“Moonshiners” is an American reality television drama series that many people might be familiar with, as the documentary-style show recently aired its twelfth season, and seems to be very popular among reality TV audiences. The show follows the lives of several distillers who produce, often illegally, the famous American alcoholic beverage known by many names, most predominantly though, it’s called moonshine, but also earned nicknames such as mountain dew, hooch, fire water, white spirits, and a bunch of other slang terms.

The name Moonshine comes from the historical process of making the liquor, which is most often performed during the night to avoid attracting the attention of law enforcement, and is especially popular in the Appalachian regions of the US where the beverage grew in popularity during the historical Prohibition period. During those early years, alcohol became banned in most states, giving rise in popularity for the illegal brewing of moonshine.

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The Moonshine distilling industry also gave birth to the inception of the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) sport, which came about after the prohibition period ended, and most moonshine ‘runners’ were out of a job. Keeping their driving skills sharp, many runners began competing against each other on racing circuits, which led to the creation of the now-famous American automotive sport.

With so much interest and mystery shrouding the moonshine distilling industry, it is no wonder that the once-illegal trade would eventually spawn a dedicated documentary. However, with many people entertained by the stories of the distillers, one famous documentary eventually became the popular series many have come to love.

As can be expected, the success of the original “Moonshiners” series would lead producers to create spin-offs, which include the most recent “Moonshiners: Master Distillers” series, after the creation of “Moonshiners: Whiskey Business”. Of course, the series also led to the inception of ‘Tickle’, which more specifically followed the intriguing life of one of the show’s most popular distillers, Steven Ray Tickle.

While the show featured numerous brewers, most of whom hail from the Appalachian regions of South and North Carolina, Virginia, Alabama, and other surrounding states, one distiller stands out from the rest, namely Richard Landry.

Many of the distillers featured on the show proudly proclaim to have had a lifelong interest in the moonshine distilling industry, but for Louisiana native Landry, moonshine the activity is something he only recently gained an interest in, surprisingly, inspired by the first season of “Moonshiners”.

Despite being considered somewhat of a rookie, Richard nonetheless left his mark on the reality TV series, and for good reason, as Landry earned the respect of many associates with his award-winning concoctions.

Thank you @theadvocateaca for sharing my story. It’s been a long road to get here and I’m thankful for the journey. #masterdistiller #justthebeginning https://t.co/Qk8OgjGylW

— DistillerRJLandry (@DistillerLandry) January 10, 2021

Who Is Richard Landry?

You may recognize Landry known for being a pro truck driver from Louisiana, and as a long-time fan of the “Moonshiners” show, he quickly learned that his talents aren’t limited to his original profession but also extend to the fine craft of moonshining.

After watching the first season of “Moonshiners” when it first aired in 2011, Richard fell in love with the process and art of distilling, eventually trying his hand at it with a self-made still in his backyard.

As Landry would put it, moonshining wasn’t something he just dived into, as the distilling trade requires careful research and study to perfect. At first, Landry would struggle with his newfound hobby, but after successfully producing his first couple of tasty batches, Richard simply became engrossed in the craft.

Approaching the art of moonshining as one would the fine culinary arts, Richard, with nothing but a makeshift still, a lust for blending exotic flavours, and a thirst for challenging himself, would spend the next decade feeding his curiosity. As he honed his skills and mastered his newfound interest, Richard began brewing a wide range of richly flavoured concoctions, some inspired by his native Louisiana, and others simply spiced by a love for odd but out-of-the-ordinary flavours.

As the years went by, and Landry perfected his craft, his chance to show off his skills to the rest of the world eventually come, and Landry jumped at the opportunity. Although he never thought that something as unbelievable would ever happen, Richard made the best of it. In 2019, Landry received an invitation to appear in the ‘Moonshiners: Master Distiller’ spin-off series as a competitor, which Landry didn’t turn down.

At first, Landry believed he may have bitten off more than he can chew, as he faced a couple of tough competitors, who included a third-generation distiller boasting of a life-long passion for brewing, and a biochemist who worked at a professional distillery.

However, Landry pulled himself together, aiming to focus on nothing other than producing the perfect shine, and thanks to his trademark appreciation for traditional southern flavours, and his sharp sense for understanding the science behind flavour blending, Landry walked away the winner.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=650950088892759

Richard created a strong, flavoured Cherry Bounce with a vivid taste that absolutely blew the judges away, subsequently earning him the title of Master Distiller. In doing so, word quickly spread about Landry’s skills, not only among fans of the show but also among the cast of and producers of “Moonshiners”. In 2020, Landry earned an invitation to become a member of the cast, and made his debut later that year.

As part of his appearance, Landry had to select a still hand to join him on the show, prompting him to choose his younger brother Craig, who became an enthusiastic distiller thanks to Richard, who introduced him to the trade.

Together the Landry brothers exhibited their passion for exotic flavours, combined with their exceptional skills at breaking down backwoods moonshine, they became an instant hit with the audience. Inspired by the flavours they grew up with, the Landry brothers created numerous fun flavours that seemed a little outlandish at first, and most certainly unexpected, though nonetheless succeeded at brewing spectacular Moonshine.

During their debut appearance in “Moonshiners”, Richard opted to distil a true Louisiana-inspired concoction made from Manglier tea leaves of a tree that grows indigenously in his hometown.

Landry stated that he grew up with this tea, which is noted for having numerous health benefits, but also boasts a strong, bitter taste. In the next episodes, the Landry brothers experimented with a nostalgic Cotton Candy flavoured batch, and would also use the odd combination of sweet potatoes and cranberries.

With their wild flavours accentuated with bold tones, Landry’s concoctions would eventually earn him the title of ‘The Spice King’, and as he continued to create new vibrant flavours, Richard’s outlandish ideas and stills earned him numerous awards.

Despite being extremely popular on “Moonshiners”, both Richard and Craig remain modest and humble, saying that their time on the show is both a true blessing and a dream come true.

As the first and still only African-American cast members to appear in the show, the Landry brothers have enriched the hearts of many, inspiring a number of fans and followers to chase their dreams and passions.

To this, an ever-grateful Richard stated that he quickly realised that the work he does goes beyond just producing liquor, believing that his influence has grown to a bigger purpose that shows people that no matter who you are, or where you are from, anyone can shine.

Since his first appearance in the eleventh season of “Moonshiners”, Landry’s concocted one of his most popular brews, a deep red liquor aptly dubbed ‘the Bloody Mary’, and Richard even went on to compete in the ‘Moonshiners: Master Distiller Tournament of Champions’ spin-off, and made several appearances in the twelfth season of the show.

You can catch Landry, and all your other favourite distillers, on Discovery Channel, and who knows, maybe you too could develop a taste for distilling some mulekick.

Kye Kelley and Lizzy Musi are two of the stars of the popular Discovery Channel series “Street Outlaws”, a reality show dedicated to following the lives of several illegal street racing competitors and their daily struggles.

Both Kye and Lizzy are featured on the show as competitors, but even more so as each other’s love interests, despite from time-to-time meeting on the streets to compete in high-octane, thrilling competitions.

With the couple’s romance heating up the screens, and their cars burning rubber in the streets, fans of “Street Outlaws” expressed more and more interest in the couple.

Especially most recently, following the couple’s announcement about becoming engaged, and unfortunately informing their followers about a delay in the wedding plans. Is the couple still engaged, or has something caused their separation? This and many other questions weigh on the minds of their followers, all of which we hope to answer for them.

Who Is Kye Kelly?

Kye is an American reality television personality and famous street racer, best known for his appearance in “Street Outlaws”, in which he’s featured racing his modified 1992 Chevy Camaro nicknamed ‘The Shocker’.

Born on 19 May 1985, in McComb, Mississippi, USA, Kye expressed an interest in racing from a young age, originally competing in dirt bike derbies before making his mark in automotive racing.

Kye began competing in the New Orleans street racing scene, known as Da Pad, at the age of fifteen, quickly earning a reputation on the circuit as ‘the fastest man around’. In 2003, Kye matriculated from South Park Senior High School with a partial scholarship, and began working for a local oil refinery company as a fire watcher.

During his free time, Kye honed his passion for automotive engineering, as well as his street racing skills, until eventually started his own company. Kye owns and operates an automotive workshop in his hometown McComb, called ‘Down South Performance’, with the help of business partner Greg Champagne.

While competing on the New Orleans street racing circuit, and growing his reputation, Kye eventually caught the attention of Justin ‘Big Chief’ Shearer, who searched the New Orleans area for the fastest racer on the streets.

On 10 June 2013, Kelley made his screen debut in ‘Street Outlaws’, competing against several of the show’s big names and chief competitors, namely Daddy Dave, Doc, and of course Big Chief himself.

However, only in 2015 did Kye earn his popularity on the show after defeating another popular racer, Mike Murillo, who used to compete in world championship racing before retiring to the streets.

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Previously, Murillo held the NMCA/NMRA world racing championship a total of fourteen times, and for quite some time remained undefeated on “Street Outlaws”. After emerging victorious in his race against Mike, Kelley not only earned respect on the show, but also walked away with the record as the fastest racer in New Orleans.

Who Is Lizzy Musi?

Elizabeth Musi, known mononymously as Lizzy, is an American professional drag racer, who holds the record as the first female competitor to win the Professional Drag Racer Association Championship.

She is perhaps best known as one of the stars from “Street Outlaws”, but also featured in the street racing drama film “Adrenaline”, and manages an Instagram account on which she acts as a fitness influencer and promotes beauty products that she sells through her personal website.

Born on 1 January 1991, in Carteret, New Jersey, Lizzy began her drag racing career at the age of sixteen, under the guidance of her father, Pat Musi, a former racer who is now a businessman and owner of Pat Musi Racing Engines. Pat inspired Lizzy to chase a career on the racing circuit in defiance of what may have once been a male-dominated sport, and it certainly paid off.

https://www.facebook.com/lizzymusiracing/posts/pfbid02AvqUu7cYTSktPfVDbSm6xhvGUNQTJtCpZ4pZSu6kYLM6d7hHtGNakdxDmNKsohwil

Lizzy made her official drag racing debut driving ‘King Kong 5’, and in 2014 won her first PDRA championship, subsequently earning her the title of ‘Rookie of the Year’, as well as the record of being the first female champion.

Following this, Lizzy began competing in the local New Jersey street racing circuit, and eventually made her debut on “Street Outlaws” after gaining Big Chief’s attention as a top competitor.

Whenever she’s not racing, on the streets or the drag circuit, Lizzy helps out part-time in her father’s workshop, where she continues to display her passion and enthusiasm for motor engineering and sports. Aside from that, Lizzy is also known as Kye’s long-term girlfriend, and as of 2022, his fiancee.

Kye’s Previous Relationship

Before dating the beautiful Lizzy, Kye was previously married to Alisa Mote, a full-time nurse at North Oaks Health System in Hammond, Louisiana. Very little information regarding Kye’s relationship with Alisa is readily available, and it’s not known when the couple first met.

However, by 2014, with Kelley’s career as a street racer taking off, the couple had already become engaged, according to sources on 21 March 2014, and the couple tied the knot in August 2015.

On 25 March the following year, Alisa gave birth to their daughter, Kenadeigh Alexa, but before the little one could celebrate her first birthday, the couple separated. However, it should be noted that Kye has been in a relationship with Sarah, with whom Kye shares his firstborn child born on 9 August 2010; very little information can be found on Kelley’s ex-girlfriend, and the only known information regarding Kye’s oldest child is that her name is Haleigh.

According to some rumours, Key’s relationship with Alisa ended on the rocks due to Kelley’s infidelity. Although it was never confirmed by any of the parties involved, it’s believed that Kye’s relationship with his current fiance, Lizzy, began while he was still married to Alisa. After making several appearances together on ‘Street Outlaws’, the rumours went wild suggesting that Kye might be having an affair ran rampant.

Not long after these rumours took flame, Alisa announced her divorce from Kye, finalised in 2017. Barely a couple months later, Kye made his romantic involvement with Lizzy public, making it seem as if the rumours are true, but, neither Alisa nor Kye has spoken publicly about the reason for their separation, so it’s impossible to confirm the allegations of infidelity against Kye.

A Race Down The Aisle

Kye met Lizzy while visiting her dad’s workshop, looking for ways to further modify ‘The Shocker’, and as of 2017, the two began officially dating. The couple shared the news of their budding romance on their social accounts, and eventually made their appearance as a couple in ‘Street Outlaws’.

The couple became engaged in July 2021, after Kye popped the big question during a racing event, and quickly shared their wedding plans on social media with their followers.

According to their initial plans, Kye and Lizzy would have gotten married on 19 November 2022, but due to unforeseen difficulties, it seems the couple postponed the ceremony.

During a December episode of ‘Street Outlaws’, Kye and Lizzy competed against each other in what would be a decisive race to determine who would qualify for an upcoming championship, but unfortunately, it seemed that the pressure of the competition became too much for the couple to handle.

As can be seen in the episode, the couple were caught up in a heated argument following the race, causing rampant rumours of a potential break-up to ignite among their followers.

Battle of the Household?‍♀️?‍♂️
Lizzy Musi ? Kye Kelley
? #StreetOutlaws: No Prep Kings
? Mondays at 8p ET on @Discovery and @discoveryplus pic.twitter.com/smGFWe9zaC

— Street Outlaws (@StreetOutlaws) December 19, 2022

The race was ultimately won by Lizzy, however, it almost seemed as if Musi, along with her dad, might have resorted to dirty tactics. Before the race, Pat advised Kye that he shouldn’t risk burning out his motor, and assured Kelley that Lizzy would not be competing against him at her full potential. As a result, it seemed as if Kye intentionally held back, and subsequently lost the do-or-die race against his fiancee.

Following the race, Lizzy could be heard saying that this incident might be the end of their relationship, and that she did not want to go over to talk to him because, in her words they ‘turned the sticks on the way it was, if only a little bit’.

Naturally, after(allegedly) playing dirty, anyone would be afraid of their partner’s reaction, especially considering that Kye lost his chance to compete in the championship.

However, before the race, Lizzy received a warning from the organisers that if she did not compete the way she should, it would be a disgrace to the reputation of the sport.

With rumours of their break-up running rampant, the couple took to their social media accounts to assure their fans and followers that they are still dating, and on 28 November shared pictures of their Thanksgiving dinner as they peacefully enjoyed the holiday.

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Then on 20 December, Lizzy shared pictures on her Instagram, adding to her story that she and Kye happily enjoyed what would have been their original honeymoon, had the couple tied the knot on the original date, in Antigua. In the photos, the couple shared a cab ride, and later toasted drinks together in what can only be presumed as a happy getaway.

In the meantime, the couple announced that they will not be holding their ceremony on the initial date of 19 November previously mentioned, that they postponed the wedding for now, but didn’t provide any reason. In response to a question posted by a follower on Instagram, Lizzy stated that the new date was moved to 11 November 2023.

Despite the rumours, it seems that for now at least, Kye and Lizzy are still engaged, and might tie the knot later this year. However, only time can tell, but for now, we can debunk the rumours of them splitting.