Sarah Palin was impossible to miss in 2008, when John McCain plucked the little-known Alaska governor onto the national stage. Folksy yet fierce, she became a political phenomenon—then retreated to a private life that, in recent years, has been marked more by heartbreak than headlines. Born in Idaho and raised in Wasilla, Alaska, Palin was a high school basketball standout who eloped with her sweetheart, Todd, in 1988. They built a family of five—Track, Bristol, Willow, Piper, and Trig—and a rugged life balancing fishing, parenting, and politics.

Palin rose from local office to become Alaska’s youngest and first female governor in 2006, while Todd, the “First Dude,” juggled oil-field work and racing snowmobiles in the Iron Dog. Their partnership seemed unshakable, even through the intense scrutiny of the 2008 campaign and Bristol’s very public teenage pregnancy.

But in 2019, just after their 31st anniversary, Palin received an email from an attorney: Todd was filing for divorce. She called it like being “shot.” The divorce was finalized in 2020. Today, the two maintain limited contact for their youngest son, Trig.

Todd has a new partner, while Palin found unexpected companionship with former NHL star Ron Duguay—a friendship that turned into what she calls a “safe and comfortable” relationship. From courthouse elopement to the campaign trail and back to Wasilla, Palin has stumbled publicly and endured privately. Yet she remains what she’s always been: resilient, outspoken, and still moving forward—this time, on her own terms.