due to its good wind and current protection.
“To me, it’s one of the most beautiful creeks here in Wilmington, if not in Savannah,” says Deen.
“It’s the ultimate low country view,” says Doocy.
Doocy’s Deen interview comes just a few months after the “Fox & Friends” host listed his $1.8 million New Jersey home after shifting to a new role on the morning show. Doocy and his wife, Kathy, lived there for nearly three decades, raising their three children in the house.
Celebrity chef closes flagship restaurants
Deen is no stranger to controversy. In 2013, she faced public scrutiny and was essentially “canceled” after admitting to using racial slurs during a lawsuit deposition, as reported by People. This led to the Food Network deciding not to renew her contract and the cancellation of her show, “Paula’s Home Cooking.” She also lost endorsement deals with companies such as Walmart, Target, and Home Depot. But this wasn’t her first offense: The celebrity chef has long been criticized for offensive comments and inappropriate behavior in the spotlight, as per Business Insider.
This month, Deen announced via a Facebook post that her longtime restaurant The Lady & Sons had shut its doors along with another one of her nearby restaurants, The Chicken Box.
“Hey, y’all, my sons and I made the heartfelt decision that Thursday, July 31st, was the last day of service for The Lady & Sons and The Chicken Box. Thank you for all the great memories and for your loyalty over the past 36 years,” Deen wrote in a statement, also signed by her adult sons, Jamie and Bobby.
“We have endless love and gratitude for every customer who has walked through our doors. We are equally grateful to our incredible staff—past and present—whose hard work, care, and hospitality made The Lady & Sons what it was. Savannah will always be our home, and we’ll always be here to support our wonderful community.”