She was a college graduate with a degree in gerontology who planned to go to law school in Chicago. But life happened, and today, rather than advocating senior rights in a courtroom, she lives on a ranch and is a blogosphere sensation known as The Pioneer Woman. To her fans, Drummond and her husband, Ladd, are Oklahoma royalty.
Because royalty in Oklahoma is as rare as forestry in the Panhandle, we know it when we see it.
When the Osage County resident arrived at a book signing at Full Circle Bookstore in 50 Penn Place recently for her new book, the evidence was more than statistics and anonymous well-wishes. It was tangible.
The Pioneer Woman confessor, whose blog is viewed daily by tens of thousands of people, was there to promote her first book, "The Pioneer Woman Cooks,” which arrived in stores last month.
"We’re just so proud of her,” said fan and follower Vivian Boroff, who was one of the hundreds who showed up, helped those in line take photos and organized an after-party at Rococo for fellow fans. "She’s just such a real person, and she’s so funny. I love her.”
Ree Drummond aspired to none of this. She left her hometown of Bartlesville to pursue big-city life by way of the University of Southern California, and after four years of enjoying the sushi and nightlife there, she planned to stay a city girl by moving to Chicago.
But then, on a brief stop home en route to Chicago, she met Ladd Drummond, a member of one of northeastern Oklahoma’s most established families. And just as Charles found Diana, Arthur met Guinevere, and Donnie Duncan found Barry Switzer, Ladd found Ree.
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